Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) issued an official statement after videos posted by a Toyota Innova Hycross owner from Bihar went viral on social media, clarifying that the problem was caused by contaminated fuel and not the use of E20 petrol.The controversy started after Bihar-based YouTuber Manish Kashyap shared two videos in which he claimed his Toyota Innova Hycross developed engine-related problems after refueling with E20. In the videos, Kashyap stated that the hybrid MPV, which had covered around 12,000 km, started showing symptoms like engine vibration, knocking and malfunction-like behavior. Responding to the allegations, Toyota said the Innova Hycross is fully compatible with E20 petrol and has been designed, tested and certified for ethanol blended fuel.In its official statement, the company said: “We have noticed a video of a user currently circulating on social media claiming to have had problems with their Toyota Hycross vehicle due to the use of ethanol-blended fuel (E20). We would like to emphasize that the Toyota Hycross is an E20-compatible vehicle that has been designed, tested and certified to use E20 fuel.”Toyota added that a detailed technical inspection concluded that the problem was the result of fuel contamination, not the ethanol blend itself. 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 standard service procedure, the fuel tank and fuel lines were drained and thoroughly cleaned before the vehicle was refilled with standard E20 gasoline. After the process, the Innova Hycross was inspected, found to be functioning normally and returned to the owner.“It is therefore clear that this incident is not related to the use of E20 fuel and is solely caused by substandard and contaminated fuel,” the company said.Toyota also advised customers to refuel only at authorized and reputable service stations to reduce the risk of fuel contamination or adulteration. It further urges customers to rely on official, science-based information and contact authorized Toyota dealers or customer care for any problems related to their vehicles.In his videos, Kashyap filmed the inspection process at a Toyota service center, where the fuel tank was removed from the vehicle. He showed multiple fuel samples collected from different parts of the fuel system, highlighting visible differences in their color and appearance as he examined how the contamination entered the tank.Kashyap also said that he chose the hybrid version of the Innova Hycross by paying around Rs 5 lakh more than the standard model as an eco-conscious decision. However, he argued that if an E20-compatible vehicle develops such problems despite using the recommended fuel, owners should not have to bear the consequences.He further claimed that the service center representative suggested that warranty coverage could become complicated if the problem was related to contaminated fuel. Kashyap questioned this view, pointing out that the fuel cap of the Innova Hycross clearly states “Up to E20 petrol” and argued that customers should not face additional charges for problems arising while using fuel within the manufacturer’s recommended specifications.
