Toyota Innova airbags fail; Owner to get Rs 32 lakh compensation

The carmaker and dealership have been directed to either return Rs 15 lakh with 9% interest or give a new Toyota Innova to the owner.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has directed Toyota to pay a compensation of Rs 32.07 lakh to an owner after the airbags in his Innova failed to deploy in an accident.

The NCDRC found that the Toyota Innova sold to Sunil Reddy was defective. As compensation, the NCDRC has directed the carmaker and Nandi Toyota Motor World to either return Rs 15 lakh with 9% interest or give a new Toyota Innova to Reddy, after more than 12 years of the accident.

Reddy had purchased an Innova VX Diesel 7-seater on March 11, 2011. It was involved in an accident on August 16 of the same year. The front portion of the vehicle was severely damaged in the accident. However, the airbags failed to deploy, causing severe injuries to the occupants.

The car was handed over to the service centre in Bangalore, which Reddy claims, proceeded with repairs, including welding works on the vehicle’s body, without providing any estimation or intimation.

Toyota did challenge the order in the State Consumer Commission, but the appeal was rejected.

Source: ET