Deception in the Automotive Sector

In a landmark judgment, the Sri Ganganagar District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Rajasthan has held a Honda dealership liable for 'deficiency in service' and 'unfair trade practices.' The dealer was found guilty of selling a 2018 model Honda Amaze to a consumer by falsely representing it as a 2019 model, thereby depriving the buyer of the full warranty and vehicle value.

The Mechanics of the Fraud

The complainant purchased the vehicle in early 2019, believing it to be a brand-new model. However, upon sending the car for its first scheduled service in February 2019, a discrepancy emerged. The engine and chassis numbers revealed that the vehicle had already been registered to a resident in Delhi in October 2018. Effectively, the customer was being sold a pre-owned vehicle disguised as a new one.

Allegations of Cosmetic Tampering

Beyond the model year discrepancy, the complainant alleged that the vehicle had undergone cosmetic refurbishing, including new plastic coverings, to hide its prior usage. Furthermore, there were suspicions regarding the odometer rollback to make the car appear less used. The dealer attempted to defend itself by claiming a discount of ₹77,806 had been provided due to the reduced warranty, but failed to produce any documentary evidence to substantiate this claim in court.

Legal Implications and Compensation

The commission, led by President Rajan Kukkad, dismissed the dealer's undocumented claims. The bench noted that such conduct causes significant mental and financial hardship to consumers. Consequently, the dealer has been ordered to pay ₹2 lakh as compensation for unfair trade practices and ₹10,000 towards litigation costs. This ruling serves as a stern warning to dealerships to maintain absolute transparency regarding vehicle history, model years, and warranty status.