[Sman999]

All those who say the 2020 Ignis does not have the steering return issue, you are wrong.

I was aware of this issue after reading the Team-BHP forums before making the purchase decision 3 months back. I test drove the test vehicle which had run 23k kms and there was no issue in the vehicle while making u turns. So i thought they had sorted out the problem and booked the vehicle.

In my Ignis 2021 Alpha AMT, The steering returns to the center only at certain speeds. I tried different things in an empty ground to understand this better, but couldnt. It is vague and the EPS motor is very badly calibrated. i feel its weighted heavier at low speeds and feels light at high speeds(100kmph+). It was very weird initially while driving on highways coming from a Ford Figo 2nd gen. This was bought for city use and now i got used to it somehow.

Maruti ASS managers say that its by design and no fault. I didnt argue with them as i felt its a waste of my time and energy. I had planned to wait until the vehicle crosses 10kms on the odo and then if its still the same, would plan something mechanically to solve this(no idea yet).

[neil.jericho]

It looks as though the SPresso still suffers from the same steering issue. AutoDoc has specifically called it out in his new ownership (Ownership Review | Millennium Falcon lands | Story of our Maruti S-Presso AMT) review thread.

Why Maruti ,why?

[shancz]

Just read a post in another thread which IMO lists the reason why MSIL went with this approach :

Originally Posted by carthick1000

The weird steering behaviour you mentioned is because of the very minimal or a compete lack of self-aligning torque in the steering setup. This is the torque which steers the car back to straight. Usually car suspension/steering systems are designed with positive caster, which provides the self aligning torque. In case of S-presso, MS should have made the decision to use a neutral / zero caster for atleast 2 reasons, which I can think of:

• Neutral / zero caster provides easy steering input without the extreme unstability of using negative caster. (Negative caster is the reason for unstable fluttering wheels of a shopping trolley) For such a light and small car, they can get away without power steering setup for the base models. Also for higher end models with power steering, they can use a low capacity assist motor.
• Packaging. The car is not too wide and not too long and the engine bay is quite compact. Due to the tall seating position, it is imperative to have a shorter nose to feel a commanding driving position. A positive caster requires even more room in the nose area than a neutral/zero caster setup. Probably if you drive a Wagon R, this might also have a similar steering behaviour. Owners can comment. I have not driven one myself.

IMO his second point seems like the real reason.
This behaviour happens on cars like the S-Presso and wagonR majorly both of whom have shorter front ends. Makes sense ?

PS : Just saw that Neil Jericho already mentioned it.

Note : I think we're looking at two things here :
1. The behaviour by design in cars like the S-Presso and wagonR and maybe even Ignis which can be explained with carthick1000's post above.
2. Similar issues occurring in other MSIL cars but could be related to some faults in the steering mechanism.

But on a serious note MSIL has to find a way to fix it regardless of the nose

[saisree]

Originally Posted by shancz

1. The behaviour by design in cars like the S-Presso and wagonR and maybe even Ignis which can be explained with carthick1000's post above.

On a different note, the older Wagon R F10D, never had the issue and it had the same dimension to the new one.

[shancz]

Originally Posted by saisree

On a different note, the older Wagon R F10D, never had the issue and it had the same dimension to the new one.

Not the same but similar and good point will have to research further on it. They could've changed something in the steering design for the K10B models possibly related to the EPS as well. The first point in the quoted post probably ?

Either way will see if I can find something concrete else its just guessing

[Mortis]

I just checked and it's present in the Dzire also. Can it be improved by adjusting the camber during wheel alignment ?

[Dr.Naren]

Originally Posted by Mortis

I just checked and it's present in the Dzire also. Can it be improved by adjusting the camber during wheel alignment ?

It's not adjustable during wheel alignment. Only toe can be adjusted.

[shancz]

Originally Posted by shancz

Either way will see if I can find something concrete else its just guessing

Was in a workshop for some brake issues and managed to catch a Ritz being worked upon, see the pic in comparison with with my car :




And here are the details from their respective owner's manual : Credits to Providers MSIL : Car Care

Ritz:


WagonR :


SX4 :


Some points :

• The Ritz caster angle looked about double that of WagonR which is also confirmed by the data.
• This would mean that the returnability of Ritz should be better than that of WagonR. I have never driven a Ritz, hope any BHPian could confirm this.
• Went through all the manuals available at the MSIL website, seems like they have stopped mentioning this info in the later models.
• The SX4 has almost similar caster angle as the WagonR, If that doesn't have this issue then the caster angle is not the only variable here. But if it does have it then caster is the most probable cause. And then it would mean that it is by design.

From a layman's perspective seems like the caster angle is the cause for this behaviour. But this data is very small and if SX4 doesn't have this issue or Ritz has this issue then this argument doesn't hold.

I think I am more confused now than I was earlier

[Sounak04]

I think it is more to do with a bad Steering Column then anything else.

My Dzire has started giving the same issue along with a noise. On examination by the Maruti A$$, it was find out to be a faulty Sterring Column.

Maruti has issued a Silent recall for the same. The only issue is that due to Chip Shortage, the Steering Column is taking a lot of time to reach the dealership (its been more than a month since I placed the order for mine).

The service advisors tells me it's a very common issue and should not cause any issue other than a few noises and a sticky Steering at high speed.

[jbpanda]

Needed advice from fellow Bhpians.

I recently felt the steering on my 2016 Vitara Brezza ZDI+ (one of the first lots) to be sticky while taking a U turn. The car falls in the range of the chassis number indicated in the internal circular issued by Maruti in the year 2019.

I had gone to the authorised service center in Gurgaon for my routine service and pointed this out and was informed by the service advisor that the steering column will have to be replaced and that I have to leave the car for 2 days, which I agreed. After 2 days, the service advisor calls to inform that the servicing is done but the steering column cannot be replaced as the car has crossed the extended warranty period of 5 years and that I will have to bear the expenses.

After pointing out that the contents of internal circular provides for both within and outside warranty vehicles and that customers are not to be charged and it has to be replaced on the basis of goodwill claims, the service center agreed to take it up with Maruti. There was some email correspondences between the service center and Maruti and Maruti rejected the claim of service center on the ground that the extended warranty period of 5 years has expired.

I spoke to the concerned official at Maruti who had sent this email and pointed out that there is no communication to customers where claims for sticky steering are to be limited to 5 years only and any internal communication in that regard, as a bonafide customer I am not supposed to be privy to or bound by. I also highlighted that this is a latent manufacturing defect which Maruti has already acknowledged and is well known (more so as a Bhpian) and the service center did not refuse this at the first instance when the job card was made for servicing. If Maruti failed to sensitise customers about the outer limit of claim period, there is no way why this should be refused.

After all this, Maruti has verbally agreed to bear 50% of the expenses for replacing steering column. Total amount comes to INR 48,000 (approximately) and I am not willing to pay a single penny for a latent manufacturing defect solely attributable to them. I fail to understand that how they could unilaterally decide the outer claim period without even informing customers about it. Needless to mention when their service centers call almost every week for insurance renewal and servicing related marketing, they failed to inform about timelines, if any.

I have requested the Maruti official to send me an email confirming that they will bear 50% but since the time I have shared my business card and he has realised I am a Bhpian and a lawyer, he is avoiding to send an email and insisting that the service advisor will explain the costs and other details. I have told him that I will not take back my car from the service center and will not take any decision until I receive a communication in writing.

Thank you for a patient reading. Look forward to suggestions and guidance from fellow Bhpians.

[shancz]

If it's an acknowledged defect in a batch then they have to replace it regardless of warranty.

If someone didn't take the extended warranty so MSIL won't change it for them even if its 2 years from purchase ?
Ridiculous, untenable and outrageous at the same time.

MSIL seems to be leaning the TML way now ? I think they can do much better than this.

[shancz]

Finally acknowledgement and vindication.

Check out the related post : volkman

An excerpt which captures the gravity and ridicule of the situation :

Maruti Suzuki have added a self-centering steering wheel mechanism to the 2022 Baleno.

Hopefully the entire lineup gets this "mechanism" soon enough.

[BNG-motorhead]

So my mother’s car is a 2019 Ignis AMT. I recommended it to her. I dont drive it. Recently she told me about this strange phenomenon. Post testing, I found it to be very dangerous and poor product thinking.

In my mind, Nexa = better products + better service experience. Both have been shattered for me. Its a Maruti, it will remain a Maruti, unsafe, mass, low on quality and low on service commitments. Now they can call it Nexa or anything, its a Maruti.

Indian market monopoly, none of us matter, none of ever will.

If someone has an out of Maruti solution, please share with me.

[SidR]

Reposting from another thread: I have July-2016 Baleno Delta Petrol Manual, car has done 34000kms. Car's steering has started becoming hard and is creating squeaking sounds on slightest movement. I understand that Maruti had recognised steering issue in baleno in 2018-19 and was changing parts as goodwill. I visited the service centre and they acknowledged that steering column needs to be replaced.

I emailed nexa customer care and requested this be replaced under goodwill as it has been acknowleged to be a defective part in their silent recall in 2018-19. However, maruti seems to be washing their hands off the problem by saying that as car has crossed 5 years, I should get the steering column changed on paid basis. Any way around this? Does anyone have contacts of higher ups where this issue can be escalated?

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by SidR

I emailed nexa customer care and requested this be replaced under goodwill as it has been acknowleged to be a defective part in their silent recall in 2018-19. However, maruti seems to be washing their hands off the problem by saying that as car has crossed 5 years, I should get the steering column changed on paid basis. Any way around this? Does anyone have contacts of higher ups where this issue can be escalated?

Oho ! My Dzire is also in the list and showing some signs of steering issues however when I raised it during my 4th year service in Jan they said it's not yet bad enough to get it repaired. Since next year is my last year of warranty I better pressurise them to do it before they wash their hands of it like in your case.