Our MG5 The electric car has gotten dangerously out of control, but MG won’t do anything about it.
The car experienced a fuel system malfunction after we used a charger at one point. highway gas station.
It would not respond to any control, including stop button, so we called AA. The patrolman managed to get it started, then decided to give it a test drive. My family was thereadvice like it rained.
When he put the car in reverse, it moved forward and failed to stop when he applied the brake. He hit the AA van and its wheels began to spin and smoke as he tried to accelerate.
We all managed to get out of the car and the patrolman was finally able to turn it off from the outside. We were told it was not safe to drive.
The AA arranged for a haulier to take it to a dealership and paid for the repairs, which cost £2,500. The patrol van was also damaged.
The dealership has investigated the problem, for which we are being charged £500, but found nothing. MG has closed the case and insists that we request further investigation at our expense.
Six weeks later, the car is still at the dealership. We don’t want to drive it until we’re sure it’s safe, but we can’t afford to keep paying for investigations.
AB, East Lothian
You’re not the only MG owner whose car has apparently gone rogue. A man was forced to drive his car into a police van after its brakes failed.
I have asked the AA to send me their technical report, which confirms that the car “jumped forward” when reversing.
It’s no surprise that you’re reluctant to get behind the wheel until you know what’s wrong, and since the car is still under warranty, you’re reluctant to invest your own money in fixing the problem.
MG Motor UK seems remarkably unfazed given the damage that could be caused by an out-of-control electric vehicle. Although the dealer recommended that MG’s technical department review the case and issue instructions, MG instead closed it.
MG, when you complained, simply apologized for the “inconvenience”.
He ignored my questions about whether the review requested by the dealer was done before the case closed and how many incidents involving power surges or power losses he was aware of.
However, he quickly commissioned another, more detailed, investigation into the vehicle and carried out a 25-mile test drive after using a range of public charging points. You have not been billed for this test and will no longer be billed for the previous one.
It states: “MG addresses any issues that could cause a malfunction as a priority. No malfunctions of the affected on-board equipment, nor of the ability to recharge the vehicle using various systems, have been detected on the car.
“MG and the authorized dealer, after carefully examining the vehicle, have concluded that an error has occurred unrelated to the car. We will continue to assist the customer with information and advice.”
This leaves you in a difficult position. Your car has received a clean bill of health, but you have lost confidence in it. So you’ve decided that your best option is to sell.
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