[Help] Legal type help: Relatively minor new car trouble

[pb21]

My Dad got a new car recently (a MG HS). Since getting it the radio hasn't worked properly. He cant store DAB pre-sets and the FM radio has no RDS. Obviously these aren't major issues but more annoying.

Apparently, this is a known issue and a result of the Ukraine/Covid chip issues, i.e. the radio wasn't built properly. Despite this being a known and accepted issue, there is no fix and the MG garage haven't offered any kind of compensation. He has tried badgering them but they wont do anything. He has tried sending letters and contacted Trading Standards but isn't getting anywhere.

Obviously this isn't a major issue, like the brakes not working, but is there anything he can do or expect? Ultimately he has bought a new car and it doesn't work as it should.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Has he tried turning it off and on again?

 

[pb21]

Unfortunately yes, even the 'pros' have tried that too

 

[Flounce]

This won’t improve your Dad’s mood. I have seen quite a few articles and Youtube videos on their pretty well non existent customer service in rectifying problems. One of the reviews covers something similar to your Dad’s problems, the guy seemed to get nowhere

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[Westdene Seagull]

It's a very simple contractual issue. What was sold doesn't work !

So your Dad should ask them how much it would cost to replace the radio unit with a working one. Once he has that price then tell them he will take them to the Small Claims Court for that cost plus incidental costs ( Small Claims Court is easy to get going online - https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money ) and doesn't cost very much and if you win you can claim the costs ( just as long as you indicate you will claim costs in the application ).

 

[pb21]

This won’t improve your Dad’s mood. I have seen quite a few articles and Youtube videos on their pretty well non existent customer service in rectifying problems. One of the reviews covers something similar to your Dad’s problems, the guy seemed to get nowhere

MG Motor UK is rated "Poor" with 2.2 / 5 on Trustpilot

Do you agree with MG Motor UK's TrustScore? Voice your opinion today and hear what 234 customers have already said.

uk.trustpilot.com

I wont show him this!

 

[pb21]

It's a very simple contractual issue. What was sold doesn't work !

So your Dad should ask them how much it would cost to replace the radio unit with a working one. Once he has that price then tell them he will take them to the Small Claims Court for that cost plus incidental costs ( Small Claims Court is easy to get going online - https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money ) and doesn't cost very much and if you win you can claim the costs ( just as long as you indicate you will claim costs in the application ).

The issue is that, apparently, it cant be fixed or replaced. The only way to get a fully working radio would be to have a new car, with a fully working radio.

 

[Bry Nylon]

He has tried badgering them but they wont do anything.

Possibly because they are noctural. Try unleashing the badgers at night when they tend to be more active.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

The issue is that, apparently, it cant be fixed or replaced. The only way to get a fully working radio would be to have a new car, with a fully working radio.

I struggle to believe they don't sell different models of radios in their cars. If the remedy is to have a new car then clearly they DO have working radios. Just take one out of a new car with a working radio and fit it to your Dad's. Otherwise just switch your Dad's new car with a new car with a working radio. I'd still threaten with legal action.

 

[pb21]

Possibly because they are noctural. Try unleashing the badgers at night when they tend to be more active.

 

[portslade seagull]

One of my friends has the same problem with his MG which is less than 4 months old. Also the auto boot lid only works sporadically when shutting. All told to the dealer but as yet no remedy

 

[pb21]

I struggle to believe they don't sell different models of radios in their cars. If the remedy is to have a new car then clearly they DO have working radios. Just take one out of a new car with a working radio and fit it to your Dad's. Otherwise just switch your Dad's new car with a new car with a working radio. I'd still threaten with legal action.

I don't understand fully, but think it's because it's not really a radio per se, it's the whole system and the chip is faulty(?). Going by what my Dad says, if it was possible to swap over they would have done it, but it isn't.

They have offered to do a part exchange deal on the new version though, at the going rate

Based on this limited experience, and reading other people's comments, definitely reccomend avoiding MG at all costs!

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Return car for full refund.
Go buy working alternative.

 

[Flounce]

Return car for full refund.
Go buy working alternative.

Is the correct answer. These problems will mount, almost certainly. Get out while you can and buy from a different and better car maker

 

[beorhthelm]

seems the question is do you want a fix or some compensation? for the former seems you are hosed, unless you can fit an aftermarket radio? if the latter, small claims for the inconveinence of loss of a sub-feature of a minor feature of the car. swapping cars over a radio defect seems a little dramatic.

 

[pb21]

seems the question is do you want a fix or some compensation? for the former seems you are hosed, unless you can fit an aftermarket radio? if the latter, small claims for the inconveinence of loss of a sub-feature of a minor feature of the car. swapping cars over a radio defect seems a little dramatic.

Well, ideally he wanted a fix, but that seems impossible. As such, I think he should be compensated, although not sure how you quantify the cost/loss of a faulty, albeit working, radio. Don't think it will be worth all the hassle.

Seems the moral of the story is avoid MG cars.

 

[happypig]

I would suggest talking to a solicitor. On the face of it, it seems like a fairly simple issue (you've paid for a car with a working radio and got a car without a working radio) and you're likely to find a solicitor that will take it on a "no win, no fee" basis.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I would suggest talking to a solicitor. On the face of it, it seems like a fairly simple issue (you've paid for a car with a working radio and got a car without a working radio) and you're likely to find a solicitor that will take it on a "no win, no fee" basis.

Small Claims Court would be cheaper shirley?

 

[happypig]

Small Claims Court would be cheaper shirley?

SCC is up to 10k, as the car costs more than that a solicitor may feel that it's better pursued in County Court.

 

[Ronnie]

I have looked at MGEV’s Community and it would appear this has been dragging on for at least a year for buyers of the MG HS not just in the UK but across Europe as well so the MG dealer who sold your Dad the car must have been aware of the problem
As you say there is no fix at the moment and the discontent among MG HS owners has led some to considering a Class Action against MG
Another course of action is to involve the Motor Ombudsman
Finally I found this but not sure if it applies to faulty radios and whether the dealer was notified within 30 days

‘If you report a problem within the first 30 days, and you can demonstrate that the car fails to meet the standards required under the law (note that the burden is on you to prove it, not for the seller to disprove it), you are entitled to receive a full refund for the car.’