After a video posted by a Toyota Innova Hycross owner from Bihar went viral on social media, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) issued an official statement clarifying that the issue was caused by contaminated fuel and not the use of E20 petrol.Bihar-based YouTuber Manish Kashyap sparked controversy after he shared two videos claiming that his Toyota Innova Hycross developed engine-related issues after adding E20 petrol. Kashyap claimed in the video that the hybrid MPV started to show symptoms such as engine vibration, knocking and similar malfunctions after driving about 12,000 kilometers. In response to the allegations, Toyota said the Innova Hycross is fully compatible with E20 gasoline and has been designed, tested and certified for ethanol blended fuels.In its official statement, the company said, “We are aware of a video currently circulating on social media of a customer whose Toyota Hycross vehicle is allegedly experiencing issues due to the use of ethanol-blend (E20) fuel. We would like to emphasize that the Toyota Hycross in question is an E20-compatible vehicle and is designed, tested and certified to run on E20 fuel.”Toyota added that detailed technical inspections concluded that the problem was caused by fuel contamination and 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 its standard maintenance procedures, tanks and fuel lines are drained and thoroughly cleaned before vehicles are filled with standard E20 gasoline. After the entire process, the Innova Hycross was inspected, found to be functioning properly, and returned to the owner.“It is therefore clear that this incident has nothing to do with the use of E20 fuel and was entirely caused by substandard and contaminated fuel,” the company said.Toyota also advises customers to refuel only at authorized and reputable filling stations to minimize the risk of fuel contamination or adulteration. It further urges customers to rely on official, science-based information and contact an authorized Toyota dealer or customer service center for any vehicle-related issues.Kashyap captured the inspection on video at a Toyota service center where the fuel tank had been removed from the vehicle. He showed multiple fuel samples collected from different parts of the fuel system, highlighting clear differences in their color and appearance while questioning how contaminants got into the tanks.Kashyap also said that he paid about Rs 5 lakh more than the standard model and chose the hybrid version of the Innova Hycross due to environmental considerations. However, he believes that if an E20-compatible vehicle still experiences such problems even when using the recommended fuel, the owner does not need to bear the consequences.He further claimed that the service center representative stated that warranty coverage could be complicated if the problem was related to contaminated fuel. Kashyap disputes this stance, pointing out that the Innova Hycross’ fuel cap clearly states “up to E20 gasoline” and arguing that customers should not face additional charges due to issues that arise when using fuel within the manufacturer’s recommended specifications.