Harrier EV Ownership Review – Issues I’ve Faced Since Buying the Car
I wanted to share my ownership experience with the Tata Harrier EV so that existing and prospective owners can understand what I have experienced with the car.
I bought the Harrier EV expecting a premium product, especially after spending more than ₹30 lakh. Unfortunately, my experience so far has involved repeated quality issues, multiple service-center visits, and several instances where parts/finishes had to be dismantled or repaired.
Here is the timeline of the issues I remember since buying the car:
1. Roof Noise – Within the First Month
Within the first month itself, I started noticing an annoying noise from the roof area.
I took the car to the Tata service center, and the solution was to disassemble the roof and refit it to address the noise.
After around 2 months, the same noise returned.
I visited the service center again, and once again, the roof was worked on/refitted.
Unfortunately, the problem still wasn’t properly resolved.
At that point, after repeated attempts, I eventually decided to live with the annoying noise rather than keep visiting the service center repeatedly.
2. Motor Heating Warning + Coolant Issue
Within approximately 4 months of ownership, I received a motor heating warning.
I immediately took the vehicle to the service center.
During inspection, I was told that the coolant level was empty/very low.
The coolant was topped up by the service center.
This was particularly concerning to me because this happened within just a few months of buying a brand-new vehicle.
3. Tyre Wear – Around 5–6 Months
Another major issue was tyre wear.
The tyres became significantly worn within approximately 5–6 months of driving.
I raised the issue with Tata, and the tyres were eventually replaced under warranty.
My concern is that, based on my experience, the tyres appeared unlikely to provide more than roughly 10,000–12,000 km of usable life.
For a vehicle in this price range, I expected much better tyre life.
4. NFC Card Failure – Two Service-Center Visits
The NFC card stopped working.
This required two separate visits to the service center.
On the first visit, I had to take the car in to demonstrate and report the issue.
The service center then ordered a new NFC card.
Once the replacement card arrived, I had to make another visit to the service center for the pairing/activation of the new NFC card.
So even a relatively small issue resulted in two separate workshop visits.
5. Windshield Rubber Beading Detached From the Body – 4 Visits in One Week
Then came the windshield rubber beading issue.
The rubber beading had detached from the body, and the separation was clearly visible. Since this was a relatively new vehicle, I raised the issue with the Tata service center.
I was told that the proper procedure would involve removing the windshield, reinstalling/fixing the rubber beading, and keeping the vehicle overnight.
I agreed to the process.
However, after collecting the vehicle and returning home, I noticed that the finishing around the rubber beading was not acceptable.
When I questioned the service center about how the repair had been carried out, I was told that they had simply used glue to fix the detached beading.
This was not what I had expected based on the repair procedure that had initially been explained to me.
I asked them to properly fix the issue and make the finishing look right.
The vehicle was taken in again and the work was redone.
However, I then noticed visible marks and damage from the previous glue work around the rubber beading.
I raised this issue again, and the affected area was subsequently worked on through denting/painting/finishing. It looked somewhat better than before, but still wasn’t what I would expect from a brand-new vehicle.
In total, I had to visit the service center 4 times in just one week for this windshield rubber-beading issue.
Four visits in one week for a windshield rubber beading that had detached from the body, followed by multiple attempts to get the finishing right, is extremely frustrating when you are dealing with a ₹30+ lakh new vehicle.
Eventually, I decided to accept the condition because I was simply getting exhausted with repeatedly taking the vehicle to the service center.
6. Sunroof/Roof Noise – Another Round of Repairs
The roof noise continued.
During another visit, the service center worked around the sunroof area, including pulling up the sunroof glass and carrying out greasing/work on the mechanism.
After this work, the sunroof stopped closing properly.
They carried out troubleshooting, but by then the day was over and they asked me to bring the car again.
I returned the next day, and eventually the sunroof issue was fixed.
But once again, this meant another visit and another round of work on a relatively new vehicle.
7. Roof Noise Still Not Resolved
After the repairs, we again went for a test drive to check whether the roof noise had been resolved.
Unfortunately, the noise was still there.
The latest explanation from Tata is now that there is an issue with the sunroof curtain track, and that the track needs to be replaced.
So now I am waiting for the required part to arrive so that this can be repaired again.
8. And Now… Wiper Spray Has Stopped Working
As if that wasn’t enough, I now have another issue:
The windshield wiper spray has stopped working.
So when I go back to the Tata service center for the sunroof curtain-track repair, I will also have to get this issue checked and repaired.
The Bigger Concern
My biggest concern isn’t that a car can have an occasional problem.
I understand that mechanical and electronic components can fail.
My concern is the frequency and nature of these issues on a brand-new vehicle costing more than ₹30 lakh.
I have repeatedly had to visit the service center for:
- Roof noise
- Roof disassembly/refitting
- Sunroof-related issues
- Sunroof glass work
- Sunroof curtain-track issue
- Coolant/motor heating warning
- Premature tyre wear
- NFC card failure — requiring two visits
- Windshield rubber beading — requiring 4 visits in one week
- Poor finishing after repair
- Wiper spray failure
- And other fit-and-finish concerns
There have been times when I have had to leave the vehicle or return again the next day because the issue wasn’t resolved within the same visit.
In just the last one week, I have visited the service center around 4 times — specifically because of the windshield rubber-beading issue.
And next week, I already have another appointment because of the previously mentioned issues.
At some point, you start asking yourself:
Why am I spending so much time at the service center with a brand-new ₹30+ lakh vehicle?
Panel Gaps & Overall Fit and Finish
Panel gaps are something that many manufacturers struggle with, and I’m not saying the Harrier EV is the only vehicle with panel-gap variations.
But in my vehicle, the uneven panel gaps and overall fit-and-finish quality appear quite noticeable, especially considering the positioning and price of the Harrier EV.
For a vehicle marketed as a premium EV, I expected much better consistency in manufacturing and assembly.
I’m Sharing This for Fellow Owners
I’m not writing this post to unnecessarily bash Tata or the Harrier EV.
I actually wanted to like this car.
The Harrier EV has many things going for it, and I genuinely hope Tata improves the quality-control and service experience.
But an ownership review should also include the problems, especially when those problems keep coming back.
I am sharing my experience because I would like to know:
Has anyone else faced similar issues with their Harrier EV?
Especially:
- Persistent roof/sunroof noise?
- Sunroof curtain-track problems?
- Coolant levels dropping?
- Premature tyre wear?
- Windshield rubber/beading issues?
- Poor finishing after windshield/beading work?
- NFC card failures requiring multiple visits?
- Uneven panel gaps or fit-and-finish issues?
- Multiple service-center visits for the same complaint?
If you have faced similar issues, please share your experience in the comments.
I’m hoping Tata takes such feedback seriously and focuses on better manufacturing quality, quality control, and proper first-time resolution at service centers.
A premium price should come with a premium ownership experience — not repeated trips to the workshop every few weeks.