Commission orders Rs 15 lakh refund after Force Motors vehicle developed engine defect

NEW DELHI: A district consumer commission in Karnataka has directed Force Motors and a dealer to replace a man's bus with a new vehicle of the same brand or refund Rs 15 lakh after finding an inherent manufacturing defect in the engine. The commission also ordered them to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs.In its September 30, 2026, order, the commission found that the vehicle developed serious engine problems within months of purchase and that the dealer and the manufacturer failed to establish their defence that problems resulted from the driver's negligence.Why did the man approach the consumer commission?As per the commission order, Mugundappa, a driver by profession, purchased a Force Cityline passenger vehicle from authorised dealer Arihant Motors on April 2, 2024, for Rs 16 lakh.