MG S5 Apple Carplay/UI freezing

[Ian Key]

Known issue that started yesterday. Looks like a server or update glitch. It’s pretty scary how much this actually messes with the car. MG needs to sort this out ASAP before people start turning on the car.

This happened to me yesterday, Friday, also.

2 short journeys, each of about 5 miles: first one, no problem; second one, about three hours later, and the screen "closed" and restarted at least three times, and often froze when the restart was partially completed. Made for fun when trying to turn the car off at the end of the journey since I could not initially get to the Power Off tile!

My phone is a Samsung Galaxy A54 5G so a different model to those others are listing.

This has been mentioned in this thread. It appears to be a failed OTA update.

S

Post in thread 'MG S5 Apple Carplay/UI freezing'

Feb 14, 2026

Based in Australia and no issues whatsoever. Strange, given my history with having issues with this car

• spicyau

 

[emmrecs]

@MG Clive

Perhaps this thread should also be merged with the one that @Ian Key mentions?

 

[Ian Key]

Playing the devil's advocate.
If it was a failed OTA update MG can't win. Owners have been asking for OTA updates and when they try it for the first time all they get is complaints. Yes it should have been tested more thoroughly before being released but at least they tried and no one's car has been bricked.

 

[Ian Key]

@MG Clive

Perhaps this thread should also be merged with the one that @Ian Key mentions?

Possibly from post #14 as previous posts aren't about yesterday's problems.

 

[Weeble]

I think I am going to turn off the data option in the car in the hope it stops china servers from doing this again. I was 60 miles from home when it started and with all the odd things going on including a warning that lane keep assist was faulty I really did not enjoy the drive back wondering if the car would suddenly do something odd. This really is a serious security concern if a central computer somewhere can make cars all over the world defective at the press of a button.

In the good days, the only concern was whether or not my car would start on a cold morning, or how long to leave the choke pulled before the engine flooded. Nowadays, there's no problem starting the car but the concern is about what software functions might be sub-optimal on this trip - that's why I've got everything turned off that isn't essential. I guess it's the price of progress!
I love driving this car, its comfort and performance is spot on for my type of driving, but the sort of problems reported here on a daily basis and the questionable manufactuer's support leave me in doubt as to whether I'd buy another.
Shame really, it's otherwise a great car

 

[sammoj]

Playing the devil's advocate.
If it was a failed OTA update MG can't win. Owners have been asking for OTA updates and when they try it for the first time all they get is complaints. Yes it should have been tested more thoroughly before being released but at least they tried and no one's car has been bricked.

Updates should be downloaded in the background without impacting the functionality of the vehicle. They then should only update when parked. This is how Hyundai did it but they used a usb download to achieve updates.

 

[Jorgixhallo]

Playing the devil's advocate.
If it was a failed OTA update MG can't win. Owners have been asking for OTA updates and when they try it for the first time all they get is complaints. Yes it should have been tested more thoroughly before being released but at least they tried and no one's car has been bricked.

I agree with you, but I think people are complaining within reason this time.
If this is related to OTA, either the updated successed and version is defective or maybe that they pushed OTA to too many cars at the same time, which is difficult test to perform "in the lab" before actually doing it in the real world.

This could actually be very good news for us if OTA are about to be released, but seeing this happen and assuming is OTA related means there is a huge flaw in the system somewhere that needs to be handled.

 

[MG Clive]

@MG Clive

Perhaps this thread should also be merged with the one that @Ian Key mentions?

Possibly from post #14 as previous posts aren't about yesterday's problems.

Thanks guys, posts moved.

 

[Garmor]

I had the same problem yesterday, together with SatNav trying to reload umpteen times and then lagging. Also, when passing national speed limit sign it would show 20 mph and not 60 mph. Camera would also stay on for a while whilst driving. Any info as to whether the problem has been solved?

 

[TimothyN]

I am having exactly these issues today. (Except CarPlay, not android, but I'm sure that's irrelevant)

I have twice stopped the car and locked it, waited a few minutes then started again. It works for two or three minutes then seizes up again.

It never happened on my Austin Seven…

 

[mcderd]

Since the car is always connected, and this issue is affecting many users simultaneously across different software versions—including those who recently updated to fix the heat pump issue—it is probably a server-side problem. Beyond the camera glitches, the entire UI is lagging and system functions are taking

Playing the devil's advocate.
If it was a failed OTA update MG can't win. Owners have been asking for OTA updates and when they try it for the first time all they get is complaints. Yes it should have been tested more thoroughly before being released but at least they tried and no one's car has been bricked.

They should not start OTA updates while the car is in motion or without the owner clicking a button to start the update.

 

[TimothyN]

Exactly the same issues today (Valentine's Day) in the UK. I actually find it reassuring that we are all in the same boat, and it's not my car!

 

[mgaz]

Same for me today as well, satnav really slow and all else not up to speed same as yesterday afternoon when it 1 st happened, think cameras are working slightly better/quicker though

 

[tsedge]

Sounds like an unfortunate bug rather than intended behaviour.

 

[sammoj]

Snap. Same issues as yesterday slow to respond and cameras unusable. I always was a bit concerned about buying MG and their software but didn’t expect car functionality to be remotely disabled like this.

 

[TimothyN]

To be fair, I am on a long journey down to the West Country, and everything important is working. I have adaptive cruise control, Lane Keeping, OPD, all that stuff.

I am using my iPhone for Google Maps and BBC Sounds, and everything is pretty much ok, it's not the end of the world!

Having said that, has anyone got through this yet? By that, I mean if it is OTA, has anyone actually gone through the process and come out the other side?

 

[Hallix73]

Has anyone tried the Factory Reset? See if it reboots with no bugs?

 

[sammoj]

Workaround

I have turned off data in the global data setting, disabled WiFi hotspot and wlan. Plug in iPhone using a cable and the system seems restored to normal minus the built in sat nav which is awful anyway so not bothered about that and no speed warning alerts as it doesn’t seem able to identify cameras and doesn’t have built in sat nav to serve that info. ISmart app obviously has stopped working too.

I think I will leave my car in this mode for now until MG make a statement. I have emailed my customer care contact at my dealer to ask if there any bulletins but I suspect as they decided to push whatever this is out on a Friday it will be mid next week before we get any comments.

I wonder if Miles Roberts has any access to info?

J

 

[Bhubiz]

My infotainment system suddenly became really sluggish on the way home today, was fine on the outward trip. I tried 3 forced reboots using the hold home button for 10 seconds but the same. Reversing camera took 5 seconds to come on, navigation 5 minutes! CarPlay not playing music at all.

I have got back and turned it off and will leave it for a few hours and try again, have also rebooted my iPhone just in case it was that causing it.

Has anyone else seen this behaviour?

John

I got mine back from the service station after the s/w update for another issue yesterday evening. And am facing the same sluggish infotainment issue. 360 camera turns on after 10 seconds of activating. Swiping the screen takes forever to respond.

 

[fhsgoncalves]

Same here with MGS5 in Brazil. Lots of owners are complaining since yesterday.
No solutions until now