I hate my MG4!

[Caramaddy]

Maybe we just have lower expectations, or we haven't had such an advanced car before (our previous car was a 13 year old Seat Ibiza with no screen or technology or cruise control)

Interesting comment. We have a Lexus NX300h as our main car. I bought the MG5 as a rubbish / dog carrier with low expectations compared to the Lexus.

To my surprise I actually prefer driving the MG5. The whole driving experience is excellent. Obviously the build quality can't be compared to rthe Lexus but for the money it is excellent value. So my experience of lower expectations has been turned on its head.

The MG4, being a new model, will have issues. It will be interesting to see if the newer models have been improved. Sadly for MG many of the present owners will jump off if they can afford to.

 

[JonnyG]

I actually like my Xpower despite all the niggles. I now just turn off all driver aids and just drive it. I still look forward to driving it on long trips and find it much better with LKA and ACC off. I’m in full control .

What I do hate is MG UK / SAIC response to solving issues. Software updates are not part of the annual service , and I have no faith in MG sorting any issues.

I’ve had most of the OP’s issues but do find mine pretty rattle free on the whole after doing the boot catch fix (9000 miles and 1 year in).

 

[YaR]

There are software module updates that improve it a lot and we are still apparently all going to get a definitive update to fix this, although there's been a lot of waiting already for this.

I'd call it lying. A number of us were told by MG customer services a fix would be made available in August, I was even told it would be ready by my service. None of that is true. It still hasn't been released.

 

[CharlieT]

To be honest I think we've had a very similar experience to you.

Our software/screen doesn't seem to be as glitchy but we had a single phantom emergency braking incident.

Had a steamy journey once when my parents were in the car but when it is just me and Pebbles or one of us on our own it doesn't seem too bad. And you just press the strong demist button and it clears quickly.

Despite having a somewhat similar experience we don't mind the car at all!

We don't turn off the LKA, don't mind the speed limit being wrong sometimes. I use the ACC and love it - only problem is that it gets a bit closer behind the car in front than I would myself before slowing down more abruptly than I would have.

Maybe we just have lower expectations, or we haven't had such an advanced car before (our previous car was a 13 year old Seat Ibiza with no screen or technology or cruise control)

Hi Bam Bam. It’s good to hear that your car hasn’t been too bad overall. I wonder if your car perhaps has the newer, improved software? Hopefully mine will be less awful after next week!

The LKA I turn off every drive (horrible), all the rest just doesn't bother me. Different people have different expectations which is fine, however I do believe some are expecting Lexus/Mercedes etc levels of refinement for MG money.

Maybe your car has a more recent software package. And you’re right that we shouldn’t expect top quality from what is a cheap EV, but some of these issues are just unforgivable in my opinion. Things that shouldn’t happen on any car, no matter the price bracket.

There are software module updates that improve it a lot and we are still apparently all going to get a definitive update to fix this, although there's been a lot of waiting already for this.

This is greatly improved in the later Infotainment updates (R59/R33).

Again, this has improved in later infotainment updates.

Ditto.

Yes, this is characteristic and can happen on many different makes of car, official advice I received was to switch AEB to 'alert' only, so the car cannot slam on the brakes. Has to be done every journey.

I think this is relatively rare.

Never had this, I leave Air Conditioning on year round (to reduce humidity) and leave the system on ECO mode with Fan set to 2, never mists. If it is bad even with AC on, suggests water leak into cabin somewhere.

ACC improves with module updates from unusable to usable. It is still fussy and not as good as most makes.

Reduced with lower regen settings, I use Adaptive and improves somewhat with ACC updates.

I always turn it off, every journey.

I fixed this with LED replacement bulbs in overhead lights in the front, see accessories forum.

I fixed this with cheap red rubber selt belt plug wrappers, again see accessories forum.

I turned these off permanently.

Again, better with later Infotainment or if using Apple, just use CarPlay. Or you could buy a £25 wifi dongle for wireless AA/CarPlay, which I did.

Works best for me when car isn't connected to Wifi, just 4G. Usually have to pull down 2 or 3 times for it to update properly.

It is good that you've avoided some of the other issues people have had, here's some hardware ones reported:

• Sagging undertray
• Oil leak
• Broken footrest
• Rattling boot latch
• Ticking from steering column area (can be wheel bearing)
• Premature seat wear
• Broken door handle latches
• Stuck charging flap
• Noisy AC compressor
• Failed CCU (charging unit)

Later cars seem much better, mine dates from November 2022 so I have had a bunch of these issues.

It should also be said that most newly launched cars have minor issues, that is expected. What is key is how quickly the maker sorts them out and how well they look after customers with these problems.


The follow distance has three settings close, middle and far which are changed by clicking the left joystick left and right while ACC is engaged.

A lot of this is EuroNCAP forcing tech on all new cars which people don't want and didn't ask for.

A really interesting summary, thank you tsedge.

 

[Bam Bam]

Hi Bam Bam. It’s good to hear that your car hasn’t been too bad overall. I wonder if your car perhaps has the newer, improved software? Hopefully mine will be less awful after next week!


Maybe your car has a more recent software package. And you’re right that we shouldn’t expect top quality from what is a cheap EV, but some of these issues are just unforgivable in my opinion. Things that shouldn’t happen on any car, no matter the price bracket.

We've got the SE, which has some different software.

Was dissapointed with the dealership because I asked for the latest software to come with the car and was told it would. However, it was only much later I discovered it wasn't. Had a few updates done under warranty, but it doesn't work in the way that some people's does, implying not all updates have been applied.

But if it isn't causing a problem they can't do updates under warranty, which is sort of fair enough I guess.

 

[MelanieMoxon]

The LKA I turn off every drive (horrible), all the rest just doesn't bother me. Different people have different expectations which is fine, however I do believe some are expecting Lexus/Mercedes etc levels of refinement for MG money.

I don't expect high levels of refinement, I just expect everything fitted to work, I don't expect a parade of "XYZ failed" on the dash. I judge any new car (whether it is a £1M supercar or a £15k Dacia Sandero by that standard, if something is fitted I expect it to work. New cars get given the 3 strikes rule; three separate problems and its done. As I said on another thread, I expect to find savings on cars like MG with the use of cheap scratchy plastics & not going around putting felt tape on surfaces that rub (one of the biggest causes of squeaks and rattles in a car). Stuff like that.

Another fault today. I parked the car outside the hangar after a 40 mile drive to drop a few bits off and do the preflight on my aeroplane ahead of the planned morning flight. I was in the hangar maybe 10 mins. I headed back to the car unlocked it and got in, the dash displayed READY but it would not go into gear, none of the doors, bonnet or boot were open, no warnings that anything was wrong, the gear selector wasn't even lit up. I got out locked it and then unlocked it. It worked perfectly this time. I didn't make any changes to getting in the car, open door, get in, shut door foot on brake, seatbelt on.

Yet another bug to add to the lengthening list.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Like yourself I have a good one. Some niggles but nothing that can't be bypassed or solved by a reboot . I will pick up on your "if your unlucky " comment. Unfortunately too many members and presumably non-members are not so lucky when it comes to both reliability and dealer reactions, I don't know what that percentage is ,and how it compares to other marques no matter the price point. All I can say is , yes I'm lucky but for a undetermined reason I have an uneasy feeling that that luck could change and I am then at the mercy of MG customer services who don't have 2024 or any other positive awards. ( GB , Europe, or otherwise, )

 

[DannySB1]

I understand your gripes and for me the "glitches" with the software are the things that stop me loving this car. My 4 is also my first electric car and as a car in terms of driving it, I absolutely love it. No complaints there.

But in the 7 months I've had it I've been back to the dealer multiple times with two major issues (one being the main infotainment screen dying completely on me - thankfully now fixed) and another problem which is consistently inconsistent.

It's a real shame, I feel like the MG4 has serious potential especially for the price point, but it's let down by pretty terrible software and awful aftersales.

Would I get another MG after my PCP is up? At this stage probably not, but I'm open minded.

 

[1ruby1]

• Ticking from steering column area (can be wheel bearing)

I would be very happy if anyone could find a solution to the above problem.

 

[FrancisM]

I intend holding on to mine for the 7-year warrranty period, assuming it remains reliable. I suspect battery technologies will have advanced somewhat by the end of that. I hope to be able to buy something which weights less than 1.7 tonnes next time.

 

[Rufus2005]

The only issue I have is emergency braking, also sometimes less aggressive phantom breaking while using autosteer (TJA). Other than that no issues

 

[Rolfe]

It's odd that some people have an issue with emergency braking and others very definitely haven't. I wonder if it's something to do with the way the sensors are set up?

 

[YaR]

It's odd that some people have an issue with emergency braking and others very definitely haven't. I wonder if it's something to do with the way the sensors are set up?

Or software versions? Mine changed after the August update - not for the better. Now it sometimes activates when you're trying to park behind another car, ie moving towards it at walking speed as well as when pulling out or turning.

 

[CharlieT]

Or software versions? Mine changed after the August update - not for the better. Now it sometimes activates when you're trying to park behind another car, ie moving towards it at walking speed as well as when pulling out or turning.

Oh dear. I wasn’t expecting a software update to perhaps make something even worse!

 

[LenEV2016]

Oh dear. I wasn’t expecting a software update to perhaps make something even worse!

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of MG ownership

 

[Rolfe]

Or software versions? Mine changed after the August update - not for the better. Now it sometimes activates when you're trying to park behind another car, ie moving towards it at walking speed as well as when pulling out or turning.

Mine is still OK after the latest updates, in fact it rather covered itself with glory yesterday evening without actually braking at all.

 

[CharlieT]

Are people paying to get their software updated, or are your dealers just doing it for you? I wonder if it varies?

 

[siteguru]

In my case my dealer just does it for me at service time - e.g. I've just received yesterday the latest 1100R38 for the SE.

 

[m2mob]

Unity in Coventry did all the updates on mine as part of the service - no extra charge for them. So far as a dealership they have been fantastic for looking after my 4! Hope you get yours sorted out - mine was a different (much better) car after all the updates were applied!

 

[John1941]

I have had my MG4 Trophy ER since Sept 2023 and am basically very pleased with it. I think most of Charlie T's complaints are on the trivial side.
I have only had one real problem with mine. The lights failed to turn off when car locked and flattened the 12v, not happened again.
Agree some minor irritations. As we drive narrow lanes in the country LKA needs to be turned off. Dealer says that being abled by default is a UK legal requirement. It re-enables if auto lights switch themselves on or off and has to be reset.
When using satnav in towns, camera can come on when near other cars at junctions etc and satnav is lost when you need it.
Otherwise satisfied, range is great which is my no.1 requirement.