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MG has now explained how the driver's seat in the MG 3 was able to partially unlatch and twist in a European crash test earlier this year – and issued a recall to fix the problem.
More than 10,000 examples of the 2024-2025 MG 3 city hatch have been recalled in Australia to address a "defect" that caused the driver's seat to twist in a crash test earlier this year.
A frontal-offset test conducted by Euro NCAP found the inboard side of the MG's driver's seat to slide forward by 111.5mm upon collision, rotating the occupant towards the driver's door, in a failure the organisation said it had "not seen before" in 28 years of crash tests.
The MG 3 was still awarded a four-star overall score – up from a three-star rating of an earlier model in Australian testing – as Euro NCAP said its scoring system "does not currently allow for a deduction or override in the case of such a component failure".
After promising to review the crash-test results, MG has announced a recall to "fit an additional component to the driver’s seat rail" to address a "defect ... in certain MG 3 models".
It applies to 10,516 MG 3 vehicles in Australia with the six-way manually-adjustable driver's seat, built between March 6, 2024 and July 30, 2025. A full list of vehicle identification numbers involved can be found here.
In the process, the recall notice published by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts has explained how the seat rail was able to unlatch in the crash test.
"In the event of collision, the inner side of the cushion frame may move forward and downwards much further than expected, inadvertently contacting the unlocking lever and then the locking pin, thereby causing the inboard rail to unlock," the notice reads.
"In the event of an accident if the driver seat moves excessively, it could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants."
MG Australia said in a media statement that "as at the date of this recall, MG Motor is not aware of any incidents relating to the defect".
"MG Motor will also be contacting impacted MG 3 owners directly," the brand said in a media bulletin.
"Owners are encouraged to contact their local MG Motor service centre as soon as possible to arrange a visit where MG Motor will fit an additional component to the driver’s seat rail of their MG3. This fitment will be conducted at no charge.
"The component will ensure optimal performance and safety and is estimated to take from 30 minutes up to one hour [to install]."
Customers can call the MG Motor Australia Customer Care team on 1800 644 637 (1800 MG INFO), email [email protected], or visit the frequently answered questions page on the MG Motor Australia website.
To have your vehicle checked, find your closest MG dealership by clicking here.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
