Car shoppers are being advised to avoid a popular compact car by MG, a Chinese-owned brand, due to a significant safety flaw uncovered in recent tests. The Euro NCAP crash safety organization identified a crucial issue with the MG 3, prompting a suggestion to explore other options. The consumer group Which? has even labeled the model with a warning against purchasing it.
Priced starting at £17,245, the MG 3 hatchback, available in petrol and full hybrid versions, was introduced in February 2024 and has seen over 9,000 registrations in the UK by the end of March 2025.
During testing, Euro NCAP revealed a critical safety failure with the MG 3, occurring in a demanding frontal offset test. This test involves crashing the car at a 62mph angle into an obstacle, where the driver’s seat adjuster of the MG 3 failed, causing the seat to twist mid-impact, a first-time occurrence in Euro NCAP’s extensive history of testing vehicles since 1997.
Despite the severity of the issue regarding driver protection, Euro NCAP still awarded the MG 3 four out of five stars based on its performance in other crash test areas, as its scoring system does not currently allow for deductions in case of a component failure.
Dr. Aled Williams, Euro NCAP’s program director, expressed concern over the fundamental weakness in the MG 3’s seat latching mechanism, emphasizing the importance of vehicle safety. Euro NCAP recommended consumers explore safer alternatives using their website’s search tool.
The UK’s DVSA is actively monitoring the situation, while Which? marked the MG 3 as a “Don’t Buy” due to uncertainties about the seat latching system’s reliability.
MG has committed to implementing changes to the driver’s seat latching mechanism and driver’s airbag starting in August and October, respectively, although these modifications will not apply to vehicles already sold.
Dr. Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s secretary general, highlighted the rapid growth of China’s car industry and emphasized the need for stringent safety standards to be maintained by all car manufacturers selling in European markets.
Once a British brand, MG is now wholly owned by SAIC Motor Corporation, a major Chinese car manufacturer. Recent sales figures show a significant increase in MG car purchases in the UK compared to other popular brands.
MG stated that it is actively investigating the concerns raised by Euro NCAP and collaborating with authorities to address the issue promptly, ensuring customer safety remains a top priority.