MG5 Blistering .

[RobbieC]

I purchased a 2021 Mg5 long range Exclusive from Arnold Clark, 5 weeks ago. Yesterday I discovered blistering on the rear wheel arches which wasn't there when I bought the car.
Has anyone experienced similar problems, and what are my options ?
Thanks

 

[5teep]

There seem to be depressions there as well, some (amateur) accident damage repair?

I would speak to the dealer about it. If it was accident damage it need not have been serious, a car park scrape for example.

 

[MG Clive]

There seem to be depressions there as well, some (amateur) accident damage repair?

That's what I thought at first, but on closer inspection, the depressions appear to be water.

 

[MG Clive]

Here are a couple of previous MG5 rust threads.

Thread 'Is rust a problem on early MG5s?'

Nov 26, 2024

Hi folks,

Maybe you can help me. I am often being told that "modern MGs rust", that they are not well protected and that after 4 years or so there are problems.

Is this true at all with MG5s? There must be a number of you with older 5s now who can comment.

I'd like to gather some evidence to repudiate this if it isn't true.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

• tsedge
• corrosion durability mg5 protection reliability rust
• Replies: 44
• Forum: MG5 EV Forum

Thread 'Rust on rear drivers side arch'

Aug 7, 2025

So, it appears the rust has started on my 2021 MG5. I wash it at least once a month so it's appeared within the last 30 days as the last time I washed it I also waxed the whole car so would of seen it then. No direct chip where the two bubbles have appeared, the paint has separated from the body where the bubble is.

It's in for service on the 18th so will mention it then, but no doubt they'll blame it on some stonechip or another

• AndyB87
• arch drivers mg5 rust wash
• Replies: 3
• Forum: MG5 EV Forum

 

[Alb]

Do you have any pics from when you bought the car?

 

[Jomarkh]

There may be pictures on the advert of the car if that's still on line?

 

[stevemgevcom]

I purchased a 2021 Mg5 long range Exclusive from Arnold Clark, 5 weeks ago. Yesterday I discovered blistering on the rear wheel arches which wasn't there when I bought the car.
Has anyone experienced similar problems, and what are my options ?
Thanks

its a bad repair either filler getting wet or rust getting wet and blowing the paint, take it back

 

[Peterboat]

It's had s quick blow over over possibly before Arnold Clark bought it? It's rust and it will be expensive to fix, take the car back for either repair or refund

 

[butters19851]

I purchased a 2021 Mg5 long range Exclusive from Arnold Clark, 5 weeks ago. Yesterday I discovered blistering on the rear wheel arches which wasn't there when I bought the car.
Has anyone experienced similar problems, and what are my options ?
Thanks

Yes.. mines a lot worse tho

 

[MG Clive]

That sounds bad @butters19851, could you share some pictures with us, and welcome to the forum.

 

[butters19851]

It's been a long old battle.. 2 unsuccessful repairs from Arnold Clark to date, started coming back through just 48 hours after the last repair attempt!! I'm at my wits end tbh

 

[Alb]

Looks like it needs metal or panel replacement.

 

[MG Clive]

It's been a long old battle.. 2 unsuccessful repairs from Arnold Clark to date, started coming back through just 48 hours after the last repair attempt!! I'm at my wits end tbh

That's terrible @butters19851, are your repairs being done under warranty ?

 

[butters19851]

Arnold Clark have dealt with it so far as mg said it was void of warranty as the vehicle hadn't had full corrosion checks done.. despite the vehicle having full mg service history

 

[Peterboat]

Arnold Clark have dealt with it so far as mg said it was void of warranty as the vehicle hadn't had full corrosion checks done.. despite the vehicle having full mg service history

It's no surprise really it if has a full service history the corrosion checks should have been done. We only had a small bubble and the dealer and MG made a right horlics of it all! I will get Mt smsll blemish dealt with by the bodyshop next door after I have cleaned it up and inserted metal to repair it

 

[salty]

Arnold Clark have dealt with it so far as mg said it was void of warranty as the vehicle hadn't had full corrosion checks done.. despite the vehicle having full mg service history

That's cobblers. If it's got a full MG service history, then it's got a full corrosion check history. Simple's. If it's not marked down as done (or more likely not even looked at) that's there fault. As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter, it's part of your MG service.

 

[eVEngineer]

I suspect this issue is endemic on the MG5 of this era. I recently bought a meticulously maintained 2023 pre-facelift model from my neighbour who'd owned it since new. At 3 years and 2 months old the paint bubbling in the rear drivers side wheel arch began.

Being a professional corrosion engineer, I jacked the car up and had a good look at the standard of corrosion protection on the car. It was so poor that I sold it straight away having owned it for just 2 months. I had originally intended on keeping it for 3 - 5 years.

Since then I've made a point of looking at any MG5 of a similar age that I pass. So far, 75% of the cars have had the beginnings of this type of bubbling. In a few years time, I suspect these cars will gain a reputation for corrosion issues, which is a shame, because as a package, the car ticks a lot of boxes but are ruined by poor build quality. For that reason, I'd not recommend buying one if you want to keep it for any length of time.

 

[5teep]

I've had 2 MG5's for ~100k miles each and on both the paint had scoured off completely at the back of the front wheel arch. Not a sign of rust on the bare metal though, might have been scoured off with the paint of course...