The short answer
Follow the maker's schedule, which is reported as every 10,000 km or 12 months after the early free services. Before a big trip, book a service two or three weeks ahead, ask the workshop to look at the things off-road trips stress, and keep the records. Servicing on schedule also protects your warranty.
Do
- Follow the service booklet and keep the stamps and bills
- Service two or three weeks before a big trip
- Tell the workshop where you are going and what you carry
- Ask for the 4WD, steering, brakes and suspension to be checked
- Fix what the service finds before you leave
Do not
- Service the day before you leave
- Skip the early services
- Assume a recent service covers a hard trip
- Ignore warnings you were given
- Lose the records
The reported schedule
| Service | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First | 1,000 km or 1 month | Reported as free of labour charge, with parts chargeable. |
| Second | 5,000 km or 6 months | Reported as free of labour charge. |
| Third | 10,000 km or 12 months | Reported as free of labour charge. |
| After that | Every 10,000 km or 12 months, whichever is first | Paid services. Oil and filter changes, and checks on the 4WD, brakes and suspension. |
Maruti is reported to give a standard warranty of three years or 100,000 km on vehicles retailed on or after 9 July 2024, with extended warranty plans of up to six years or 160,000 km. Extended warranty is not a maintenance plan, and does not replace regular servicing.
Check your own booklet. Intervals, free service terms and warranty terms can differ by date of purchase and plan. Your dealer can confirm what applies to your car.
Before a big trip
- Book the service early, two or three weeks before you leave. A Ladakh self-drive writer gives the same lead time
- Tell the workshop about the trip, including altitude, dust, water and the load you will carry
- Ask them to check the items in the table below
- Test drive afterward for noises, pulling and warning lights
- Fix anything flagged and keep the paperwork
What to ask them to check
| Area | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 4WD system, transfer case and diff oil | They work hard off-road, and water or wear shows in the oil. |
| Steering rod, tie rods, damper, kingpins | Exposed parts, and the subject of a reported steering wobble bulletin. See weak points. |
| Brakes, discs and drums | Descents and water crossings test them hard. |
| Suspension, bushes and shocks | Rough roads wear them, and loads change what they carry. |
| Tires, spare and wheel nuts | Punctures and sidewall damage are the most common trip stoppers. |
| Coolant, hoses and belts | Heat and slow crawling stress the cooling system. |
| Battery and charging | Cold, heat and accessories strain it. See battery care. |
| Air filter | Dust clogs it, so check it before a dusty trip. |
Records and warranty
- Keep the service booklet stamped and keep every bill
- Note any warning you were given, and what was done about it
- Ask Maruti what modifications could affect the warranty before you make any
- Keep your own log of oil changes, filter changes and any repairs
Pick your trip
Tap the trip to see the sensible service plan.
Tap a trip (6 to try)
Service plan for Weekend near home
- Do this
- -
- Details
- -
Common mistakes
- Servicing the day before. There is no time to fix what it finds.
- Skipping the early services. They matter for the warranty.
- Not mentioning the trip. The workshop cannot check what it does not know about.
- Losing the records. They protect your warranty and resale.
- Ignoring flagged items. Small faults grow on a trail.
- Assuming a service covers everything. Tires, load and kit are still your job.
A final word. Service intervals and warranty terms here are reported from Maruti-related articles and may differ for your car. Your service booklet and your dealer have the exact terms. A service helps, but it does not replace your own checks before every trip.