Hero bike battery changed 3 times, strange sounds and pickup issues continue; consumer court orders Rs 25,000 payout

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NEW DELHI: A motorcycle owner who complained of recurring engine, pickup, braking and electrical problems despite more than seven service visits has won compensation from a district consumer commission. The commission directed the dealer and service centre to inspect and repair the bike and pay Rs 15,000 for inconvenience and mental agony, besides Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs.What problems did the customer report?According to the commission order, Nethi Radha Krishna bought a Hero Glamour BS6 motorcycle in September 2021. He told the commission that the bike started giving trouble from the date of purchase and the problems continued despite repeated servicing.The complaints included inconsistent pickup, jerking while changing gears, the engine stopping while riding, abnormal sounds, battery problems, poor mileage and braking issues. He said the battery had also been changed three times.The customer alleged that more than seven periodic services failed to resolve the problems. He also claimed that the service centre initially assured him that the bike would be repaired but later asked him to sell it instead of offering an exchange.The dealers denied the allegations and said the bike had been inspected and necessary repairs carried out whenever it was brought to the service centre. They also denied any manufacturing defect and argued that the customer had not produced independent technical evidence to establish one.What did the commission find?The bench of President Chitneni Latha Kumari and members D Madhavi Latha and Kathyayani Khandavilli examined the service records and found that the motorcycle had been brought to the service centre several times for specific complaints involving the engine, pickup, starting and electrical system. It noted that important components, including the fuel pump, fuel injector and throttle body assembly, had been replaced under warranty. The AC generator assembly and regulator rectifier were also replaced.The commission, however, did not accept the claim that the entire motorcycle had an inherent manufacturing defect. It noted that the complainant had not produced an independent expert report and that the motorcycle had been extensively used. The vehicle had covered 70,603 km by May 29, 2026.At the same time, the commission found that repeated service visits and recurring complaints showed that the dealers had not provided an effective solution.“However, though the opposite parties attended to the vehicle on several occasions and replaced certain parts under warranty, the service history shows that the complainant had to repeatedly approach the service centre with recurring complaints,” the commission noted.It further held that the failure to properly resolve the recurring problems amounted to deficiency in service.“In the circumstances this commission is of the view that the opposite parties are failed to provide, proper, effective services and satisfactory resolution of the recurring problems, amount to deficiency in service on the part of the opposite parties,” the bench added.The commission said replacing the entire motorcycle or refunding its purchase price would not be proportionate at this stage because the bike had covered more than 70,000 km and an inherent manufacturing defect affecting the entire vehicle had not been established.Instead, it directed the dealer and service centre to carry out a comprehensive inspection and rectify the existing mechanical and electrical problems, including engine stalling, pickup, jerking, starting trouble, abnormal sounds, poor mileage, brake and battery issues.What did the commission order?The Ranga Reddy District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission partly allowed the complaint and directed the two opposite parties to:

The commission therefore granted compensation and corrective relief for the repeated service failures, while declining the customer’s request for a full refund or replacement of the motorcycle, The order was passed on September 15, 2026.