BHPian highrevs123 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:Ownership ExperienceWhen we decided on buying the chetak 3502 it was with modest expectations. The scooter was meant for short rides that rarely cross 5km and thought that an e scooter from probably most iconic scooter brand in India was a safe bet. The sad reality of this decision was nothing short of frustrating and infuriating.The first service provided a small window into the experiences awaiting me. I had a few cosmetic problems like a panel near the foot pegs being loose and a backlight of a button not working nothing major. I was asked to return in the evening to collect the scooter. When I was inspecting I noticed both my issues weren’t resolved. They informed me that the button cluster had been ordered and tried convincing me that the panel sticking out was normal. I tried explaining that this isn’t normal and pressed this issue on they then told it would be taken care of when the button cluster is being replaced (under warranty). Now they came to billing me ( yes the 1st service isn’t free I don’t know why bajaj wants to charge for it) when they realized that my scooter has one software update and a motor gear change. They then requested me to leave the scooter with them for an extra day to do the necessary work. They inform that the gear is out of stock and will be ordered and changed when I visit again for the button replacement. Fast forward about a month, I never got a call from the service center and nobody picked up my calls for about a week. Then I get a hold of the manager and he assures me that the part has arrived and to come and get it replaced. They kept my scooter for 3 days and then informed that the gear was still not in stock and that they have ordered a new floor board for my panel issue. Also around this time the tec pac had started acting up and they had done something which made it work for about 10 days. Fast forward another month and my scooter started acting up with an error message popping up saying the power was de-rated and the scooter going into limp mode. The scooter was promptly taken to the service. After dodging my calls for about 3 days the service center informed that the battery needed replacing and has been sent for approval to bajaj and will be ordered as soon as the approval is received when I asked them for the reason for the battery failure they where unable to give me anything. Within just 3 months of ownership and only about 500 km of usage, the battery completely failed and had to be replaced. That silence raises a bigger question: what kind of product has Bajaj Motors actually developed if a brand-new scooter’s battery dies under such light usage? The situation only felt worse when I went to Khivraj Ambattur, Chennai to collect my scooter after service. At the same time, I saw a Chetak 3503 that had been sold just 10 days earlier already in for a battery replacement. Listening to the owners talk about how they had no other means of transport really hit me. In my case, I at least had other alternatives during my scooter’s stay in the service centre – but I could see their frustration, and it was honestly sad. And then there’s the so-called Tech Pac – a feature set that includes location tracking and connectivity. On paper, it sounds useful. In reality, it barely works and only adds to the disappointment. Unfortunately, the product issues were just the beginning. The customer service experience was appalling. I reached out to Khivraj Motors (Ambattur), Bajaj Motors directly via phone,email, the official Chetak email IDs, and even their social media handles. None of them responded. Even the Chetak helpline was a dead end – all they did was register complaints but never followed through with action. On top of that, Khivraj kept my scooter for weeks, giving no updates for 20 days straight. When delivery was finally promised, they forgot to complete some pending work that had already been noted earlier. That mistake delayed delivery by another two full days. In total, the scooter was stuck at the service centre for 25 days – nearly a month – for a battery replacement. When I finally got my scooter back, it was filthy and scratched up – a shocking state for a vehicle that was already under warranty service. I had to fight with the service centre just to get it cleaned up and corrected. To make matters worse, the staff seemed intent on convincing customers that such massive failures and defects were “routine problems”, which is very concerning. Calling a major battery failure at under 500 km “routine” is not just dismissive, it’s dangerous. We chose the Chetak 3502 for peace of mind on short rides. Instead, it has turned into a source of constant stress, wasted time, and regret. Between the unreliable product, lack of accountability, and shockingly poor after-sales support, this has been one of the worst ownership experiences I’ve ever had. If Bajaj Motors wants customers to trust Chetak as a serious product, they need to fix both their quality issues and their customer support. Right now, what should have been a simple commuting solution feels like a costly mistake.Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
