Support issues: two cases, with Peugeot and MG

Support issues with Peugeot e-308 and MG4: two readers are writing to us about problems they’ve encountered with their electric cars. They also complain about the networks’ inability to resolve these issues (some even suggested, “It would have been better to buy a diesel…”). To contact us: info@vaielettrico.it

Support issues: “I bought an e-3008 with incentives, and then…”

"I draw your attention to a serious case of poor service and lack of support from the Peugeot brand (Stellantis Group). In July 2024, I purchased an E-3008 electric vehicle, taking advantage of both the government’s Ecobonus subsidy (10,000 €) and that of the Sicilian region (5,000 €). After traveling about 50,000 km, on September 23, the vehicle developed a serious defect in its electrical system that rendered it completely unusable. Since then, the car has been at a Peugeot authorized workshop in Caltagirone. More than one and a half months later, the situation remains unchanged: no diagnosis or solutions have been provided. Peugeot’s customer service has limited itself to occasional brief phone calls, mentioning attempts at remote diagnosis with no practical results. There has been no response from the local dealership."

"No diagnosis, no replacement vehicle."

The local service center has never provided any updates or repair timelines. Despite my requests, I was not given a replacement vehicle. To cover the commute home from work (about 100 km per day), I am forced to use a third-party diesel vehicle. This results in an unexpected fuel cost of around 300 € per month, which negates the advantages of electric mobility. Having exceeded all limits of tolerance, I have already taken legal action to terminate the contract and seek compensation. I am informing consumer associations and the press about this situation to expose the inadequate after-sales service compared to the standards expected for electric vehicles. I am also addressing regional and national authorities to have them assess how the effectiveness of public incentives is undermined by substandard support networks. Sergio Buda

Support issues: “The first problems with the MG4…”

I would like to report the serious situation I am facing with my MG4 Luxury, purchased in 2022 and still under warranty. After an air conditioning issue was resolved in July, the vehicle has now repeatedly shown severe abnormalities that have impaired its operation, to the point where it became unusable. The first incident occurred on October 23. After being parked for a few hours, the car experienced complete loss of traction, accompanied by the activation of the turtle-shaped warning light and a notification of reduced power, even though the battery was only half charged. Although it was possible to select D and R driving modes, the car could not move forward or backward. I called for a tow truck, but after about an hour of inactivity before their arrival, the car suddenly started working normally again.

“...followed by concerning anomalies during charging”

Concerning this incident, there were also worrying anomalies during home charging. The charging power suddenly dropped to around 0.2 kW instead of the usual 5 kW. Moreover, the charge status indicator rapidly changed from values near 60% to 0%, both on the vehicle’s display and in the MG app. On another occasion, the app even showed a completely abnormal voltage value of 6553.5 V for the auxiliary battery. This was accompanied by reports of car functions seemingly being active, such as seat and cabin heating, which in reality were not functioning. In response to these issues, the workshop’s initial diagnosis identified the 12 V auxiliary battery as the cause of the malfunction. It was replaced at a cost of 250 euros, with the assurance that I could use the vehicle normally once the repair was completed.

"Then there's a complete loss of traction."

And yet: after replacing the battery, the vehicle developed the same issue. It stopped on the road, forcing me to call a tow truck once again. I ended up spending 250 euros on an ineffective repair, as the same problems reappeared. In addition to the inconvenience of being stranded and having to call a tow truck, the car was taken back to the workshop, where the problem remains unresolved to this day. I was told that some software updates recommended by the Chinese manufacturer had been applied, without providing any information about the specific control units involved, the installed versions, or the anomalies they were supposed to fix. Despite these software updates, the vehicle experienced the same complete loss of traction, proving that the repairs were ineffective.

"It would have been better to buy a diesel."

An additional, particularly concerning anomaly was added to this issue. Despite a full 100% charge by the repair shop, the message “Battery low” appeared on the infotainment system display, contradicting the actual charge level shown. These are behaviors inconsistent with normal operation and confirm that serious anomalies persist in the battery and traction management system, with no effective solution yet identified. I took the car back to the shop again; I was essentially told (gently) that I’m not capable of handling it on my own and that I need to wait for instructions from the headquarters in China. I was even informed that the facility isn’t properly equipped to work on electric vehicles. They even suggested that it would have been better to buy a diesel.

Response. We are unable to discuss the specifics of these two cases as we do not have access to the vehicles or documentation. But one thing we can confirm: electric cars break down less often and require less maintenance compared to gasoline cars. However, when a problem does arise, service networks rarely have the capability to handle it. There is still a lot of work to be done in this area, with a need for more specialized technicians.

Also read: Growing electric corporate fleets, but with 3 obstacles

Short and fun: watch our VIDEO-SHORTS on YouTube

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