Ending a nine-year legal battle, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has ordered Ford India and its dealer to refund the full cost of a ₹10.42 lakh Ford EcoSport after ruling that the failure of airbags during a serious accident was a manufacturing defect.
The case was filed by a car owner from Amritsar who bought the vehicle in July 2015. Less than a year later, the car met with a major accident on the Pathankot-Amritsar Expressway. Despite having six airbags, only two deployed during the crash, leading to injuries and raising serious safety concerns.
The district consumer forum and the Punjab State Commission had earlier ruled in favour of the buyer, calling it a clear defect. The NCDRC upheld these decisions, stating that the failure of four airbags in a serious accident “speaks for itself” and proves a manufacturing flaw.
The commission rejected the company’s defence that airbags deploy only under specific conditions and that expert testing was required. It clarified that when a defect is obvious and undisputed, courts do not need laboratory reports to establish it.
The court also dismissed arguments linking airbag performance to seatbelt usage, saying both are separate safety systems.
The dealer had kept the damaged vehicle for nearly three months without resolving the issue, and the manufacturer failed to take corrective action despite being informed.
With no response from the company, the buyer approached the consumer forum, seeking a refund and compensation. The court ordered a full refund of ₹10.42 lakh along with additional compensation and legal costs.
The ruling highlights that manufacturers can be held accountable when key safety features fail and reinforces consumer rights in such cases.