Power steering failed on 2 month old car. No MG garage can fix under warranty until 15 July!

[siteguru]

It doesn't ... that's an update that was mandated (SC = service campaign); Infotainment is preferential (unless it fixes an issue you've complained about).

Dealers only get paid (by MG) for doing updates if they relate to a warranty issue.

 

[tsedge]

So I have raised that I am still on release 30 when 59 is the latest and the response I have received indirectly from the supplier garage is
“The vehicle went through the workshop for a final check on the 28th March 2024 when we carried out the recall SCUK001 Software Update which includes 3 software updates (EVCC,FDR and BCM).”

Can someone advise please how that relates? Thanks

There are three different types of updates:

• Mandatory ones that must be applied: these are like the SCUK001 and they are rare and only for serious faults that are widespread.
• Optional ones that are only applied if the customer complains, eg "I have problem X and I want it fixed under warranty". You won't get these by asking for updates.
• Paid updates that you only get if you are willing to pay for them, such as out of warranty updates or wanting the latest infotainment without any obvious faults.

Garages vary a lot on whether or not they'll do optional updates without you pushing hard and whether or not they charge for paid ones or just do them to show good service.

 

[Evie22]

Thanks for clarification so the sudden loss of power steering when driving would be an Optional update? I can’t find it to be a common issue/recall?

 

[tsedge]

Thanks for clarification so the sudden loss of power steering when driving would be an Optional update? I can’t find it to be a common issue/recall?

It is a rare problem (I don't recall anyone else having this), so it could either be that it is a software or hardware problem and there may be an update to fix or it may require investigation.

Either way, it is certainly the right thing to do to get it looked asap under warranty but obviously that doesn't help you when you have to wait.

What the dealer is saying is that they already applied on delivery all the updates MG requires. But there will be a ton of not-required optional updates that you don't have and one of those may address this problem.

Essentially, many dealers don't update the cars with all the latest software before hand-over, because it would be time consuming and expensive. So they only typically apply the mandatory updates.

Recalls are very rare and only issued for safety critical common issues - the door lock-in bug is the only one I think that MG have done on the 4.

Everything else is "fix if needed" territory - NB I am not saying this is a good thing but it is how it works.

 

[Evie22]

Thank you @tsedge and @siteguru for the explanations. Never had such a buggy car before nor heard of software fixes not being applied by default (from old skool IT world)! Have only had the odd recall on cars previously.
I can only hope this gets better or the ombudsman finds in our favour that we can return the car as we certainly don’t like this car and it will be a long 3 years otherwise!

 

[Tight Git]

Thank you @tsedge and @siteguru for the explanations. Never had such a buggy car before nor heard of software fixes not being applied by default (from old skool IT world)! Have only had the odd recall on cars previously.
I can only hope this gets better or the ombudsman finds in our favour that we can return the car as we certainly don’t like this car and it will be a long 3 years otherwise!

Unfortunately it's not just MG that are having issues like this, pretty much most manufacturers seem to be the same (if you read and believe internet forums).

The problem is if you research any model before purchasing you would probably never buy any car and my thoughts are this is down to cars being basically mobile computers with all of the potential issues this brings.

Good luck getting it sorted.

 

[Evie22]

Probably being misled as to model I was getting has tainted the whole experience and tbf we have never had an EV before just hybrids and mild hybrids before. It can only get better I suppose! Never had to wait this long to book a car into a garage before but it seems all the dealerships are technician short. Cheers

 

[NLMGSAN]

Does ACC still cause speeds to drop? Do you still not have the 1mile click and the 5 mls for longer hold? Does the car drop in soeed while overtaking with ACC on?
Is your Lane assist in ELK mode still jerking? You hqve to go through the mg pilot menu to cancel lane assist when the manual tells you to do so as quickly as possible?

 

[Evie22]

The lane assist is horrendous -Turns the car into traffic or off the road instead of straight within the lane!

 

[NLMGSAN]

If that is your current experience, tell them you need the latests improvements. And also, your manual tells you to disable lane assist in certain circumstances. The fastest way is the switch in the dropdown screen, introduced in R59. Demand that they install this.

Also, test BT. The older mg's were suffering from disconnects with the phones.

Connect your phone with the car after it has booted. Test AA / AC. Do use a proper cable though. Disconnects? Does not respond? Demand the updates

Is the outside temperature visible on the display? No? Ask for updates.

However, I would get the ombudsman path moving. You should have a new model.

 

[Evie22]

That is super helpful thank u -feeling so pleased I found this forum for great advice and yes todays mission is ombudsman application!

 

[NLMGSAN]

Btw Evie, did you check this post? ACC and power steering

 

[Evie22]

Amazing a nearer dealership had slots before July 15 so booked in for diagnostic under warranty with explanation of issues.
Recieved text/email confirmation. Then an hour later a phone call that those slots although available on the system they basically didn’t want to do warranty work then as not a money earner.

Head office MG customer service not interested that 2 month old car is off road for 6 weeks awaiting garage slot or how slots are managed.
Lease company denying that infotainment would control such car issues purely for entertainment!! And to take up with MG as
It had the mandatory updates.
They literally all blame each other whilst giving the poorest customer service!

 

[NLMGSAN]

Give the lease company 2 weeks to sort it out. If not, stop payments since this is in my opinion a contract breach.

 

[siteguru]

Give the lease company 2 weeks to sort it out. If not, stop payments since this is in my opinion a contract breach.

Please do not do this as this is very bad advice (for the UK) and can lead to credit file problems* that can be problematic to resolve. Better to raise a formal complaint with the finance provider and then a Financial Ombudsman complaint.

* unless you're not bothered about any such issues (e.g. not planning on getting a new mortgage deal in the next 6 years), in which case fire away.

 

[NLMGSAN]

If the ombudsman judges the complaints to be justified, he would likely do the same: set a limited period to fix the problems. If not succesfully fixed, I expect non-conformity to terminate the contract.

Not sure how troublesome this credit file stuff is in the UK. We have this thing here as well, but a record must be removed if it is unjustified. If it isn't, you can get a serious compensation. If it ends in court, normally the compensation is part of the verdict.
But true, I'm referring to our laws. So forget what I wrote.