Diesel car owners report more problems: Study

Customers are reporting more problems with their vehicles’ long-term dependability this year than they did in 2011 according to a recently released study by J D Power on Vehicle Dependability in India. And if you’ve been considering a diesel car, here’s something to chew on: vehicles powered by small diesel engines (1.3-litre to 1.4-litre) have thrown up more problems, lack of engine power and excessive fuel consumption primary among them.   

"Vehicle buyers opt for a smaller diesel engine in anticipation of better fuel efficiency and savings on overall fuel costs," said Mohit Arora, executive director at J.D. Power Asia Pacific, Singapore. "However, when the actual fuel efficiency falls short of expectations over the longer term, it often leads to a higher problem count being reported and a decrease in overall vehicle owner satisfaction.”

On an average, 225 problems have been reported per 100 vehicles in 2012, up from 195 in 2011. The increase in problems is predominantly driven by an increase in problems related to the engine and driving experience. In all, nine categories were assessed that include vehicle exterior; features, controls and displays; audio and entertainment; seats; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); vehicle interior; and transmission.

Hyundai cars more reliable

Only Hyundai customers reported fewer problems in their cars, with the Santro (in the compact segment), i20 (premium compact segment) and Verna (midsize segment) earning awards in their respective segments for the least amount of problems. Other cars taking top honours include the Honda Civic (premium midsize category), Honda CR-V (SUV), Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire (entry midsize segment) and Toyota Innova (MUV/ MPV segment).

“To build a positive and reliable perception in the minds of consumers, manufacturers in India need to provide a problem-free experience over a longer period of vehicle ownership,” said Arora. “An increase in problems experienced by car owners, alongside an increase in the ownership period, acutely undermines consumer confidence and needs to be tackled expeditiously by automakers and their component suppliers.” Also Read: Car makers to set up recall code for defective vehicles in India

The study also finds that vehicle owners employing a driver experienced more problems than those who don’t, especially with regard to the HVAC; seats; audio and entertainment; and vehicle interior categories.