MG4 2023 driver seat material degradation cracks

[Bishibashi]

I just noticed these cracks in the faux leather of the driver's seat. I've owned the car from new so it's nearly 3 years old. It's an MG4 long range.

Shouldn't be seeing this kind of thing for many many more years so this is a bit of a surprise.

The dealership says it's not covered under warranty and the whole chair would need to be replaced if we want it fixed.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and durable. A driver’s seat failing in such a way after only three years of normal use does not meet these standards so I may decide to put the energy in to escalate until eventually I get to the Motor Ombudsman or Trading Standards if MG refuse to fix it for me.

Has anyone here seen this before or have any advice before I go in all guns blazing

 

[siteguru]

The seats are only covered for the first year in MG's warranty (as I recall). And you're not the first here to experience this issue.

I think others have resorted to fitting seat covers.

 

[MG Clive]

That's not a nice sight mate, first of all, I don't believe MG can't supply just a replacement seat cover for the MG4, second of all, it wouldn't need a new seat, you could have it retrimmed for much less cost, third of all, a used seat could also be an option.

 

[dave99]

yep, here is mine in June. I spoke to my dealer about it and they just repeated its not covered under warranty and gave me a phone number for MG "Customer Care". Its absolutely not fit for purpose, not even done 25k miles. I've seen somebody, possibly on facebook can't remember, who got a replacement seat cover from MG so the part must be available, don't think it was trivial to fit though.

 

[Lovemyev]

There has been very similar issues with the front seats on the ZS EV Gen2 Trophy model.
This has been covered at length on the ZS EV forum pages.
It’s been a very similar responce from MG CS with regards to complaints, there not interested.
When we sold our 3 year old ZS EV LR it had only covered less than 30,000 miles and the inside of drivers seat bolster, was just starting to display signs of cracking.
Once it’s starts, the decline is pretty quick.
It can’t remember ever seeing seat cover degraded this quickly on cars SO young ?.
Years ago, if I was out viewing a car being advertised with only average mileage and then discovered that the seats where in this condition, then you would instantly question if the recorded milage is correct ?.
You may expect this level wear on a vehicle that had been used as a taxi, but not on a privately owned cars surely !.
Personally, if you intend to keep the car, then I would explore the possibility of having the seat cover replaced by professional car trimmer.
Or maybe try and find a complete seat from a breakers yard ?.

 

[siteguru]

Personally, if you intend to keep the car, then I would explore the possibility of having the seat cover replaced by professional car trimmer.
Or maybe try and find a complete seat from a breakers yard ?.

... or fit seat covers. (I know @Rolfe did this ... not that the SE trim seats will "crack" like that, as they are full cloth rather than part pleather, but it still gives protection).

 

[Lovemyev]

Yeah, the pleather is certainly the issue here.
I agree, that fitting seat covers do offer a lot of protection to the factory material.
However I do feel it’s a really shame that we have to over cover the factory seats just because the factory materials are really not fit for purpose.
Fitting seat covers to privately owned cars stopped being popular a long time ago, when factory seat designs and materials became so good and resistance to wear.
This type of early degradation in seat material quality, is a big step backwards imho.
I wonder how long it will be before MG dealers become fed up, with loosing sales on second hand stock, that are only a couple of years old, because of the poor condition of the front seats ?.

 

[LenEV2016]

I just noticed these cracks in the faux leather of the driver's seat. I've owned the car from new so it's nearly 3 years old. It's an MG4 long range.

Shouldn't be seeing this kind of thing for many many more years so this is a bit of a surprise.

The dealership says it's not covered under warranty and the whole chair would need to be replaced if we want it fixed.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and durable. A driver’s seat failing in such a way after only three years of normal use does not meet these standards so I may decide to put the energy in to escalate until eventually I get to the Motor Ombudsman or Trading Standards if MG refuse to fix it for me.

Has anyone here seen this before or have any advice before I go in all guns blazing

Good luck with that but I wouldn't hold out much hope with either of the ombudsman or trading standards, MGs get out of jail here is their warranty

 

[LenEV2016]

Yeah, the pleather is certainly the issue here.
I agree, that fitting seat covers do offer a lot of protection to the factory material.
However I do feel it’s a really shame that we have to over cover the factory seats just because the factory materials are really not fit for purpose.
Fitting seat covers to privately owned cars stopped being popular a long time ago, when factory seat designs and materials became so good and resistance to wear.
This type of early degradation in seat material quality, is a big step backwards imho.
I wonder how long it will be before MG dealers become fed up, with loosing sales on second hand stock, that are only a couple of years old, because of the poor condition of the front seats ?.

As many have said previous MG have had to save money somewhere.
This has been said in relation to various shortcomings, no rear interior light, poor interior front lights, poor software and the seat quality.

I don't agree but MG cover themselves with the 1 year warranty cover

 

[Rolfe]

The cover on my driver's seat pad wore out after about two years (20,000 miles) but that wasn't uexpected for something fairly cheap from Aliexpress. I contacted the seller and they sent me a replacement piece for £22. The cloth seat underneath was pristine when I removed the old cover.

I don't think the SE seats are in danger of doing what the Trophy seats are doing, but even cloth will wear in the end. Also, although I like the original cloth trim, it's dark in the dark-trimmed car, so it was an opportunity to lighten up the interior a bit.

 

[jamakr4]

Anyone asked the dealer for the cost of replacing the part?

 

[tsedge]

Mine is similar but not as bad, just a short piece that has split. Again, not covered, which is pants. I will have to sort it or the PCP finance company will probably charge me for the damage when I return the car.

Might be an option to get a pair of seats from the breaker's yard.

I think the damage is from flexing, so seat covers wouldn't stop it happening, just hide it

 

[Lovemyev]

Mine is similar but not as bad, just a short piece that has split. Again, not covered, which is pants. I will have to sort it or the PCP finance company will probably charge me for the damage when I return the car.

Might be an option to get a pair of seats from the breaker's yard.

I think the damage is from flexing, so seat covers wouldn't stop it happening, just hide it

I have a bit of theory on what could be a mitigating factor .
I think the plastic / vinyl content in this material is extremely high.
In the summer months, the cabin temperature in our previous ZS EV ( when parked in direct sun light ) reached over 45 degrees.
This high and sustained / concentrated heat and UV rays from the sun, plus magnified by the glass.
The material became that hot you could not even touch the base of the seat with bare hand !.
Has this condition resulted in the additive included in the make up of material,
drying out and therefore reducing the ability to allow the flexibility of the material ?,
Causing the material to become brittle and therefore surface cracking is the end result ?.
Yes of course all cars are subject to similar conditions caused by heat etc.
But the quality of the material used here is the big questioning factor .

 

[LenEV2016]

I have a bit of theory on what could be a mitigating factor .
I think the plastic / vinyl content in this material is extremely high.
In the summer months, the cabin temperature in our previous ZS EV ( when parked in direct sun light ) reached over 45 degrees.
This high and sustained / concentrated heat and UV rays from the sun, plus magnified by the glass.
The material became that hot you could not even touch the base of the seat with bare hand !.
Has this condition resulted in the additive included in the make up of material,
drying out and therefore reducing the ability to allow the flexibility of the material ?,
Causing the material to become brittle and therefore surface cracking is the end result ?.
Yes of course all cars are subject to similar conditions caused by heat etc.
But the quality of the material used here is the big questioning factor .

Trophy owners in Scotland will be fine then, if it needs those Temps

 

[Lovemyev]

Trophy owners in Scotland will be fine then, if it needs those Temps

Very likely to be affected by the adverse cold temperatures as well then .
Generally just poor quality material used anyway!
If you cut too many corners, you then just end up with a constant circle ️ of bombardment of complaints from unhappy customers that will affect future sales.

 

[Rolfe]

Trophy owners in Scotland will be fine then, if it needs those Temps

Leave a car parked in direct sunlight and the same happens here as anywhere else.

 

[LenEV2016]

Leave a car parked in direct sunlight and the same happens here as anywhere else.

I know I was joking

 

[tsedge]

Leave a car parked in direct sunlight and the same happens here as anywhere else.

I doubt it is sunlight damage. My car is always left in a north-facing heavily shaded position and we don't have high temperatures here, rarely goes above 25C.

 

[gary333]

I doubt it is sunlight damage. My car is always left in a north-facing heavily shaded position and we don't have high temperatures here, rarely goes above 25C.

I agree on that, the sun's not going to be bending around causing this issue in the UK.

It's much more likely that people are rubbing over the bolster when getting in and out and squishing it. The heavier someone is (or less flexible) the more likely they are to compress the material and eventually crack it. Hence why I'm not a fan on the seat design as even spritely people can't really get in and out of the car without squishing the tops at times (such as when parked close to another car, or windy days etc when door is getting pushed etc.

 

[Tuareg]

I have seat covers fitted to my Xpower. So far, 7000kms in just under a year. Took a look under the front seat covers and the originals look brand new, no creasing, no 'polishing', same as when I picked the car up from the sealer on day one. Seat covers definetely work and here we have a few weeks when the temps are in the high 30Cs and low 40Cs. There is also the issue with how people get in and out of the car, how 'big' they are and how much they weigh. I always make an effort NOT to sit or put any weight on the bolster when I get in/out of the car. My BMW and Porsche seats also looks like new after a few years with no cracks or creases, yes they were leather but looking at similar cars mine looked like they were less than a year old when they were 7-8 years old. All about how much of a 'light' touch you are with anything in a car, seats, controls, doors, not stepping on sills, not slamming tail gates etc