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New Tigor EV breaks down twice in 3 days: Battery fails within 5 months

22nd February 2023, 07:10 by Rahul Nagaraj

When I charged the last time, the percentage refused to rise above 26 - 65% even after 10 hours.

BHPian Nanolover recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi All members,

Wanted to bring my plight to your notice and a warning to anyone considering Tata EV as their ONLY mode of transport.

The most frightening part is the car switching from D to N on its own on steep slopes, busy junctions, and midway when you cross a traffic signal which leads to total chaos and swearing from other road users, not to mention me and my family stuck helpless in the middle of busy junctions looking for people to come help push my car. ( multiple errors pop up on the dashboard from HV critical failure, aux battery fault and the charge falls from 92 to 0% and says no charge!)

This should scare away any potential buyer/ newbies looking at an EV for a fuss-free experience. Now I am sending my kids to school in the Celerio. Boring and hum drum car maybe, but bulletproof reliability and backed by proper service.

Sharing my ordeal here, so that all members are aware of the pitfalls when switching to a new technology which is backed by a clueless service team.

I have escalated to higher management in Tata, but no response yet. Sending you the mail below for reference.

Dear xxxx Sir, xxxx Sir,

I am sorry to bother you once again with the trouble/breakdown I face with my 5-month-old Tigor EV ( KL-01-xx-xxxx and 6200 kms run).

The car has broken down twice in 3 days.

As of today, my car is currently in my home with HV critical alert and aux battery issue ( this is despite getting the car back from Trivandrum Motors today morning assuring all is fine when the same problem occurred the day before).

My car broke down in a busy junction today close to home with my wife and kids in it with an HV error (see image) and I had to get auto drivers to help to push it to the side of the road (all the while all of these people were laughing and passing dreary comments about this is what happens when you buy an EV).

Let me walk you through the series of events

Breakdown #1 (12 Jan) - Car stops at signal and auto shifts to neutral with HV alert issue and Battery light blinking. All panic at the junction and somehow the car shifts into D after multiple tries. I drop off kids to school and on return immediately the car battery goes from 63 to 0% and shuts down. Tow service is arranged and the car is towed to Trivandrum motors, the dealer from whom I purchased the car (after a wait of 4 hours in the blazing sun for RSA)

13- Jan - I told the service advisor that it might be due to the Exide battery (aux battery) having a problem (I am an automotive engineer). My Car's Exide battery had discharged itself TWICE in a span of 4 months and I had to get the local Exide shop to charge/ jumpstart it for me. Trivandrum Motors assures us that they will look into it and fix it and will replace the Exide battery if needed.

Breakdown #2 (15 Jan) - upon return of car from service centre assuring everything is fine

11:00:am -Trivandrum motors returns the car assuring all is fine, the software has been updated and no problem with the Exide battery

12:00 am - Car reaches home all fine, a journey of 10 kms

12.30 am breakdown: had to go out to buy a cake for my son and 2 kms into the journey, the car breaks down at the signal with HV critical error and an Aux battery charge issue. The car had to be pushed to the side of the road by helpful folks as mentioned above. The second breakdown is within 12 kms after getting back the car from the service centre!!!!

Somehow managed to bring the car back home after switching it on and off multiple times. Upon reaching home, in a span of one hour, the battery goes from 92% to 0% and nothing works now !! (see the last image)

It is deeply disappointing that a brand new product suffers multiple breakdowns and that too this is a car I have brought on my blind and unwavering loyalty to Tata Motors. This car is used to drop off and pick up my kids daily and now I am scared to send them in it. My eldest one who is in 11th grade has her exams and I don't want her to miss it by being stranded in the middle of the road.

I kindly request your support to help escalate the matter and find a prompt resolution for my case, sir!

Unfortunately, that gem of a car is spoilt by people who have no interest in solving or listening to solutions.

Update 1: Yup always home charged and to 100% always. However, for the last charge, the charge refused to rise above 26 to 65% even after 8 hours overnight (the usual charging time is 10% every hour). I had this thought in the back of my mind that something is wrong, but the car started normally and I went ahead. Which was a mistake now in hindsight.

Now the car has been taken on flatbed and the prima facie diagnosis is some problem with the Aux battery (Exide) or wiring harness. God knows.

Update 2: The car has been taken on a flatbed to the dealer (pushing this car out of home without power steering and that too till this big truck was a muscle-building exercise, not to mention the gyaan given by all locals on choosing an electric car, see we told you types). Received confirmation from Towing services that the vehicle has reached the dealer. None yet from the dealer though.

Battery failure means almost like engine replacement !! and that too in a 5-month-old car, gives me the creeps, not to mention the EMI burning and associated headaches of not having a car.

Will keep the forum posted on what happens from now on.