MG4 EV with CCU issue pre delivery - advice?

[Oozah]

Hi there,

Looking for some advice please, from people with experience of MG4 EV ownership.

I was due to collect a brand new MG4 SE Long range tomorrow, but the dealer has got in touch today to say When inspecting the car, a warning light came up to indicate an issue with charging. Through diagnostics , they determined this is was the CCU. They say this fault is as a result of the car sitting dormant for a while (I mean, this sounds unlikely to me, but I'm only an ICE owner to date!)

Thing is, this was due to be my first EV, and the thought of having a glitchy car that needs endless returns for one thing or another (even under warranty) gives me the stone cold horrors. I am at a point contractually where I could walk away, but any of you offer any insight?

Is this a reasonable thing to fail on a brand new car? Is the CCU generally a glitchy part of this car in particular? Have any of you had similar issues, and what did you do?

Happy to have any/all inputs, as I'll have to make a decision tomorrow.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tsedge]

Hmmm... sounds odd. I suppose they are saying that they got the error while testing charging.

Doesn't make complete sense though, the only things I am aware of that could be affected by sitting for a long time are tyre deformation, brakes sticking, 12V battery discharge and possibly the HV battery if it was left discharged or fully charged.

But, no, I haven't heard of this problem happening on delivery, I think that is quite rare. CCU failures are not that rare but usually happen through usage over months.

At a minimum I'd want a better explanation so I can understand if there's a permanent problem. I don't think there's any reason to suspect it to be a lemon if this is the only fault.

 

[Oozah]

Hmmm... sounds odd. I suppose they are saying that they got the error while testing charging.

Doesn't make complete sense though, the only things I am aware of that could be affected by sitting for a long time are tyre deformation, brakes sticking, 12V battery discharge and possibly the HV battery if it was left discharged or fully charged.

But, no, I haven't heard of this problem happening on delivery, I think that is quite rare. CCU failures are not that rare but usually happen through usage over months.

At a minimum I'd want a better explanation so I can understand if there's a permanent problem. I don't think there's any reason to suspect it to be a lemon if this is the only fault.

Thanks for the input. It sounds like it is an unregistered car they had in stock, so it is credible that it has sat unused for a while - I can believe that bit.

 

[NLMGSAN]

To be honest, unless they threw a bucket of water on it before powering it up, that unit isn't likely to break down because of doing nothing. It could easily be a faulty update procedure. Or just poor QC. I would ask them to find another one from stock that actually works. Replacing the unit could take quite some time.

 

[siteguru]

Thanks for the input. It sounds like it is an unregistered car they had in stock, so it is credible that it has sat unused for a while - I can believe that bit.

Does it have a rear wiper? If not (and it means it has sat in stock for a looooong time) then a dodgy CCU could be realistic.

 

[Montego]

Be glad that it was picked up before delivery! I was unable to charge my new MG4 from any charger after delivery in March '23. I had to find the problem for myself, try to resolve, and then return to the dealer who was not sure what the problem was and let me know they had another MG4 with the same problem at another branch. Took them 8 days to fix mine, by which time I had written a rejection letter [never delivered]. Fortunately no problems since, but now serviced at a different dealer.

 

[olssonm]

Is it a MY22 or 23? I.e. does it have the rear wiper/back headrest?

Find it odd that the CCU has become faulty all by itself with no use. I'm sure it could have a natural explanation, but that should have been caught in QA at the factory. Can only speak for myself, but I would be a bit worried about what else could have been missed.

Are you buying or leasing? If buying and it's a MY22 car, I would reject and ask for a new/other one (and visit another dealer if possible if they can't provide one). If MY23 and lease, I would probably go ahead. The car has a pretty good warranty after all.

 

[Oozah]

To be honest, unless they threw a bucket of water on it before powering it up, that unit isn't likely to break down because of doing nothing. It could easily be a faulty update procedure. Or just poor QC. I would ask them to find another one from stock that actually works. Replacing the unit could take quite some time.

Yeah, that's what I thought - seemed unlikely, else EV ever made would die in the shipping to destination.
Anyway, thanks to the advice here I got a clarification. The CCU needs replacing due to premature failure, and they acknowledge this has been a known issue on MG4's, but the car is a '23 manufacture year.

 

[Oozah]

Be glad that it was picked up before delivery! I was unable to charge my new MG4 from any charger after delivery in March '23. I had to find the problem for myself, try to resolve, and then return to the dealer who was not sure what the problem was and let me know they had another MG4 with the same problem at another branch. Took them 8 days to fix mine, by which time I had written a rejection letter [never delivered]. Fortunately no problems since, but now serviced at a different dealer.

Thanks for this. Yes it sounds like this vehicle has the same/similar issue -i.e. fails at the first charge post delivery. I am more OK with it being a specific part that has a known weakness, rather than a "hunt the mystery fault" adventure, and your post fix experience is reassuring to me..

 

[Oozah]

Is it a MY22 or 23? I.e. does it have the rear wiper/back headrest?

Find it odd that the CCU has become faulty all by itself with no use. I'm sure it could have a natural explanation, but that should have been caught in QA at the factory. Can only speak for myself, but I would be a bit worried about what else could have been missed.

Are you buying or leasing? If buying and it's a MY22 car, I would reject and ask for a new/other one (and visit another dealer if possible if they can't provide one). If MY23 and lease, I would probably go ahead. The car has a pretty good warranty after all.

Thanks, this was really useful advice. I asked specifically if the car was MY22 or 23, and pushed more on the dormant CCU information. They confirmed that originally salesperson was inocrrect: The CCU actually needs replacing due to premature failure, and they acknowledge this has been a known issue on MG4's, but the car is a '23 manufacture year.

So it sounds like a crap QC issue, but on a known item for failure. On this basis, I'm much comfier than i was. As you say, this is an MY23 car, and on lease, so I will confirm I'm still OK to proceed, but might see if I can squeeze a free service or two out of them!

Thanks again for the input!

 

[siteguru]

Model Year <> Manufacture Year

Please answer this simple question (assuming that you've actually seen it) ... does it have a rear wiper or not? If not then it is Model Year 22, even though it is Manufacture Year 23. Model Year 22 long range cars seem to have a high proportion of CCU failures.

 

[ChrisW]

My 2023 MG4 Trophy has a CCU failure. Took the dealer 4 days to find this out, during which time they updated the control unit software. The car went in with 36% charge and I collected it at 33%. The manager told me I could charge it to 50%, but both my OHME charger and the 3pin charger failed to add any extra charge. I have no time scale for the fix so I have an expensive useless car!

 

[ChrisW]

Had the CCU replaced on my 2023 MG4 Trophy LR 26th June after being ordered by dealer on 14th June!

 

[siteguru]

All OK now?

 

[ChrisW]

So far so good. This was the 2nd issue with the car, first was boot not locking requiring a replacement. I also had a tyre repair due to an imbedded screw! It has done 5k miles.