Tata Nano bursts into flames

Recall

Remember Toyota?
Turned out to be the drivers fault?

Remember Ford?
Largest car recall in history.
http://www.worldcarfans.com/109101422405/ford-agree-largest-recall-in-history—45-million-vehicles

Theres been only 4 incidents, out of which we are still awaiting the prognosis of an actual “flame bursting” incident.

Lets not jump the gun here.

By frugalsun on 23 March, 2010, 6:16pm

Quite right....

.....this just appears to be a slight over-heating problem. And with a quick once-over with some T-cut, that bodywork will be fine.
I would personally put this car ahead of any Toyota that might have 1 sticky throttle pedal in 100,000 cars.
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for - cheap car, or really expensive barbeque?

By gavsmit on 24 March, 2010, 9:10pm

Its is extremely saddening that even after contributing so much to really make India shine on a global platform, back home, it is the easiest to blame Tata’s capabilities for everything that is wrong.

By shamimkhan on 25 March, 2010, 11:03am

It is really sad and unfortunate Nano is dragged into this needless controversy with utter disregard to propriety and whether all this is believable. Among the multiple roles played by media, the most important one is to enable readers make intelligent choices. Some is just making an attempt to tarnish the image of Tata who have created one of the largest conglomerates

By Lalit on 25 March, 2010, 11:50am

Some Competitors are just spreading fabricated, false and malicious information attempting to tarnish the image reputed corporate. Such falsehood could damage India’s reputation as an investor friendly country.

By rishimittal43 on 25 March, 2010, 12:40pm

Allegations and sensationalism have become the norm of any existence. Core motto is to just disrupt every belief, play with emotions and create ruckus. This incident is yet another creation of the nasty game of corporate upmanship and vested interest. Trust to come out with innovative assumptions and ideas to rake in publicity and disrupt NANO’s smooth run. Disgusting!

By rajusingh on 25 March, 2010, 12:56pm

It is noticeable that shamimkan, Lalit and rajusingh are all rushing to the defence of Tata.

You don't work for Tata Public Relations by any chance?

If there is a problem that has caused a car to go on fire, it is better to deal with the problem rather than going into denial.

By jamesmclaughlin on 25 March, 2010, 2:33pm

You cannot cut corners and drive straigt ahead! Even in India

Mr Tata, like Toyota, must learn the laws of the economy and engineering apply to car building also.

You cannot design from scratch with little experience or patents, then build these cheap bangers with cheap labour and then expect to sell them in bulk with zero problems.

Strangely enough the vrest of the world is nether stupid or ignorant and has not been waiting 50 years for Mr Tata!

Not even if he has now a newly bought in CEO from GM in Germany!

By vandenplas4litre on 25 March, 2010, 3:12pm

Haha!! Now if only that would happen to Prius my life would be complete!!

By Wobbletastic on 25 March, 2010, 5:27pm

Worrying

...that people can be so defensive of such a large profit-making organisation when the evidence is there to say this car is not built to the same standards as other global cars.
Its cheap, therefore something has to give. I've seen stories on the web about Tata expecting a 4 star NCAP crash rating for this car but to my knowledge it's never been tested - that indeed sounds like a marketing ploy to me.
I'd also be the first to admit British Leyland cars were, on the whole, rubbish despite being a Brit. You can support your home-grown industries only so far before you get fed up of your hard-earned money being wasted on a car that falls apart, then the dealerships treat you like dirt.
But it will be interesting to see what comes of the Jaguar Tata tie-up - and whether both will benefit or fail.

By gavsmit on 25 March, 2010, 5:51pm

Would expect nothing less from a cheaply engineered piece of tat(!) Please Tata, do not send any of these excuses for cars over to Britain.

By cousins11 on 26 March, 2010, 11:49am

HOLY SMOKE

Is this India's version of Chris Bangles Flame surface effect? Well its rather more head turning than Chris's work. Or is it the car rumoured to run on Vindaloo?

By pocketpiston on 26 March, 2010, 11:26pm

CAR WAS NOT NEW BUT STATIC DISPLAY PRE-PRODUCTION MODEL

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/03/25/nano-car-fire-tata-motors-apology-sale-burning.html

The car was a two year old early pre-production model which was only intended for static showroom display, and should not have been sold by the dealer. Tata is investigating the dealer as well as the cause of the fire.

The cause of the fire probably was a broken or loose fuel injection line. A friend of mine had his car - a Vauxhall - go up like that recently as a result of faulty servicing - it isn't uncommon in fuel injected cars. It was caused by a loose fuel injection line which allowed petrol to spray all over the engine.

The other 3 incidents of fire reported were down to electrical shorts in faulty switches, with a burning small, but no risk of fire.

The Nano's safety record so far is very good. 3 or 4 incidents in about 50,000, with the rest not reporting any reliability or other problems despite the intense spotlight it has been under with regard to accusations of safety and poor quality, which seem to be down to competitor's fears about the price competition.

None of these including safety seem to have any bearing in fact. Indeed the Nano is one of the safest small cars in India, and a lot safer in a crash than Suzuki's Maruti 800 (Suzuki Alto) which is twice the price.

The Nano's problems are nothing compared to the problems with Toyota, Ford, and Vauxhall cars. The problem with the Nano is that the press is looking for something sensational to print given all the previous unfulfilled claims that the Nano couldn't be built, was unsafe, made of cardboard etc.

By MS12345 on 28 March, 2010, 7:27pm

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? ITS BOILING OUT THERE

Anyone whos lived in a massively hot country knows cars set on fire all the time, especially cheap and old ones. I had a Mercedes when I lived in Cyprus and I came outside one afternoon and it had just set itself on fire!! And my mate had a Peugueot 306 and that did the same, its just the way it is, and I imagine the Nano, seeing as its cheaply made, stands quite a good chance of going up in flames, hence the lack of recall.

By liveforever on 29 March, 2010, 8:43pm

IN THE NICK OF TIME

I just hope they got the tourist wearing the floral necklace out from under the bonnet in time.

By pocketpiston on 31 March, 2010, 9:35am