[sage_sandman]

Folks, I have been posting on Team BHP with my honest experiences with Tata Motors ASC and the plight of the customers.

Background:
Model: Tata Harrier Kaziranga (Automatic Variant)
DOD: July 2022
KMS Driven: 2500
Dealership: Key Motors Kanakpura Road
Authorised Service Centre: Key Motoros, Bikasipura, Kanakpura Road.

I have been having issues with my newly bought Tata Harrier. Initially, I had wind noise entering the cabin. The ASC took a couple of days to find out the problem, later zeroed in on the faulty sun roof beading. They did order the part and replaced after which the issue is resolved.

During the first free service, I had complained on the following (major items)

1. Steering vibration after 100kmph +
2. Vehicle pulling towards left after 100 kmph +
3. When the engine is started and the vehicle is moved, the accelerator pedal feels mild but distinct rough.. The feeling is like a worn clutch plate on manual transmission vehicles.
4. Rattling noise coming from somewhere around the drivers's seat on a bumpy road. Not heard on smooth roads. Feels like a plastic filament rubbing another plastic material..

ASC addressed only issue 1) which I am yet to check thoroughly. They kept the vehicle for 2 days and delivered the car back to me without fixing 2) 3) and 4). Here is my experience with them on the points mentioned above.

On #2), there are tons of articles on internet, hundreds of videos on youtube where Harrier and Safari owners are facing this problem. That said, ASC is reluctant to accept the issue and put some serious head in resolving it. The immediate reaction whenever this is discussed is that "Sir, this is common in large SUVs". On insisting, they did the wheel balancing and wheel alignment in ASC and gave me the report (attaching it) but that did very little in resolving the left-pulling issue. The issue still persists. There are some talks on internet forums and telegram forums about two other things that might help to resolve the issue.. One is steering calibration and the other is some toe adjustment using a specialised tool which only quite a few ASC seem to have across the country. At least, the ASC I am referring to doesn't seem to have any clue on this.

On #3), again, ASC denied accepting the problem. The mentioned it is common and is seen in all vehicles which I refuse to believe.

On #4), neither myself nor them is able to identify where the noise is coming from. Not a high priority item as compared to #1, #2 and #3.

All in all, Tata Motors should tighten the bolts on the quality checks they do. In my opinion, the company has failed in putting out a vehicle that is free from these niggles. Adding to the pain, any issue brought to the notice of the ASC, they will take several days to zero-in and fix the problem. It takes longer if a part has to be ordered (it comes from Pune).

If you have experienced any of these issues and come across some proven solutions, I would request you to share them here so that others are benefited.

Happy Riding.

[GTO]

Rather surprised & disappointed that, a full 3+ years since launch, Tata has still not sorted out the issues & niggles with the Harrier? I remember our test-drive demo being full of issues (including build inconsistencies). What's worse is, this & the Safari are their flagship products but appear to be built more inconsistently than some of their cheaper cars like the Altroz or Nexon.

Most of the problems you listed are relatively minor in nature though. Work patiently with the ASC and solve them. Change the dealer if unhappy with current one. And yes, be sure to get that extended warranty.

[audioholic]

For alignment issue why dont you give a try at Madhus? I would call it a problem with the car and escalate only if Madhus cant fix it with their equipment. That has always been the case with my vehicles. Except for my SX4 Camber issue due to an accident which obviously didn't get sorted out, I have never had pulling issues in any of my vehicles so far and the alignment has always been first time right.

But one observation is that the camber and caster angles are very off for a new vehicle. That could be the reason for the pull. Hopefully they are adjustable in your car, else this is disgusting of Tata to have such an imbalance in both sides for a car that has done 2.5k kms. My SX4 after getting the front wheel hit by an Indica had a 1 degree deviation in camber JFYR.

[Asoon]

Its super disappointing when you spend 20L+, and there is no peace of mind,
All the issues you mention are the ones which one generally expects or look for when he is getting a 2-4 year used car

Their direction is good (safety / EV), their product strategy is good, but build quality is disappointing. This has been TATA's story and I do not know why this is not on their priority,

Safari Storme, Hexa, Aria all of them had ever lasting niggles. I fear buying a TATA and recommend only this to my friends interested in 10L+ Tata Cars (if you are lucky then every thing will be good but if you land up with a car with issues then you will suffer for the entire ownership period)

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by audioholic

For alignment issue why dont you give a try at Madhus? I would call it a problem with the car and escalate only if Madhus cant fix it with their equipment.

In case of Harrier twins often the problem is that its too late to fix it completely. The wheels are misaligned from the factory due to whatever reason. Once these tyres are run for a few thousand kms, they are unevenly worn. Even the most experienced alignment shop is going to struggle with it, they would like to ask the customer to replace the tire to completely resolve the problem but they cannot.

Once they correct the alignment, they may need to correct the steering tilt - this is not easy and customer will not agree to let alignment shop pull the steering off of their brand new car!

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

In case of Harrier twins often the problem is that its too late to fix it completely. The wheels are misaligned from the factory due to whatever reason. !

Thats pathetic to the point that I cant believe such poor manufacturing happens. If the camber and caster are off from the factory itself, and if they are not adjustable, then I wonder how they can even sell such cars.

[Metallicar]

I had issue 1 and 2. TSC near me said that tata has given a full description to sort out left pulling issue and needs a day for that.

I went with alignment and balancing from a local guy who attached 90g and 20g weight to front tires which sorted the vibration between 80-120 kmph completely and left pulling issue is bare minimum now. My car has 6600 on odo.

[FiatDiesel]

I can understand the emotions and pain one has to go through when new car is delivered with host of quality issues.
I thank my friends in automative industry who asked me to keep away from Harrier Safari twins when I was finalising my SUV last year. Heck they even asked me to give Sonet second look when I liked Nexon.
I don’t like to bash Tata but not sure why we keep hearing negative feedback from there flagship brand new cars which were launched couple of years back. And none of them are complex technical problems but basics done wrong in plant and failed quality checks again in plant.
The other problem is poor after sales service where such reported issues are brushed under the carpet and takes real effort and time to make them work on resolution.

Please checkout below video from car paint expert detailer, eye opener on quality of paint and questionable quality checks.

https://youtu.be/Kha4M3tlE80

[gururajrv]

This is beyond even UNACCEPTABLE range looking at how badly few cars are built! The number of lemons out there seem to be more concerning.

Perhaps, a senior executive from Tata should be actively engaging with customers on Twitter similar to that of Anand Mahindra sir & Zac Hollis for Skoda? Although the effect would be minimal, atleast the attention for these will be garnered is what I feel, which is missing in Tata’s stable big time.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by gururajrv

Perhaps, a senior executive from Tata should be actively engaging with customers on Twitter similar to that of Anand Mahindra sir & Zac Hollis for Skoda? Although the effect would be minimal, atleast the attention for these will be garnered is what I feel, which is missing in Tata’s stable big time.

Thats a different scenario with Skoda. What Zac Hollis majorly took care was bad customer experience at the dealerships and escalations due to shady dealer practices. The products from the factory itself were not the issue if you see what the complaints were. Here in case of Tata the dealers seem to try to resolve issues. What's sad is the occurrence of issues and it's randomness. Skoda had one fuel pump issue across many cars which they identified and fixed to close the matter. However, with Tata the issues aren't limited with respect to it's nature. Thats where it points out to poor manufacturing, quality control and this needs a major whip of the production department. There is no point in bringing out many variants and updates with a poor production engineering team who cannot offer consistency in the product.

Every owner has a story to tell, an escalation to Tata and then a resolution. But this seems to be never ending. From a hole in exhaust manifold, improper alignment, worn out interior bits to many other threads in the forum itself. God help once the warranty gets over. Thats when the real challenge starts even if one is very optimistic about Tata fixing things under warranty. The first such issue has already come up here in the forum with a head unit going bad right after warranty.

[sse]

I own a Nexon XZ+(HS) from May 2022. I faced the issued of Vehicle pulling to its left after 90 Kms+ just like yours inspite of alignment.
I did discuss the issue with Chima TATA, Madurai ( TN ). While they did not acknowledge the problem on paper, they just did "Tyre Rotation" during free service. The vehicle then started pulling towards right post 90kms+.
I did another wheel alignment & balancing again at different place and the issue was sorted. Now I do not face the issue.
Now, I do not know how the issue got sorted, But I am happy its sorted for now.
Best of LUCK!

[turbospooler]

I have seen first hand the design issues, vendor quality issues and manufacturing issues spoiling an otherwise gem of a vehicle (refer Aria).

That is the day I vowed to not buy any car beyond Nexon.
I feel Nexon and below (which is more or less the same platform) is a proven platform with minor niggles. Also, it has something to do with car plant and Ranjangaon plant of Fiat being the major producers of these cars.

UVs above Nexon are produced at the Commercial Vehicle Business Unit which have consistently since the days of old Safari shown reluctance to rectify any issues.

I think proper weight distribution (or the lack of it) is not there in Harrier & Safari (as they are the hand me down platforms of LR and no control in design for the local team), hence you will see this issue even after wheel alignment.
This is speculation and am happy to be corrected.

[s_kuppalli]

Originally Posted by audioholic

For alignment issue why dont you give a try at Madhus? I would call it a problem with the car and escalate only if Madhus cant fix it with their equipment. That has always been the case with my vehicles. Except for my SX4 Camber issue due to an accident which obviously didn't get sorted out, I have never had pulling issues in any of my vehicles so far and the alignment has always been first time right.

But one observation is that the camber and caster angles are very off for a new vehicle. That could be the reason for the pull. Hopefully they are adjustable in your car, else this is disgusting of Tata to have such an imbalance in both sides for a car that has done 2.5k kms. My SX4 after getting the front wheel hit by an Indica had a 1 degree deviation in camber JFYR.

I was facing the issue #1 and #2 in my brand new Nexon purchased in May. In the first free service I complained this to SA and he said it is fixed, but it was not fixed. I visited Madhus and did WA and WB. Now there is no issue, I did multiple highway trips, no streeting vibration and vehicle pulling towards left. Just inform the guys in Madhus.

[sage_sandman]

Originally Posted by audioholic

For alignment issue why dont you give a try at Madhus? I would call it a problem with the car and escalate only if Madhus cant fix it with their equipment. That has always been the case with my vehicles. Except for my SX4 Camber issue due to an accident which obviously didn't get sorted out, I have never had pulling issues in any of my vehicles so far and the alignment has always been first time right.

But one observation is that the camber and caster angles are very off for a new vehicle. That could be the reason for the pull. Hopefully they are adjustable in your car, else this is disgusting of Tata to have such an imbalance in both sides for a car that has done 2.5k kms. My SX4 after getting the front wheel hit by an Indica had a 1 degree deviation in camber JFYR.

Can you please give me the contact/location details of Madhus?

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by sage_sandman

Can you please give me the contact/location details of Madhus?

Here you go
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/banga...bangalore.html (Madhus Tyre Centre - Wilson Garden, Bangalore)