Toyota reacts to viral E20 Innova HighCross breakdown video: Details

After a video posted by a Toyota Innova Hycross owner from Bihar went viral on social media, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has issued an official statement, clarifying that the problem was caused by contaminated fuel and not the use of E20 petrol.The controversy started when Bihar-based YouTuber Manish Kashyap shared two videos claiming that his Toyota Innova HighCross developed engine-related problems after filling it with E20 petrol. In the video, Kashyap alleged that the hybrid MPV, which had covered around 12,000 km, started showing symptoms like engine vibration, knocking and breakdown. Responding to the allegations, Toyota said that the Innova HiCross is fully compatible with E20 petrol and has been designed, tested and certified for ethanol-blended fuel.The company said in its official statement, “We have observed a customer video currently circulating on social media claiming that they experienced issues with their Toyota HiCross vehicle due to the use of ethanol-blended (E20) fuel. We would like to emphasize that the Toyota HiCross is an E20-compliant vehicle that has been designed, tested and certified for the use of E20 fuel.”Toyota said that a detailed technical inspection concluded that the problem was the result of fuel contamination rather than ethanol blending. According to the company, no damage was found to the vehicle’s fuel system or any of its components.The automaker said that, as part of its standard service procedure, the fuel tank and fuel lines were drained and thoroughly cleaned before filling the vehicle with standard E20 petrol. Following the process, the Innova HiCross was inspected, found to be functioning normally and handed back to the owner.“Therefore, it is clearly evident that this incident is not related to the use of E20 fuel and is entirely caused by non-standard and contaminated fuel,” the company said.Toyota advised customers to refuel only at authorized and reputable fuel stations to reduce the risk of fuel contamination or adulteration. It urged customers to rely on official, science-based information and contact authorized Toyota dealerships or customer service for any concerns related to their vehicles.In his video, Kashyap recorded the inspection process at the Toyota service centre, where the fuel tank was removed from the vehicle. He showed several fuel samples collected from different parts of the fuel system, highlighting obvious differences in their color and appearance, raising questions about how the contamination entered the tank.Kashyap also said that he had chosen the hybrid version of the Innova Hycross by paying around Rs 5 lakh more than the standard model as an environmentally conscious decision. However, he argued that if such problems develop despite using the recommended fuel in an E20-compliant vehicle, owners should not suffer the consequences.He further claimed that a service center representative suggested that warranty coverage could be complicated if the problem was related to contaminated fuel. Kashyap questioned this stance, saying that the fuel lid of the Innova HiCross clearly has “up to E20 petrol” written on it and argued that customers should not face additional costs for problems arising when using fuel within the manufacturer’s recommended specification.