MG Hector Recalled In India — 14,000 Units Recalled For Showing Variation In Pollution Levels

Published: Tuesday, August 10, 2021, 20:30 [IST]

MG Motor India might issue a recall for the Hector in the near future. Conformity of production tests conducted on random units of the BS6 MG Hector have revealed variations in Hydrocarbon and NOx emissions. Around 14,000 units of the MG Hector sold in India are said to be affected by the issue.

MG Hector Recall In India: 14,000 Units Of MG Hector Recalled To Fix Faulty Software

The MG Hector has been the mainstay for MG India since it was first launched, back in 2019. It was Morris Garages' first product in the Indian market and still continues to bring in decent sales numbers for the brand. Many have praised the SUV and its lengthy list of features is seriously impressive.

In 2020, the Indian government implemented the more stringent BS6 emissions norms and all manufacturers were required to follow the same. In January 2020, the MG Hector BS6 petrol was launched and the diesel model followed suit in April 2020.

Now, reports suggest that MG might be forced to recall around 14,000 units of the BS6 Hector. The International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT), located at Haryana conducts Conformity Of Production (CoP) tests on vehicles rolling out of the factory floor.

This is done to ensure that brands are keeping to their standards that were specified in the type approval documents. While conducting such tests on random units of the MG Hector, it was found that the level of pollutants emitted by the engine varied.

iCAT found that a software update is the solution to this problem. MG Motor India is now working on updating all affected units with the new software. Owners of the affected cars will be contacted and the process of flashing the ECU will be started at MG dealerships across the country.

Updating the software on all 14,000 units is expected to take a few months and MG Motor India expects this process to be completed by December 2021. This, again, depends on the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Thoughts On 14,000 Units Of MG Hector Being Recalled

Announcing a recall is a huge cost that will have to be borne by a manufacturer. But, it also shows how responsible a manufacturer is when it comes to doing the right thing. MG Motor India is certainly doing the right thing by recalling the 14,000 affected units and reflashing the ECU. Only time will tell if the entire process can be completed before the end of the year.