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MG ZS I problems (2017–2024)

We have documented 2 engines for the MG ZS I; the MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) has high or critical severity faults. The safest option is the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI, with a «Buy» verdict.[1]

Outside the engine: Away from the engine, the MG ZS has recurring complaints about the infotainment screen (freezing, a rear camera that fails) and, to a lesser extent, jerky automatic gearbox behaviour, suspension noises and instability, and faster brake pad wear on the heavier versions; the electric version adds the odd case of charging faults and 12 V battery faults.[1][2][3][4][5]

MG ZS I (2017–2024)
Photo: Rutger van der Maar · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Reference image for this generation.
02468107.3out of 10

MG ZS I rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 9 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. One of this car's engines has no documented faults in the versions it uses, but there aren't enough sources to call it reliable either, so it doesn't count towards the engine score. How it is calculated

  • Electric motor8.02 faults
  • Gearbox8.61 fault
  • Suspension8.31 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Brakes9.01 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering7.21 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Electrical system9.12 faults
  • Headlights and lights6.3Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.5 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electronics and infotainment7.91 fault
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior6.0Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.6 times the defects normal for its age
  • Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults

Ranked 1 of 34 among the Small SUVs with solid evidence. See the ranking

The weak points of the MG ZS I

  1. 1Medium severity: The infotainment screen freezes and the rear camera failsElectronics and infotainment
  2. 2Medium severity: Charging faults: on-board charger and interrupted chargingMG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) engine
  3. 3Medium severity: The 1.0 T-GDI automatic gearbox can be jerkyGearbox and clutch
  4. 4High severity: High-voltage system fault warning and loss of propulsionMG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) engine
  5. 5High severity: Steering column universal joint coming apart on the MG ZSSteering

Documented engines, from highest to lowest risk

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

12 sourcesHow we work

MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R)

MG eléctricos: MG4 (plataforma MSP, baterías de 51 a 77 kWh), ZS EV (44,5 a 72,6 kWh) and Marvel R (70 kWh) · Electrical

In the ZS I
2019–2024[1][6]
Names
ZS EV · ZS EV Standard Range · ZS EV Long Range
Faults that affect it
2 · 1 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
20
Low risk

Verdict for the versions it uses

Faults that affect the ZS I

  1. Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalChargingCharging faults: on-board charger and interrupted chargingOn the MG4, ZS EV and Marvel R there are owners who see AC charging rejected or interrupted; fiches-auto attributes it to the on-board charger or its software. It is an occasional issue, not a systemic one.
  2. High severityFrequency: RarePower electronicsHigh-voltage system fault warning and loss of propulsionIsolated cases have been documented of MG4 and ZS EV cars going into limp mode or losing propulsion with high-voltage system warnings. They are scattered testimonies, with no official diagnosis or campaign.

ZS I MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) pageAll versions and faults of the MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R)

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Safest option

MG / SAIC 1.5 VTi-TECH atmosférico and 1.5 T-GDI turbo (familia SGE) · Petrol

In the ZS I
2017–2024[1][6][8]
Name
1.5 VTi-TECH 106
Faults that affect it
0
Risk index on this car
0
Low risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • We have not found any documented engine faults, either in the press or in the owner testimonials we consulted; it is a simple naturally aspirated engine with no turbo. The caution is that the available data is thin: only four reviews on the reliability website consulted.[1]

Faults that affect the ZS I

None of the documented faults of the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI affects the versions and years that the ZS I used.

ZS I 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI pageAll versions and faults of the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Faults of the MG ZS I outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

What the MOT inspection finds on the MG ZS I

Official Dutch MOT (APK) inspection data: 870 inspections of 600 cars registered between 2017 and 2022, compared with cars of the same age.

  • Suspension and axles· counts in the score

    Defects in 0.8% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.7%.

    Average

  • Brakes· counts in the score

    Defects in 0.6% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.6%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Steering· counts in the score

    Defects in 1.4% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.3%.

    More defects than average

  • Headlights and lights· counts in the score

    Defects in 11.6% of inspections; in cars of its age, 7.5%.

    More defects than average

  • Rust and bodywork· counts in the score

    Defects in 0.8% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.1%.

    More defects than average

  • Exhaust and emissions

    Defects in 0% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.4%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Fluid leaks

    Defects in 0.1% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.1%.

    Average

  • Glass, wipers and mirrors

    Defects in 5.5% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.3%.

    More defects than average

  • Tyres and wheels· depends mostly on maintenance

    Defects in 13.2% of inspections; in cars of its age, 12.5%.

    Average

The inspection measures wear and the defects visible at a periodic check, not engine or electronics failures. Source: RDW Open Data (public domain). How we calculate it · opendata.rdw.nl

Checklist for buying a used MG ZS I

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) (2019–2024)

Charging faults: on-board charger and interrupted charging

Medium severity

High-voltage system fault warning and loss of propulsion

High severity

Wear parts for the MG ZS I

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

Affiliate links: if you buy from these shops, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility against the registration plate or VIN before ordering. Affiliate links

Buying a MG ZS I?

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Own a MG ZS I? Tell us what faults you have had, at what mileage and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Frequently asked questions

Is the MG ZS I reliable?

We have documented 2 engines for the MG ZS I; the MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) has high or critical severity faults. The safest option is the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI, with a «Buy» verdict. Away from the engine, the MG ZS has recurring complaints about the infotainment screen (freezing, a rear camera that fails) and, to a lesser extent, jerky automatic gearbox behaviour, suspension noises and instability, and faster brake pad wear on the heavier versions; the electric version adds the odd case of charging faults and 12 V battery faults.

Which MG ZS I engine is the most reliable?

Among the 2 engines we have documented, the safest option is the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI, with a «Buy» verdict. We have not found any documented engine faults, either in the press or in the owner testimonials we consulted; it is a simple naturally aspirated engine with no turbo. The caution is that the available data is thin: only four reviews on the reliability website consulted.[1]

What problems does the MG ZS I have apart from the engine?

Away from the engine, the MG ZS has recurring complaints about the infotainment screen (freezing, a rear camera that fails) and, to a lesser extent, jerky automatic gearbox behaviour, suspension noises and instability, and faster brake pad wear on the heavier versions; the electric version adds the odd case of charging faults and 12 V battery faults. The most important documented faults are: the infotainment screen freezes and the rear camera fails (electronics and infotainment, medium severity), the 1.0 T-GDI automatic gearbox can be jerky (gearbox and clutch, medium severity), steering column universal joint coming apart on the MG ZS (steering, high severity) and AC charging faults and 12 V battery faults on the ZS EV (electrical system, medium severity).[1][2][3][4][5]

What faults does the MG ZS I have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: charging faults: on-board charger and interrupted charging (MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R), medium severity) and high-voltage system fault warning and loss of propulsion (MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R), high severity).

What is the best year to buy a MG ZS I?

According to our rating by year, the best is 2019 (7.7/10); the worst rated is 2020 (7.3/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Fiabilité et pannes du MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Problemas del MG ZS: fallos más comunes y opiniones de los usuarios sobre el SUV chino superventasAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 11 September 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. MG ZS usata: la suv economico conviene davvero? Cosa controllarealVolante · Motoring press · published 22 May 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in Italian
  4. MG ZS review (incluye Driver Power 2026)Auto Express · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026
  5. Used MG ZS (Mk1, 2017-date) buyer's guide: long warranty adds to SUV's appealAuto Express · Motoring press · published 10 September 2024 · consulted 30 October 2026
  6. MG ZS (crossover): sección MG EZS / ZS EVWikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  7. Foro MGEVs: batería de tracción de un ZS EV de 2019 averiada con menos de 22.000 millasMGEVs.com · Owners' forum · published 26 August 2025 · consulted 30 October 2026
  8. Essai complet : MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. Fiabilité Mg MG4 (2023): toutes les pannes connuesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  10. Foro GoingElectric: MG4 XPower con fallo del sistema de control y sin cargaGoingElectric · Owners' forum · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  11. Used MG4 2022-present reliabilityWhat Car? · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026
  12. Datos generales MG MG4 Electric Luxury (05/23 - 07/25)ADAC · Technical documentation · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German