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Business News/ Companies / Small diesel car owners report more problems, finds survey
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Small diesel car owners report more problems, finds survey

Small diesel car owners report more problems, finds survey

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Mumbai: Car owners, especially those with small diesel cars, reported more problems with their vehicles this year, shows a study released on Thursday.

The study was based on evaluations by 7,866 owners who purchased a new vehicle between July 2008 and September 2009. It included 62 models covering 16 car makers and was conducted between January and April in 25 cities across India.

Also See | Vehicle Dependability (PDF)

Overall dependability was determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles, with lower scores reflecting higher quality.

The study found that the 11 percentage point increase in the number of small diesel cars (1.3-1.4 litre engines) over last year corresponded with a similar increase in the number of engine-related problems for the owners of such vehicles. Most of the problems related to excessive fuel consumption and a lack of engine power.

Overall, car owners complained mostly about problems with engines and driving experience, the study found.

Besides the actual problems faced, owners of small diesel cars reported more problems because of a mismatch in expectations in terms of fuel efficiency claims by car makers over a period of time, said Mohit Arora, executive director, J.D. Power Asia Pacific Inc., Singapore.

The increase in the reported problems was also a function of the shift in demand to diesel vehicles from petrol, he said.

“The customers have not been able to come to terms with the difference in the power delivery cycle experienced in the engines," Arora said, adding customers expect diesel vehicles to be as quick at accelerating as those running on petrol and end up reporting problems.

The study measured experiences reported by owners of 30- to 42-month-old vehicles across 169 different problem symptoms across nine categories—vehicle exteriors; driving experience; features; controls and displays; audio and entertainment; seats; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; vehicle interiors; and engines and transmission.

Hormazd Sorabjee, editor of Autocar India, said the reason for the increase in the number of reported problems could be that while diesel cars are tougher than their petrol counterparts, they require maintenance more regularly. “Maybe the owners haven’t maintained their cars well," he suggested.

The study also found that car owners employing drivers reported more problems than those who drive themselves, suggesting that they are more sensitive to issues that may crop up. Some of the common complaints related to heat; ventilation and air-conditioning; seats; audio and entertainment; and vehicle interiors.

Graphic by Ahmed Raza Khan/Mint

shally.s@livemint.com

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Published: 28 Jun 2012, 10:40 PM IST
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