MG faces allegations of sudden acceleration issues on its electric vehicle.
Many MG owners in Europe have reported instances of their electric vehicles accelerating spontaneously and losing control, raising concerns about the safety and reliability of the electronic control system.
Numerous serious safety allegations
The MG automotive brand is facing serious questions about the safety of its electric vehicles, following several incidents involving uncontrolled acceleration reported in Europe. These incidents have raised concerns among consumers about the reliability of the electronic control systems in the company's vehicles.
The latest incident involves the MG5 EV.
According to The Guardian, an MG5 owner in the UK recently experienced a worrying incident. After charging at a highway rest stop, their electric wagon suddenly became completely unresponsive. The owner had to call AA roadside assistance for help.
Notably, as rescue workers attempted to back the MG5 onto the tow truck, it suddenly accelerated forward and collided with the tow truck itself. Reports indicate the wheels continued to spin even after the vehicle came to a stop. Technicians had to intervene externally to shut down the electrical system. The vehicle was subsequently deemed "unsafe to operate."
Initially, MG charged the owner over $600 for the inspection. However, after The Guardian intervened, the company conducted a 40km test drive and declared that "no malfunctions were detected in the vehicle's systems." The company suggested the problem may have stemmed from "external factors" and refunded the inspection fee to the customer.
A similar problem previously occurred with the MG ZS EV.
This isn't the first time MG electric vehicles have been involved in similar allegations. In 2023, the BBC also reported on a serious case involving the MG ZS EV. Brian Morrison, a 53-year-old driver in Glasgow, said his car's accelerator pedal got stuck and it completely lost its braking ability while traveling at around 48 km/h.
To stop the out-of-control vehicle, police had to instruct Mr. Morrison to intentionally make a minor collision with the rear of the patrol car. Following the incident, technicians discovered "a series of errors in the system logs" and refused to restart the vehicle for safety reasons.
Demand for transparency from the manufacturer.
Neither incident resulted in injuries, but they raised serious concerns about the safety of MG's electronic systems in vehicles. Given the brand's strong sales growth in the UK market, these incidents highlight the urgent need for transparency and accountability from the manufacturer.
Some experts have called for authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into potential flaws, instead of leaving consumers to face the risks associated with software or control system errors on their own.
