Home / Business and Economy / Scooter Defect Lawsuit: Rs 88,000 Refund Ordered
Scooter Defect Lawsuit: Rs 88,000 Refund Ordered
5 Oct
Summary
- Customer awarded Rs 88,000 refund due to manufacturing defects.
- Defects included poor battery performance and faulty wheel bearing.
- Commission also granted Rs 50,000 compensation and Rs 25,000 costs.
A consumer in Kerala secured a significant victory as a district consumer commission directed an electric scooter manufacturer to refund Rs 88,000. This decision, made on September 30, 2026, stemmed from identified manufacturing defects, including substantially poor battery performance and a faulty front wheel bearing system. The commission further mandated an additional Rs 50,000 in compensation and Rs 25,000 for litigation expenses.
The customer, Rajeshkumar R, purchased the electric scooter on February 21, 2022, which was under a three-year warranty. Initially, the scooter offered only around 40 km per charge, far below the advertised 85 km. Despite battery replacements in March and October 2023, the mileage plummeted to just 18-20 km on a full charge by late 2024.
Expert engineering reports confirmed an inherent defect in the front wheel shaft bearing system, insufficient battery voltage, and poor charging retention, resulting in a mere 16 km mileage. The commission found the manufacturer's defenses regarding external factors insufficient, noting their failure to provide evidence disproving the expert findings or demonstrating effective service.
The commission ruled that the complaint was not barred by limitation, as the cause of action persisted until defects became irremediable. The manufacturer failed to disprove the customer's case, leading to the directive for a full refund and compensation.
