Merged thread: Automatic Emergency Braking activating for no reason

[CharlieT]

No worries, thanks Rolfe!

 

[YaR]

Another absolutely terrifying and random AEB event yesterday after several months of good behaviour. Was crossing into the Tesco carpark when it triggered after thinking the car about 100m away and travelling at about 20mph was going to hit me. This left my car straddled across the centre lane markings and blocking the road in both directions for a good 10s (it felt a lot longer) until I pressed the brake, reset the warning and moved off. This was on a cloudy but bright day with no rain, fog or dust or shade from trees on the road at that point.
Anyway, it's mostly a great car, but the diabolical LKA, the lack of willingness from dealers to apply the software to fix it, a few unfixed bugs elsewhere really sours ownership so I'm done at the end of this month for something bigger and better.

 

[pjmmk]

I have everything set to have minimal impact, everything's on the least intrusive/reactive settings I can find. I had a warning from the car last night when another vehicle in front of me decided to turn off. Seems that if you decide the car in front is getting out of the way and use even the tiniest bit of throttle (do we still use that term?) before the car thinks the way is clear, it panics. There was a huge gap between us, it's all a bit ridiculous tbh.

 

[Rolfe]

It's weird. I've got everything set to the max and the AEB activated once, when a pedestrian seemed about to cross the road in front of me. This was in May 2023, just a few weeks after I got the car, so more than two years ago. Nothing since. I think it's a question of adjusting or calibrating sensors or cameras, but the dealers may not even know what to do, and that's assuming they could be bothered in the first place.

 

[tsedge]

There have been software updates to improve this. I had a bunch applied in March 2024 when I made a fuss about it. There may have been some more since. I have had zero false positives since March 2024.

 

[YaR]

There have been software updates to improve this. I had a bunch applied in March 2024 when I made a fuss about it. There may have been some more since. I have had zero false positives since March 2024.

I had software updates applied in August of 2024. But not the LKA improvements and since last August nobody has bothered to contact me (or respond to my contact) to install them.

 

[tsedge]

I had software updates applied in August of 2024. But not the LKA improvements and since last August nobody has bothered to contact me (or respond to my contact) to install them.

Yes, you have to make a fuss and ask for these things to be fixed under warranty. That's the only way MG will pay the garage to do the updates. Without that, there's zero incentive for the dealer to be proactive as it just costs them money (even if they want to look after their customers). Not hearing from you? They will assume everything is working A-OK.

Edit: Just re-read your comment and saw that you said you did contact them, sorry missed that.

 

[salty]

Without that, there's zero incentive for the dealer to be proactive as it just costs them money (even if they want to look after their customers).

Why does it cost the Dealer money, for a Warranty job. Thought they claim it of MG.

 

[tsedge]

Why does it cost the Dealer money, for a Warranty job. Thought they claim it of MG.

It doesn't. But they only get warranty approval if the customer complains. If they simply did - for example - infotainment updates - for the sake of it, MG wouldn't pay them for their time.

I suppose an enterprising dealer could complain on behalf of the customer and proactively outreach to advertise new versions. But there's probably a directive from MG not to do that, I'm guessing.

The dealers know that with any software update, there's a chance of it all going wrong with MG EVs, so they probably don't want to rush into updating everyone's software and end up with bricked and broken cars. At least I think this was the early experiences, things might be more stable and reliable now.

 

[siteguru]

It doesn't. But they only get warranty approval if the customer complains. If they simply did - for example - infotainment updates - for the sake of it, MG wouldn't pay them for their time.

I suppose an enterprising dealer could complain on behalf of the customer and proactively outreach to advertise new versions. But there's probably a directive from MG not to do that, I'm guessing.

The dealers know that with any software update, there's a chance of it all going wrong with MG EVs, so they probably don't want to rush into updating everyone's software and end up with bricked and broken cars. At least I think this was the early experiences, things might be more stable and reliable now.

That's exactly what happened at my 2nd service ... I wasn't expecting any software updates but they automatically applied 1100R38 and the HVAC module update, by putting through a SNOW case with MG on the basis of a "customer complaint".

 

[tsedge]

That's exactly what happened at my 2nd service ... I wasn't expecting any software updates but they automatically applied 1100R38 and the HVAC module update, by putting through a SNOW case with MG on the basis of a "customer complaint".

Yes, way back before I had stable software, there was a conversation at the service desk where it was suggested: "I expect you have bluetooth connection problems, right?" (I don't use bluetooth) but it was made clear what the right answer was!

 

[jamherber]

Yes thanks to this forum, every time our car is back in the garage (which is, to be frank, far more than it should be be), I put the complaint buzzwords which enable the dealer is able to update through the warranty route.

This isn’t right though - if I wasn’t on this forum and so didn’t know about the updates or the words to use to get them implemented, then I would be non-the-wiser, which I suspect applies to many owners, which just isn’t fair IMHO.

One of a few reasons that I wouldn’t buy an a SAIC car again sadly.

 

[Ian Key]

Rant alert.

This is not aimed at anyone in particular,

If this forum, or ones like this, didn't exist owners wouldn't know that software upgrades were available unless they had a problem and reported it to the dealer.

If they were non the wiser they'd be happy with the car instead of clogging up the dealers for minor upgrades while those with a serious problem e.g. unable to use AC charging, were having to wait weeks to book the car in for diagnostics then weeks to do further checks and even longer to get the part fitted.

No wonder the dealers say there's going to be a charge to investigate the alleged problem. It makes the owner think whether it is a problem or just a case of "I need the latest version just because..." which is pervading society.

That's it. Rant over and I'm just off to get my tablets

 

[tsedge]

Rant alert.

This is not aimed at anyone in particular,

If this forum, or ones like this, didn't exist owners wouldn't know that software upgrades were available unless they had a problem and reported it to the dealer.

If they were non the wiser they'd be happy with the car instead of clogging up the dealers for minor upgrades while those with a serious problem e.g. unable to use AC charging, were having to wait weeks to book the car in for diagnostics then weeks to do further checks and even longer to get the part fitted.

No wonder the dealers say there's going to be a charge to investigate the alleged problem. It makes the owner think whether it is a problem or just a case of "I need the latest version just because..." which is pervading society.

That's it. Rant over and I'm just off to get my tablets

I hear you.

Not sure that the grass is greener elsewhere.

For example, I went on Renault forums to read about the wonderful automatic software updates they have, for example on the new 5, and read about how many of the updates are dealer-apply only, how some cars are bricked and how many bugs there are in the software and how slow they are at fixing them.

Yes, some are automatic, Yes, Renault publish the details of new updates and what they include. But, no, people did not appear any happier - as you say knowledge of what they don't have appears to make (some of them) disatisfied.

I haven't been asking for updates. Since my CCU was fixed along with ACC and AEB, I have avoided asking for any more updates. I am on R46 and it works well enough.

 

[jamherber]

Not aimed at anyone in particular but wanted to assure forum members that our car never unnecessarily clogs up our dealer workshops.

The only time it has updates is along side a physical warranty issue (brake module failure, both door handle switches failing at different times - that sort of thing) or at its annual service.

A big step forward would be for MG to publish the updates like many manufacturers do (I believe Renault were mentioned above) so that rather than owners just believing the features like constant Bluetooth disconnections etc are the norm, they are aware that these can be improved upon.

This of course is just my personal opinion - other opinions are available :lol

 

[YaR]

That's it. Rant over and I'm just off to get my tablets

It's a fair point. But this speaks to the problem with EVs being as much software as hardware. Everybody knows software is never released perfect and requires a continuous update programme but that is hard when you can't do or risk OTA. I don't know what the solution is other than to suggest that maybe the car industry might want to invest in more software developers over car engineers given the hardware is largely mature technology at this point.

 

[Sparky2]

In a series of e-mail conversations with MG Motors Ltd Customer Service, thi is my latest submission :-

Thank you for your sympathetic response but I am not seeing any attempts by MG Motors Ltd to address the fact that the dysfunctional software in these cars is making them much less safe to drive than our previous modern cars and occasionally behaving in a dangerous manner (e.g. swerving or harsh braking). It is only a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured by one of these cars behaving erratically

The MG EV Forum on the Internet is groaning under the weight of complaints from drivers of these cars so there is clearly something seriously wrong with the software which the upgrades are not fixing. It appears that most of the so-called ‘safety’ systems are linked to cameras that cannot read speed limit signs half the time and cannot tell a cyclist from a lamppost or a tree or a pedestrian or anything else, for that matter

I have attached a photo of the exact position of the car and the road conditions when it slammed its brakes on for no reason. The photo was taken with the car stationary at the same time exactly one week later than the incident. As before, there were no parked cars or pedestrians on either side of the road, no oncoming vehicles and no animals or birds visible through the windscreen. What did the car see that made it stop?

I have booked the car in at my local MG Dealer and I expect any software upgrades or re-calibration of the cameras to be carried out free of charge. We will be without the car for a whole day which is an inconvenience we have not had to endure with our previous cars. The dealer is reserving the right to charge us £144.00 if the ‘repairs’ are not covered by the warranty. If that is the case, I wish them luck with trying to charge us

Isn’t about time that a senior member of the management of MG Motors Ltd adopted a positive approach to customer service and recalled all these cars for a permanent and effective re-programming of the defective software before they find themselves in court? Every time you get in the car, you have no idea if the software has retained any sat-nav destinations, heater/aircon settings, mobile phone pairing or radio stations from the previous journey. This is not Artificial Intelligence, it is Artificial Stupidity, designed to guide idiots who don’t know how to control a vehicle

And this is their latest reply :-

I apologise for any and all inconvenience and stress that this has caused you.

We would usually recommend that the vehicle goes back into an MG dealership, I can see from the below that is already been booked in, that is great.

Unfortunately, we cannot waiver any diagnostic or service fees as they as franchises, this would need to ne discussed directly with them.

At MG, the MG technicians are always taking in customer feedback to make the MG experience better and more convenient for any and all customers.

I have passed this on as feedback for any present and future developments.

Please be noted that the team that I have passed this on to are not customer facing so you will not hear back from them, please be assured that MG are constantly working in the background.

I cannot be the only MG EV owner who thinks that this attitude from MG stinks. If the warranty does not cover 'repairs' to the software by their franchised dealers, then it is not worth a light. There seems to be no liability or accountability for the software that is so clearly not fit for purpose and occasionally downright dangerous. Stating that these problems also afflict other EVs from different manufacturers is no defence at all and will not stand up in court

 

[salty]

And on the flip side, my X Power has been faultless in the 10 months I've had it.
I realise I'm very lucky. As some owners, most definitely are not. And I really feel for them. So what's your next course of action, Court?

 

[siteguru]

The LKA twitchiness has been resolved ... SC077 refers.

Sudden AEB invocation seems to be something that only a minority encounter ... I can't recall a single one that didn't have a reasonable root cause in my own car.

I'm not denigrating your experience - merely positing that your experience doesn't represent the majority of MG4 owners. Hopefully it can be resolved for you.

 

[bk227865]

I hear you.

Not sure that the grass is greener elsewhere.

Yeah ... i have a colleague who leases a mercedes and i have heard him making remarks a few times that the LKA bothered him and he would be happier without it. For such an expensive car that is telling.