Can E20 petrol cause problems in Toyota Innova Hycross? Here's what Toyota said after customer's complaint

Toyota has responded after a viral video showed an Innova Hycross owner blaming E20 petrol for engine issues, saying its investigation found contaminated fuel, not the ethanol blend, was responsible.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has issued an official statement after videos posted by a Toyota Innova Hycross owner from Bihar went viral on social media, clarifying that the reported issue was caused by contaminated fuel and not by the use of E20 petrol.

The controversy began after a man uploaded two videos alleging that his Innova Hycross developed fuel-related problems after running on E20 petrol.

In the videos, the man claims that his hybrid MPV, which has covered around 12,000km, started exhibiting symptoms such as engine vibration, knocking and breakdown-like behaviour. He further alleged that fuel samples collected from the vehicle showed abnormal ethanol content and contamination.

In a second video recorded at a Toyota service centre, the vehicle's fuel tank can be seen removed for inspection. The man showed the fuel pump and filter assembly, explaining that fuel passes through multiple filtration stages before reaching the engine. He also displays several fuel samples allegedly collected from different sections of the tank and fuel system, claiming they differed in colour and appearance, with some containing visible dirt or contaminants.

While questioning how the contamination entered the system, he asked whether the responsibility lay with the fuel station, refinery, vehicle manufacturer or government policy. He also highlighted that the fuel filler cap on the Innova Hycross clearly states "Up to E20 Petrol", arguing that an E20-compatible vehicle should not experience such issues. In the videos, he also criticised the government's ethanol-blending programme, questioned the lack of regular petrol as an alternative, and said he was prepared to seek legal remedy.

Responding to the allegations, Toyota said the Innova Hycross involved is fully designed, tested and certified for E20 petrol.

"We have noted a customer video currently circulating on social media wherein it is claimed that he experienced issues with his Toyota Hycross vehicle due to the use of ethanol-blended (E20) fuel. We would like to emphasise that the Toyota Hycross in question is an E20-compatible vehicle that is designed, tested and certified for the use of E20 fuel," the company said.

According to Toyota, a detailed technical assessment found that the problem was caused by fuel contamination rather than the ethanol blend itself.

The company stated that its inspection confirmed there was no damage to the vehicle, its fuel system or any related components. As part of its standard service procedure, technicians drained and thoroughly cleaned the fuel tank and fuel lines before refilling the vehicle with standard E20 fuel. After inspection, the vehicle was found to be operating normally and was subsequently handed back to the customer.

Toyota maintained that the incident was "not related to E20 fuel usage" and was "solely caused by non-standard and contaminated fuel."

The automaker also advised customers to refuel only at authorised and reputed fuel stations to minimise the risk of fuel contamination or adulteration, warning that poor-quality fuel can adversely affect vehicle performance. It further urged customers to rely on official, science-based information regarding E20 compatibility and to contact authorised Toyota dealerships or customer care for any concerns.

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