MG HS: common faults & what to check

Which MG HS are you looking at?

3 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

2 variants documented

2020–nowAS232020–nowAS231.5 turbo petrolPetrolDocumented issues6 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2020–nowAS232020–nowAS232.0 turbo petrolPetrolDocumented issues5 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Hybrid

1 variant documented

2020–nowAS232020–nowAS231.5 plug-in hybridHybridDocumented issues6 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this MG HS

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a MG HS before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Cold-start the engine immediately after a cool soak and listen for top-end chain rattle.

  See why

  1.5T Timing Chain Rattle on Cold Start

  The MG HS 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (15T, GM-sourced Ecotec-derived architecture) exhibits timing chain tensioner rattle on cold start, documented extensively in NZ and AU owner forums and by independent workshops. The tensioner does not maintain adequate chain tension at cold oil pressure, and chain wear accelerates when oil change intervals are extended beyond factory specification. Left unaddressed, chain slack can cause timing deviation and significant engine damage.

  What you would notice

  • Metallic rattle from top of engine immediately on cold start, fading as oil pressure builds
  • Rattle persisting after engine reaches operating temperature in severe cases
  • Check engine light with variable valve timing correlation codes
  • Rough idle when engine is cold

  Typically $1,200–$3,500 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Start the car from stone cold and watch the dash for any hybrid or high-voltage warnings.

  See why

  PHEV 'Hybrid Fault' warning with high-voltage system shutdown

  HS PHEV owners on MG EV forums report a 'Hybrid Fault' warning that disconnects the high-voltage battery, sometimes leaving the car unable to start or drive, with multiple dash lights on start-up. Diagnoses have included stored HV insulation faults (high-voltage leak to chassis) and charge-port lock problems. There is no recall for this; fixes range from software updates to HV component replacement, and diagnosis requires an MG dealer or EV-qualified specialist, which are thin on the ground in NZ regional areas.

  What you would notice

  • 'Hybrid Fault' message on dash
  • Car cranks or powers up but will not enter drive
  • Multiple warning lights at start-up
  • EV mode unavailable or charging failures

  Typically $500–$9,000 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Ask the seller for the VIN before viewing and run it through the MG dealer network or the vehiclerecalls.gov.au / NZTA recall lookup.

  See why

  PHEV floor-wiring ground stud fire-risk recall (REC-005652)

  Australian recall REC-005652 (May 2023) covered about 5,168 HS PHEV / HS +EV vehicles built 1 Feb 2021 to 21 Mar 2023. A manufacturing defect can leave carpet underlay trapped between the nut and an electrical ground stud under the floor; if the nut loosens with vibration, the underfloor wiring can overheat and cause a vehicle fire. The dealer fix is free and the recall remains open, but a NZ-new or AU-import used car must be verified as rectified because petrol HS models are not affected and sellers often don't know the difference.

  What you would notice

  • Usually no symptoms before failure
  • Burning smell from carpet area in worst cases
  • Intermittent electrical faults from poor ground connection

  Typically $0–$200 to put right.

• Costly issue

  On the test drive, do several stop-start launches in traffic, a slow uphill start, and a three-point turn in a car park.

  See why

  7-speed DCT low-speed hesitation, lurching and jerky shifts

  The 1.5T and 2.0T petrol HS used a dry-ish 7-speed dual-clutch that is widely criticised in Australia and NZ for hesitating up to a few seconds off the line, lurching in stop-start traffic and jerking during parking manoeuvres. MG issued software recalibrations through dealers rather than a recall, and the fault was only properly engineered out when the new-generation HS (late 2023 onward) switched to a wet-clutch DCT. On high-kilometre early cars, worn clutch packs or mechatronic faults can require major transmission work, and used cars may never have had the software update applied.

  What you would notice

  • Long pause then surge when accelerating from a stop
  • Shuddering or lurching in slow traffic and on hill starts
  • Clunky or delayed gear changes when parking
  • Transmission warning light or limp mode in worn examples

  Typically $300–$6,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Extended low-speed test drive including multiple stop-and-go cycles.

  See why

  7DCT Dual Clutch Judder at Low Speed

  The MG HS shares the same 7-speed dual clutch transmission supply chain as GWM-Haval products and exhibits identical low-speed judder and shudder characteristics. The fault is documented extensively across AU and NZ owner communities and has been confirmed in independent press tests. The DCT clutch pack engagement is overly abrupt at light throttle from rest, resulting in vibration and hesitation. TCU recalibration updates have been issued but do not fully resolve the underlying mechanical tendency. Fluid replacement and clutch adaptation reset provide the most consistent temporary relief.

  What you would notice

  • Shudder or vibration when pulling away from a standstill
  • Hesitation and jolt between first and second gear under light throttle
  • Clunky low-speed gear changes in heavy traffic
  • Worsens after the transmission has been heat-cycled in traffic

  Typically $350–$4,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect charging port housing for water staining or salt deposits.

  See why

  PHEV Charging Port Sealant Failure and Water Ingress

  The MG HS PHEV charging port uses a factory sealant bead around the port housing that deteriorates or was inadequately applied on early units. Water ingress through the port area has caused onboard charger faults, corrosion of the Type 2 connector pins, and in some cases damage to the onboard charging module requiring replacement. Documented in AU and NZ PHEV owner communities and independent workshops.

  What you would notice

  • Water visible inside charging port housing after rain exposure
  • AC charging refused or interrupted with fault code
  • Onboard charger fault displayed on instrument cluster
  • Visible corrosion on Type 2 AC charge connector pins

  Typically $300–$2,500 to put right.

MG HS service schedule

What falls due, and at what distance, for each generation of the MG HS. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the MG HS’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Timing Chain Replacement Cost
• DSG and Dual-Clutch Gearbox Repair Cost

Buying guides that cover the MG HS

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Other MG models