How long do I have to file a consumer complaint after a purchase?

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 sets a limitation period of 2 years from the date the cause of action arose to file a consumer complaint. The key question in your case is when the "cause of action" actually arose — generally, this is treated as the date you discovered the defect, not necessarily the date of purchase, especially for manufacturing defects that are not visible or apparent at the time of buying.

Since you discovered the defect about a year and a half after purchase, and assuming you are filing reasonably soon after discovering it, you are very likely still within the 2-year window, since the clock for a manufacturing defect claim typically starts running from when the defect became apparent or was discovered, not from the purchase date itself. That said, this can be a contested point, so it helps to have some record of when you first noticed and reported the issue, such as a complaint to the seller or manufacturer shortly after discovery.

Even if you are technically outside the standard limitation period, Section 69 of the Consumer Protection Act allows the consumer commission to admit a complaint filed after the limitation period if you can show sufficient cause for the delay — this is decided case by case and is not guaranteed, so it is best not to rely on it and to file as soon as possible.

I'd recommend documenting the defect now with photos and a written complaint to the seller or manufacturer dated today, and then filing your consumer complaint promptly rather than waiting further, since every month of additional delay makes the limitation argument more complicated to navigate.