Warranty exclusions ...not a "comprehensive 7 year warranty" at all..

[eptesicus]

I was about to pull the trigger on a 1 and a half year old MG4, mainly due to the 7 year warranty, but there appears to be a major exclusion in the warranty terms that seems vague and potentially so all encompassing that it reduces it to nothing but a simple power train warranty after 3 years.


It states that infotainment, convenience systems and driver aids are only covered for 36 months. Doesn't that pretty much exclude pretty much everything in the car except the power train/motor/battery?

So I'm guessing if the heated seats,the keyless entry, 360 camera etc etc break, they won't be covered..?

This has seriously made me question things now. That point in the warranty just seems like a get out clause for almost anything in the cabin etc.

I know Kia exclude the sat nav/audio unit after 3 years too, but they don't exclude all convenience systems and driver aids, which is a massive amount of stuff on a modern car!!

It also seems purposefully worded to let them claim anything is a "driver aid" or "convenience system".

Honestly surprised MG aren't done for false advertising over this. It should definitely be advertised as purely a power train warranty after 3 years. It doesn't seem to be an actual 7 year warranty at all.

 

[ReintjeWA]

For those interested the Australian 10 year warranty details can be found here; 10 Year Warranty

Just like any warranty or insurance, written in their favour not yours, nothing special going on though.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a warranty that doesn’t let the company squirm their way out of some responsibility.

 

[eptesicus]

For those interested the Australian 10 year warranty details can be found here; 10 Year Warranty

Just like any warranty or insurance, written in their favour not yours, nothing special going on though.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a warranty that doesn’t let the company squirm their way out of some responsibility.

I just think excluding all driver aids and convenience systems makes their advertising of the warranty very problematic.

I mean you could claim anything in the cabin/dash etc is a driver convenience or aid system.

It's basically a 3 year warranty for the car and then a further 4 years on the power train only and should be advertised as such.

 

[Tuareg]

Yep, normal warranty exclusions. Don't underand what the issue is here. The warranty wording is clearly defined in the warranty document which is freely available before purchase. Those who moan about exclusions after purchase are soley 100% to blame fo their frustrations. Same with motor insurance, many never read the policy document before purchase.

 

[eptesicus]

Yep, normal warranty exclusions. Don't underand what the issue is here. The warranty wording is clearly defined in the warranty document which is freely available before purchase. Those who moan about exclusions after purchase are soley 100% to blame fo their frustrations. Same with motor insurance, many never read the policy document before purchase.

What?

A. I haven't bought one yet, and probably won't due to the obvious lie that they have a 7 year warranty

B. It isn't a normal exclusion for a car warranty at all. What other manufacturer's car warranties exclude all driver aids and convenience systems? It's obviously a 3 year warranty, and then an added 4 year power train warranty as it doesn't appear like it will cover anything else after the 3rd year.

 

[gary333]

Yep, normal warranty exclusions. Don't underand what the issue is here. The warranty wording is clearly defined in the warranty document which is freely available before purchase. Those who moan about exclusions after purchase are soley 100% to blame fo their frustrations. Same with motor insurance, many never read the policy document before purchase.

The MG warranty is not at all in the spirit of the rules which govern warranties in the UK.

The OP is correct to have a gripe with driver aids not being covered as they are part and parcel of the car achieving it's safety rating.

Restrictions from a warranty are supposed to be reasonable, i.e. if something is a consumable it is fair that it won't have as long a warranty (such as wipers, tyres, bulbs etc). Driver aid failure could render the car immobile or fall foul of insurance requirements and as such should most definitely be included in the advertised warranty. Just because MG have tied all their aids to their software and infotainment shouldn't detrimentally impact the customer. It could be argued (just like it often is with TV's) that the expected life of such equipment is far over 3 years too, so you'd also have a case here for not being fit for purpose in England at least.

 

[siteguru]

Bear in mind that (in the UK/EU) a warranty is over and above your consumer rights ... sellers/manufacturers don't have any obligation to offer any warranty at all. If a fault occurs then you can still rely on your consumer rights ... a warranty can just make things a little simpler.

Plus there are many marques which only offer a 3 year warranty anyway.

 

[Anon70]

Some exclusions from the Toyota 10 year warranty ingress of dust, good luck stopping dust getting into car parts and also all multimedia system parts, not really much difference to the MG warranty...

 

[DBedford]

It's all smoke and mirrors to get us to make a purchase. We always have the Sale of Goods 1979 which is our UK backstop.

 

[Everest]

It's obviously a 3 year warranty, and then an added 4 year power train warranty as it doesn't appear like it will cover anything else after the 3rd year.

I don't quite read it as that. Anything that is not excluded is covered, assuming that you've had it serviced on time and to the correct schedule. Unless I'm missing something then, for example, if the drivers door handled comes off in your hand, that would appear to be covered. If a headlight falls out that would be covered. If the tailgate hinge breaks off that would be covered too.

It could be argued (just like it often is with TV's) that the expected life of such equipment is far over 3 years too, so you'd also have a case here for not being fit for purpose in England at least

I don't think any "fit for purpose" argument would hold for a mechanical device that has hundreds of moving parts, for no part to need repair or replacement after 3 years or 45,000 miles. Stuff wears out and fails.

 

[Everest]

We always have the Sale of Goods 1979 which is our UK backstop.

That is mostly for B2B transactions now - the Consumer Rights Act 2015 covers most B2C transactions these days - keep up at the back

 

[ReintjeWA]

What?

A. I haven't bought one yet, and probably won't due to the obvious lie that they have a 7 year warranty

I can understand your disappointment with what you feel is an unfair representation of the truth, which I feel is also the case with certain functions with the MG4 (OTA anybody?).

However, I don’t think you would necessarily find many less misleading warranties in the automotive (or really any) industry.

General question; have we had any feedback yet from UK/EU cars that are older than three years and have tried to get something fixed that allegedly wouldn’t be covered in this document?

 

[fshuk1]

Here’s a concise comparison of the MG4 7-year warranty and Kia’s 7-year warranty in the UK, based on available information:

MG4 7-Year Warranty​

• Duration and Mileage: 7 years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first. No mileage limit in the first 12 months.
• Coverage:
  • Covers manufacturing or material defects for mechanical and electrical components (e.g., engine, coolant system, brakes, steering, suspension, body modules like sunroofs/windows).
  • High-voltage battery in the MG4 (EV) is covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles if capacity drops below 70% of original capacity.
  • Paintwork: 3 years for manufacturing defects.
  • Anti-perforation: 7 years (requires annual inspections by an MG dealer, which may incur a fee).
  • Wear-and-tear items (e.g., clutch, brake discs, filters, bulbs) covered for 12 months or 15,000 miles if defective due to manufacturing issues.
• Exclusions:
  • Tyres, wiper blades, and normal wear-and-tear items beyond 12 months.
  • Damage from accidents, misuse, modifications, or external factors (e.g., corrosion from environmental damage).
  • Infotainment system covered for 3 years only.
  • Warranty voided if non-MG parts or unauthorized repairs are used.
  • Limited to UK (no coverage for breakdowns abroad).
• Transferability: Fully transferable to new owners within the 7-year/80,000-mile period.
• Special Conditions:
  • Taxis/private hire: 12 months/20,000 miles for petrol models; 3 years/60,000 miles for EVs/hybrids.
  • Requires reporting defects immediately to avoid claim invalidation.

Kia 7-Year Warranty​

• Duration and Mileage: 7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Unlimited mileage for the first 3 years.
• Coverage:
  • Covers manufacturing or material defects across mechanical and electrical components (e.g., engine, transmission, steering, gearboxes).
  • Lithium-ion battery in EVs/hybrids covered for 7 years/100,000 miles (8 years for EVs registered after 1 Jan 2024) if capacity falls below 70%.
  • Paintwork: 5 years/100,000 miles.
  • Anti-perforation: 12 years with no mileage limit (requires inspections every 12 or 24 months, depending on model).
  • Consumables (e.g., wiper blades, bulbs, filters, brake pads) covered for 2 years/unlimited mileage against manufacturing defects.
  • Audio/navigation systems: 3 years/60,000 miles.
• Exclusions:
  • Tyres, normal wear-and-tear items beyond 2 years.
  • Damage from misuse (e.g., overloading, racing), environmental factors (e.g., acid rain, stone chips), or non-Kia parts/repairs.
  • Servicing must follow Kia’s schedule, and only recommended fuels/lubricants used, or claims may be rejected.
• Transferability: Fully transferable to new owners, enhancing resale value.
• Special Conditions:
  • Taxis/private hire: 7 years/100,000 miles if registered as such; otherwise, 60,000 miles.
  • Covers parts and labor for warranty claims across Europe, unlike MG’s UK-only limitation.
• Real-World Experience: Anecdotal reports suggest Kia generally honors claims efficiently (e.g., replacing ball joints, radiators, or springs) with minimal quibbles, though some delays or disputes can occur.

Key Differences​

Aspect	MG4 Warranty	Kia Warranty
Mileage Limit	80,000 miles	100,000 miles (unlimited for first 3 years)
Battery Coverage	8 years/100,000 miles (70% capacity)	7 years/100,000 miles (8 years for EVs post-2024)
Paint Coverage	3 years	5 years/100,000 miles
Anti-Perforation	7 years (annual inspections)	12 years (inspections every 12/24 months)
Wear-and-Tear Items	12 months/15,000 miles	2 years/unlimited mileage
Geographic Coverage	UK only	Europe-wide
Taxi Coverage	12 months/20,000 miles (petrol); 3 years/60,000 miles (EV)	7 years/100,000 miles (if registered)
Claim Reputation	Some scrutiny and dealer variability	Generally reliable, fewer disputes

Analysis​

• Kia’s Advantage: Offers a higher mileage limit (100,000 vs. 80,000), longer paint and anti-perforation coverage, and Europe-wide claim support. Its 2-year coverage for consumables is more generous than MG’s 12 months. Real-world feedback suggests Kia’s warranty process is smoother and more reliable.
• MG’s Advantage: Slightly better battery warranty (8 years standard vs. Kia’s 7 or 8 years depending on registration date). More affordable vehicles like the MG4 may make the warranty a stronger value proposition despite stricter limits.
• Criticism: MG’s warranty has been called misleading by some due to limited coverage for components like the infotainment system and wear-and-tear items after 12 months. Kia’s warranty is seen as more transparent and comprehensive.

Conclusion​

Kia’s 7-year warranty is generally superior due to its higher mileage cap, broader geographic coverage, longer paint and anti-perforation terms, and better reputation for claim handling. The MG4’s warranty is still competitive, especially for EV buyers with its 8-year battery coverage, but its UK-only limitation and stricter terms make it less flexible. For peace of mind, Kia’s warranty is likely the better choice, but MG’s lower vehicle cost may balance this for budget-conscious buyers

 

[Tuareg]

Seems to me some are whinging because they have simply been naive by only reading the warranty 'headline'. All manufacturers have a similar headline with a varying number if years. The also have a list of exclusions, all of which will be similar.

 

[Everest]

Hmmm... I don't think the way forward for forums of people with common interests is for members to simply paste some random AI generated summaries. If we want AI we can find it ourselves. What is more useful is having contributions of real-life experiences or thoughts of those members.

 

[Kithmo]

I also looked upon it as a 3 year warranty with an extra 4 for the EV side, but it didn't stop me buying it. It's not as if everything is suddenly going to break after 3 years is it. For example, generally electronics usually fail early on or last 10 years or more.
TBH, I haven't actually seen the MG warranty promoted as "comprehensive" just as "7 year warranty".
I think it's excellent value, even with the warranty exclusions, compared to other EVs and you get a lot of features as standard that are not included on other makes in the same price range.
The MG4 is also one of the best EVs to drive for handling, without compromising too much on comfort.

 

[LenEV2016]

Hmmm... I don't think the way forward for forums of people with common interests is for members to simply paste some random AI generated summaries. If we want AI we can find it ourselves. What is more useful is having contributions of real-life experiences or thoughts of those members.

It would appear that those experiences that are negative are routinely put down and slagged off by certain members.

Which certainly isn't the way forward for a forum that people may only come to for help with an issue

 

[Everest]

Guess it's a difficult balance. I'm all for open speech and discussion - some people will protect their choices and talk up the marque, others will disagree. Hopefully with enough people and experiences on a forum, the general feelings about any aspect of EV ownership will float to the top. I can say that this forum has been invaluable in helping me choose the right EV for my situation.

 

[LenEV2016]

Guess it's a difficult balance. I'm all for open speech and discussion - some people will protect their choices and talk up the marque, others will disagree. Hopefully with enough people and experiences on a forum, the general feelings about any aspect of EV ownership will float to the top. I can say that this forum has been invaluable in helping me choose the right EV for my situation.

The knowledge on this forum is great, it will far outstrip most MG dealerships out there, which is why people get answers for the issues they are posting about.

Insinuating that everyone that makes a negative post is a troll, dead wood or a whine is frankly just embarrassing and doesn't reflect the mainly positive replies new posters received.

 

[Everest]

Insinuating that everyone that makes a negative post is a troll, dead wood or a whine is frankly just embarrassing

Who said that?