Issues with New MGZSEV

[Mark ZS EV SE LR]

Hi everyone!

We purchased a new 2023 MG ZSEV Long Range from Gold Coast MG back in April 2024, and I’ve been a strong supporter of electric vehicles for a long time. We were replacing our old 2007 Toyota RAV4, which we used for towing our small camper trailer and carrying our sea kayaks to the beach. We’ve also invested in rooftop solar and various charging solutions, so we’re committed to staying with an EV.

I’m reaching out to see if anyone else has had similar experiences with their MG ZSEV. I’ve documented most of the issues with photos and videos, and I’m hoping to hear from others who might have encountered the same or similar problems. Here’s a list of the things we’ve noticed:

1. Starting/Stopping Issues: The start button often requires multiple presses (up to 3) to function, whether starting or stopping the car, especially when the brake is pressed or when switching to accessory mode.

2. Startup Fault Messages: Upon starting the car, we sometimes see these fault messages:

• Forward Collision System Unavailable
• Rear Drive Assist System Unavailable
• Auto Emergency Braking Unavailable

3. In-Motion Fault Messages: While driving (especially on motorways), we occasionally get these same fault messages along with a yellow warning icon:

• Forward Collision System Unavailable
• Rear Drive Assist System Unavailable

4. Automatic Handbrake Rollback: After releasing the automatic handbrake, the car tends to roll back on slight inclines but not on steeper ones.

5. Hill Start Failure: The car has occasionally stalled when trying to drive up steep hills, both forwards and in reverse. These failures have happened in various locations, including a private driveway and public areas.

6. "Slow Down" Notifications: When passing a speed limit sign (e.g., 80km/h), the car correctly reads the new limit but continues to show alerts at 60km/h.

7. Reversing Camera Malfunction: The reversing camera sometimes blanks out when reversing at night.

8. Creaking Noise: We’ve been hearing a creaking noise from the windscreen/front dash area, which gets worse on hot days or bumpy roads.

We have returned the EV to Gold Coast MG on multiple occasions; who claimed they are unable to replicate the issues.
Has anyone experienced similar issues?
Any feedback or suggestions on what might be going on?
Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[Susanna]

The only things I have had, were the occasional ‘forward collision system unavailable’, when (I think) bright sunshine comes on the front radar. As it happens at the same place on a regular route I take, I can safely ignore it. And, the windscreen creak. Especially at the moment, as it’s very cold here in the UK.

A search on the forum will bring up a solution to this, but it’s not something I will be tackling.

 

[Gadget Geek]

A lot of the issues have been reported by members. If you type the error code in to the search box, you should find most replies and the solutions. Good hunting.

 

[DB Go Rex]

Hi everyone!

We purchased a new 2023 MG ZSEV Long Range from Gold Coast MG back in April 2024, and I’ve been a strong supporter of electric vehicles for a long time. We were replacing our old 2007 Toyota RAV4, which we used for towing our small camper trailer and carrying our sea kayaks to the beach. We’ve also invested in rooftop solar and various charging solutions, so we’re committed to staying with an EV.

I’m reaching out to see if anyone else has had similar experiences with their MG ZSEV. I’ve documented most of the issues with photos and videos, and I’m hoping to hear from others who might have encountered the same or similar problems. Here’s a list of the things we’ve noticed:

1. Starting/Stopping Issues: The start button often requires multiple presses (up to 3) to function, whether starting or stopping the car, especially when the brake is pressed or when switching to accessory mode.

2. Startup Fault Messages: Upon starting the car, we sometimes see these fault messages:

• Forward Collision System Unavailable
• Rear Drive Assist System Unavailable
• Auto Emergency Braking Unavailable

3. In-Motion Fault Messages: While driving (especially on motorways), we occasionally get these same fault messages along with a yellow warning icon:

• Forward Collision System Unavailable
• Rear Drive Assist System Unavailable

4. Automatic Handbrake Rollback: After releasing the automatic handbrake, the car tends to roll back on slight inclines but not on steeper ones.

5. Hill Start Failure: The car has occasionally stalled when trying to drive up steep hills, both forwards and in reverse. These failures have happened in various locations, including a private driveway and public areas.

6. "Slow Down" Notifications: When passing a speed limit sign (e.g., 80km/h), the car correctly reads the new limit but continues to show alerts at 60km/h.

7. Reversing Camera Malfunction: The reversing camera sometimes blanks out when reversing at night.

8. Creaking Noise: We’ve been hearing a creaking noise from the windscreen/front dash area, which gets worse on hot days or bumpy roads.

We have returned the EV to Gold Coast MG on multiple occasions; who claimed they are unable to replicate the issues.
Has anyone experienced similar issues?
Any feedback or suggestions on what might be going on?
Thanks in advance for your input!

All normal for the car sadly.

 

[Tim Green]

Well I have the older shorter range model purchased January 2020 and I can honestly say that we have had none of those problems. One door handle, and that's it.

 

[peterseddon]

The only things I have had, were the occasional ‘forward collision system unavailable’, when (I think) bright sunshine comes on the front radar.

The sun can't affect the radar, it's the top front camera that gets blinded by the sun or blocked by condensation, I've had he on two Toyota Yaris I've had.

 

[James in Aus]

Standard range MG here.

For the startup fault messages I get those every few weeks. They self clear shortly after they appear. The faults seem to appear when the car's on-board system take a while to initialise. I notice this when the touchscreen take a while to fire up.

In regard to the in-motion messages, I have experienced them a few times and only during winter. One time the message appeared on the way to the dealership to get something else checked. They found a fault in the history log and cleared it.

I put these errors/faults to the vehicle software. Hopefully they will be rectified over time.

 

[Susanna]

@peterseddon Thanks! You can tell I know nothing……..

 

[DB Go Rex]

Well I have the older shorter range model purchased January 2020 and I can honestly say that we have had none of those problems. One door handle, and that's it.

I'd be very surprised if you don't have at least some of the time:

- the reverse camera just randomly not work

- camera block and disablement of safety/collision warning system messages

- complete inability to read speed signs properly


They are inherit to the control software/firmware systems.

If you never have then we need to know your software versions

 

[peterseddon]

@peterseddon Thanks! You can tell I know nothing……..

Everyone has to start somewhere, you learn as you go along.

 

[fred12345]

I’ve documented most of the issues with photos and videos, and I’m hoping to hear from others who might have encountered the same or similar problems. Here’s a list of the things we’ve noticed:

Share photos and videos, will be easier to help you. do you by any chance live somewhere fairly dusty or drive on dusty/dirt roads?

1. Starting/Stopping Issues: The start button often requires multiple presses (up to 3) to function, whether starting or stopping the car, especially when the brake is pressed or when switching to accessory mode.

Try pressing the brake firmly and not letting go, until "ready" shows - press start button once only. The car is seems quite sensitive about this ... It might be that your start button is not making good contact? But if your MG garage can't replicate this, could it be they start in a different way than you?

2. Startup Fault Messages: Upon starting the car, we sometimes see these fault messages:

• Forward Collision System Unavailable
• Rear Drive Assist System Unavailable
• Auto Emergency Braking Unavailable

Forward Collision System Unavailable would pop up when my front camera/windscreen is foggy, dirty or in strong sun so the camera can't "see". The rest might be due to "wrong" startup of the car. If you turn the car off and then on again, do you get the same messages or not? If not, possibly something to do with your startup routine ...

3. In-Motion Fault Messages: While driving (especially on motorways), we occasionally get these same fault messages along with a yellow warning icon:

• Forward Collision System Unavailable
• Rear Drive Assist System Unavailable

Front might be to do with obscured front camera view but Rear - not sure, this needs to be checked with a garage - says the manual.

4. Automatic Handbrake Rollback: After releasing the automatic handbrake, the car tends to roll back on slight inclines but not on steeper ones.

Settings. probably due to hill start settings. Enable auto-hold, might help. Don't you keep it in Park? Why release handbrake if you can simply go from P into D drive?

5. Hill Start Failure: The car has occasionally stalled when trying to drive up steep hills, both forwards and in reverse. These failures have happened in various locations, including a private driveway and public areas.

never happened. how fast were you going? if too slow, the car suffers a bit but never stalls/stops. not sure what is "stall" equivalent in EV?

6. "Slow Down" Notifications: When passing a speed limit sign (e.g., 80km/h), the car correctly reads the new limit but continues to show alerts at 60km/h.

settings - change speed warning settings on your infotainment

7. Reversing Camera Malfunction: The reversing camera sometimes blanks out when reversing at night.

might be a glitch but considering it's fairly useless in dark, you are not missing much ...

8. Creaking Noise: We’ve been hearing a creaking noise from the windscreen/front dash area, which gets worse on hot days or bumpy roads.

I never hear any but then again, I play my music quite loud ...

We have returned the EV to Gold Coast MG on multiple occasions; who claimed they are unable to replicate the issues.

Show them your videos?

 

[mfeary]

Hi everyone!

We purchased a new 2023 MG ZSEV Long Range from Gold Coast MG back in April 2024, and I’ve been a strong supporter of electric vehicles for a long time. We were replacing our old 2007 Toyota RAV4, which we used for towing our small camper trailer and carrying our sea kayaks to the beach. We’ve also invested in rooftop solar and various charging solutions, so we’re committed to staying with an EV.

I’m reaching out to see if anyone else has had similar experiences with their MG ZSEV. I’ve documented most of the issues with photos and videos, and I’m hoping to hear from others who might have encountered the same or similar problems. Here’s a list of the things we’ve noticed:

1. Starting/Stopping Issues: The start button often requires multiple presses (up to 3) to function, whether starting or stopping the car, especially when the brake is pressed or when switching to accessory mode.

2. Startup Fault Messages: Upon starting the car, we sometimes see these fault messages:

• Forward Collision System Unavailable
• Rear Drive Assist System Unavailable
• Auto Emergency Braking Unavailable

3. In-Motion Fault Messages: While driving (especially on motorways), we occasionally get these same fault messages along with a yellow warning icon:

• Forward Collision System Unavailable
• Rear Drive Assist System Unavailable

4. Automatic Handbrake Rollback: After releasing the automatic handbrake, the car tends to roll back on slight inclines but not on steeper ones.

5. Hill Start Failure: The car has occasionally stalled when trying to drive up steep hills, both forwards and in reverse. These failures have happened in various locations, including a private driveway and public areas.

6. "Slow Down" Notifications: When passing a speed limit sign (e.g., 80km/h), the car correctly reads the new limit but continues to show alerts at 60km/h.

7. Reversing Camera Malfunction: The reversing camera sometimes blanks out when reversing at night.

8. Creaking Noise: We’ve been hearing a creaking noise from the windscreen/front dash area, which gets worse on hot days or bumpy roads.

We have returned the EV to Gold Coast MG on multiple occasions; who claimed they are unable to replicate the issues.
Has anyone experienced similar issues?
Any feedback or suggestions on what might be going on?
Thanks in advance for your input!

Hi. I know this may be of little comfort. I bought the same model around the same time and have not had any of the above

 

[DB Go Rex]

Hi. I know this may be of little comfort. I bought the same model around the same time and have not had any of the above

Id be shocked if you haven’t experienced at least a few of them. It’s inherently part of the software

 

[fred12345]

@Mark ZS EV SE LR - any updates on whether you sorted all those glitches out and what was causing them?

 

[DB Go Rex]

They aren't unique to this user.

The safety system warnings just trigger like this from time to time. The software is just easily triggered by deviation in the signals from the sensors. Other manufacturers do this better.

The speed sign stuff has always been awful.

The slight rollback on auto hand brake is also present on mine. They haven't attempted to fix that over the last few years

The reverse camera not bothering to get out of bed from time to time is always a thing on mine and has never been fixed.

They likely won't fix this stuff, so you either live with this stuff as part of the charm, or you sell it.

When my lease is done next year I'll be avoiding the Chinese brands.

 

[fred12345]

They aren't unique to this user.

Reading on this forum, some of the issues are down to how people (mis)use the car - front camera warning for example - of course it's not going to work if the front window is frozen ... other more serious issues happen but they also happen with other cars - I had to fork out almost £500 for alternator on my old diesel, but s*** happens ..
yes, there are some things that I find annoying (rear camera quality, some infotainment settings...) but so far (touch wood) my second-hand ZS Mk2 with 50,000 on the clock is great, I'm happy. Mind you, I would rather go for BMW or Audi but needed that £40,000 extra ... . For the money I paid, no complaints - and I even dislike how the car looks !

 

[mfeary]

Id be shocked if you haven’t experienced at least a few of them. It’s inherently part of the software

Sorry that you are shocked. Oh, item two occurs very occasionally but rectifies itself when I turn gear back to neutral the back to reverse. Went on a 300km trip and all functioned well. Charged up overnight at motel charger and arrived back with about 115km. Seems good to me. It might start going wrong but all good at the moment.