Problems With Tata Cars: 7 Known Issues (Explained)

As India’s largest manufacturer of passenger vehicles, Tata has really come a long way. They’ve been around long enough and are making really durable city cars that are also quite affordable.

Their affordability just makes them accessible to so many people that they are considered a staple in India. For such an affordable lineup of cars, Tata cars are quite safe for city driving and much more.

However, every car manufacturer has its ups and downs and Tata has had its fair share of downs. Some of their car models have had to deal with criticisms not only locally but globally too.

In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some common problems with Tata cars. These issues range from small problems and are across multiple Tata models.

1. Noisy Cabin

It can be really frustrating to drive a car that has a noisy cabin. Even if it is affordable, it can still be inconvenient. Some Tata models have been known to have noisy cabins.

A noisy cabin can be due to parts on the inside of the car that aren’t that well-made. Plastic material in the interior of the car can also cause some noise if they are not screwed in tightly.

The Tata Tiago seems to have a lot more complaints about a noisy interior cabin than other models. The Tiago comes in 3 cylinder engine that is known to cause issues with vibrations that cause noise.

Owners of the Tata Tiago were able to minimize the vibrations and noise by using a synthetic type of oil. The problem is that synthetic engine oils can be rather expensive, so the solution wasn’t viable.

Later models of the Tiago seem to have solved this issue and now the vibrations and noise are minimal at best. The BS6 Tata Tiago is a great improvement from the previous versions.

This also goes to show that Tata does listen to their customers and improves from their feedback.

2. Rusting Issue

There’s no arguing that rust on the body of a car makes it look really unattractive and decreases its resale value. Few Tata models have had issues with their cars rusting well before the manufacturer’s warranty.

Metal on cars is prone to rust when it comes into contact with water and extreme weather. This is unavoidable for most cars, especially those used in coastal areas with seawater.

Salty sea water combined with metal makes the rusting process that much faster. This, along with extreme weather and not maintaining the car, goes a long way in speeding up the rusting process.

A few Tata models have experienced this rusting, particularly near the fuel filler cap. Other owners have reported the rust building up from the wheel wells.

Another issue with all the rusting models is that they rust after only a few years. This might indicate a critical design flaw by Tata.

Repairing the rust was found to be difficult and quite expensive, especially if left to gradually worsen. The car then has to be repainted meticulously in order to retain its structure.

3. Jerks At Low Speeds

Yet another issue faced by multiple models in the Tata lineup is the problem of vibrations at low speeds. A lot of owners reported their cars vibrating when driven at lower gears and slow speeds.

The most common cause of this is suspected to be either the suspension or the transmission of the car. A lot of these vibrations come from cars that are known to have transmission issues.

The Tiago is once again reported to have jerky power delivery when driven at low speeds. The gear shifting can be felt on the hands and this makes driving inconvenient.

Vibrations in the gearbox are normally felt in a manual transmission car. But in various Tata models, even the automatic transmissions experience this problem.

This issue can be a symptom of failing components in the car. They might be insufficient fuel, worn-out spark plugs, or just bad electrical wiring.

It is a good idea to take a visit to the dealership and have the issue looked at. A mechanic might also be a good bet to diagnose and solve the problem.

4. Reverse Gear Problem

The reverse gear problem seems to be facing multiple models like the Tata Nexon, Tiago, and Indica. The gear gets stuck and cannot go into reverse mode.

Owners of these models reported having trouble getting the gear into reverse, especially when the car is moving. You’d have to give it a couple of tries before it can easily shift into reverse.

The Tata Nexon has also been reported to have multiple problems with the overall transmission. Gears would get stuck on a certain gear and this can be dangerous if driving on the highway.

When gears won’t go into reverse, it is advised to let the car come to a complete stop before changing gears. Another trick is to select a forward gear first and then try the reverse gear again.

Owners also reported clunky noises in the transmission when changing gears. This is suspected to be a bearing issue or worn-out gear belts.

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5. Power Windows Not Working

On a hot summer day, the last thing you want is a car with windows that don’t roll down. Multiple Tata models have been reported to have dysfunctional power windows.

Owners reported that the power windows would not roll down and usually get stuck if it does. This problem is apparent in the Tata Nexon and Tata Indica.

Upon checking with multiple service centers, it was suspected to be a problem with the power window sensor operator. The electronic unit is working properly, but the wires in the unit often malfunction and cause issues.

Multiple service centers report that this is usually an easy fix on the various Tata models. Unfortunately, the owners of the various Tata models aren’t happy with this malfunction.

Power windows that stop working on Tata models usually do so during the second year of the car’s life. A visit to the mechanic is usually a good idea as soon as the issue appears.

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6. Laggy Infotainment System

Infotainment systems are a fantastic way to keep entertained in a car. They come in very handy, especially on those long-distance trips when you spend a lot of time inside the car.

The infotainment systems on some Tata models have been known to be rather slow and unresponsive. The screen is laggy and inputs take a long time to register your touch or input.

This can be quite frustrating and dangerous because you need to be focused on the road whenever you’re driving. Things that take your eyes off the road must be kept to a minimum.

An infotainment system needs to be responsive in order to get it to do what you want in a timely manner. This is so that you don’t spend more time than necessary looking at it.

In the Tata Tiago and Tata Nexon, the infotainment system has been given a much-needed overhaul. The upgrade has made the screen snappy and responsive enough so that it does not distract the driver.

Most infotainment systems on Tata models look stylish and work well with the rest of the interior. Not only that, but they can also support both Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

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7. Fogging Headlamps and Tail Lamps

Fogging inside headlamps and tail lamps refer to when condensation takes place inside the car’s headlamps. The fog usually makes the glass on the headlamp foggy and unclear.

This is not entirely a really big problem unless the condensation affects the ability of the driver to see the road clearly. Foggy headlamps appear in the majority of older cars and usually aren’t a huge problem.

The problem on some reported Tata models of fogging was way too much. The fog on the headlamp is so much that it appears blurry and affects the lighting.

At night, you need your headlamps to be clear and working in their best condition.

If visibility is minimal, this could potentially cause a crash. The Tata Nexon is one of the models most affected by foggy headlamps.

It was reported that the housing for the headlamp was not allowing enough ventilation into it. This indicates a defective design on the part of Tata.

Fortunately, foggy headlamps are not difficult to get cleared and can be done so at home if you have the know-how. If not, a dealership or your nearest mechanic should be able to clear up the fog.

Final Thoughts

It’s really easy to tell that Tata takes their customers seriously when it comes to issues raised with its models. The problem with various cars is often addressed in later upgraded models and this has worked to Tata’s advantage.

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