Tata Nano starter motors to be replaced

If you bought a Tata Nano around November or earlier this year, be prepared to take your car back for a part replacement. Tata Motors has “recalled” an estimated 1.40 lakh Nano cars for changing the starter motor free of cost. Owners of the 2012 Tata Nano will not be affected by the exercise as the new model already comes factory-fitted with the improved starter motor.

A starter motor is essentially an electric motor that fires up the internal combustion engine. Without one, you’d be unable to start the engines and, in turn, your car.

Image of a generic starter motor

Tata Motors is being cautious not to term it a recall or a move prompted by safety concerns. Instead, the company calls it an upgrade option for Nano owners who can use the opportunity to change the old starter motor on their cars with a better one. Reports suggest the replacement exercise – among the largest we’ve seen in India – will cost Tata Motors Rs. 110 crore. However, the company has not made any official statement on how much expenses it would incur on the recall.    

In November 2010, too, Tata Motors had issued a free safety upgrade to Nano owners, following several reports of the car going up in flames. Measures included installing a cover tool on the catalytic converter and a fuse in electrical components to prevent short circuits. The exercise was a success and reports of the Nano catching fire have gone down since. In all, seven fire-related incidents have been documented with regard to the Nano. 

Last month, Tata Motors launched the 2012 Tata Nano featuring a slew of upgrades, including a tweaked plastic wheel caps, beige dashboard and seat fabric, dual-tone door trims, etc. The new Nano has improved seat cushioning and a softened suspension for a more comfortable ride. The engine has also been tweaked slightly, boosting power from 35 PS to 38 PS. 

Sales of the Nano are on a gradual upswing though they are still nowhere close to Tata Motors’ initial projections of 20,000 units a month. In October 2011, the company sold 3,868 Nano cars and in November 2011, the figure went up to 6,401 units. With sales remaining precariously thin, the current call for replacement may lead many potential customers to put off their buying decisions.