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, explaining that the issue is due to contaminated fuel and not the use of E20 fuel.The controversy started after Bihar-based YouTuber Manish Kashyap shared two videos claiming that his Toyota Innova Hycross developed engine-related problems after being filled with E20 fuel. In the videos, Kashyap alleged that the hybrid MPV, which had covered around 12,000 km, started showing symptoms like engine shaking, knocking and breakdown-like behaviour. Responding to the allegations, Toyota said the Innova Hycross is fully compatible with E20 fuel and has been designed, tested and certified for ethanol-blended fuel.In its official statement, the company said, “We have noticed a video of a customer currently circulating on social media in which he claims to be experiencing issues with his Toyota Hycross vehicle due to the use of ethanol-blended (E20) fuel.Toyota added that a detailed technical inspection concluded that the issue was the result of fuel contamination rather than the ethanol blend itself. According to the company, there was no damage to the vehicle’s fuel system or any of its components.The automaker says that, as part of its standard service procedure, the fuel tank and fuel lines are drained and thoroughly cleaned before the vehicle is filled with standard E20 fuel. After the process, the Innova Hycross was inspected, found to be functioning normally and returned to the owner.“Therefore, it is clearly evident that this incident was not related to the use of E20 fuel and was only caused by substandard and contaminated fuel,” the company said.Toyota also advises customers to only refuel at authorized and reputable fuel stations to minimize the risk of fuel contamination or spoilage. It further urges customers to rely on official, science-based information and contact authorized Toyota dealerships or customer care for any concerns related to their vehicles.In his videos, Kashyap recorded the inspection process at a Toyota service center, where the fuel tank was removed from the car. He showed several fuel samples collected from different parts of the fuel system, highlighting the visible differences in their color and appearance while questioning how the contamination got into the tank.Kashyap also said that he opted for the hybrid version of the Innova Hycross by paying around Rs 5 lakh more than the standard model as an environmentally conscious decision. However, he argues that if an E20-compatible vehicle develops such issues despite using the recommended fuel, owners should not bear the consequences.He added that a service center representative suggested that warranty coverage would be complicated if the problem was linked to contaminated fuel. Kashyap questioned this stance, pointing out that the fuel cap of the Innova Hycross clearly states “Up to E20 Petrol” and argued that customers should not face additional costs for issues that arise while using fuel within the manufacturer’s recommended specification.