by Euro NCAP urges MG3 owners to respond immediately to recall
Safety regulators rarely address owners through public statements, but Euro NCAP is doing just that regarding the MG3. Eight months have passed since the crash test that uncovered a defect unseen in nearly three decades of testing.
Rare defect during frontal impact
During a frontal crash test in September 2025, the MG3 demonstrated a rare defect. Due to a latch malfunction, one side of the driver’s seat shifted forward by 111.5 cm (4.4 inches) during the impact, increasing the risk of injury. This is the first such defect since the launch of the Euro NCAP testing program in 1997.
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After a “detailed technical review,” MG identified the root cause and developed a design fix, confirmed by Euro NCAP. The repair involves reinforced latch components in the seat rail, keeping everything in place during a collision.
Recall and manufacturer response
The company, owned by SAIC, began installing reinforced hardware on all MG3s coming off the assembly line from August 2025. The issue lies in the thousands of earlier vehicles already in owners’ hands that still have the original latch.
Euro NCAP
In the following months, MG announced official recalls in Europe, the UK, Australia, and South Africa. Dealers perform repairs free of charge, and no real incidents related to the defect have been recorded.
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Euro NCAP states that all owners of affected vehicles have been notified. Nevertheless, the safety organization has taken the unusual step of publicly urging them to check their cars with a dealer, just in case someone missed the notice.
Dr. Aled Williams, Euro NCAP program director, said: “This was a significant safety defect identified by Euro NCAP, and we were pleased with MG Motor’s decisive response. MG3 and MG3 Hybrid+ owners who have not heard about the recall or have not yet taken action should contact their local MG dealer. They will confirm if their car is one of the affected models and arrange a repair free of charge for the owner.”
MG
This case highlights how important it is for manufacturers to respond promptly even to rare defects identified during testing. Although MG quickly implemented a fix in production and organized a recall, the passivity of some owners forced Euro NCAP to resort to public appeals. It also serves as a reminder that even modern cars can have unexpected design flaws that only surface under extreme crash test conditions. For MG3 owners, especially early models, a check with a dealer is a free and simple way to ensure the safety of themselves and their passengers.
