A resident of St. Petersburg has filed a lawsuit against the UAZ automotive plant over a series of malfunctions in the Patriot SUV, including an odd mirror-like display of numbers on the instrument panel. The information was reported by the city courts joint press service via the Telegram channel.
According to the claimant, shortly after purchase the UAZ Patriot showed several defects: misaligned wheels, excessive noise from the transfer case, and a gear lever that appeared blurry and oddly illuminated. These issues prompted the owner to seek a remedy under the vehicle’s warranty.
Independent materials in the case indicate that, during the warranty period, the plaintiff identified additional deficiencies such as paint flaws, coolant leaks, and failures in electrical components. Specifically, the instrument panel sometimes displayed information reversed as if seen in a mirror, a symptom the press service described as a software fault within the engine control unit.
The court-appointed examination verified the claimed deficiencies, including the mirrored odometer readings caused by the suspected software malfunction. The court sought approximately 1.5 million rubles in compensation for the vehicle’s value, along with 2.4 million rubles in penalties, legal costs, and damages for moral injury. UAZ has appealed the court’s decision, signaling continued litigation on the matter.
Context surrounding the case notes broader market dynamics for the brand, including regional trends in neighboring markets. In 2022, a Belarusian automotive market experienced a notable decline of about 2.7 times, an indicator of shifting demand patterns and competitive pressures within the region.
Cases like this illustrate the importance of vehicle reliability, transparent manufacturing quality, and effective post-sale service. They also underscore the role of warranty terms, independent evaluations, and judicial review in resolving disputes between car manufacturers and owners. For consumers, such proceedings highlight the value of documenting defects promptly, pursuing formal inspections, and understanding the scope of warranty coverage. When malfunctions involve digital subsystems such as engine control software, manufacturers may be compelled to address both hardware and software issues through recalls, software updates, or compensation where warranted. The evolving landscape of automotive quality assurance continues to influence buyers’ expectations and manufacturers’ compliance strategies in markets across Russia, surrounding regions, and beyond.