RoadVitals

1978 MG Mgb

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Mar 26, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest May 7, 1985
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1978 MG Mgb, most frequently naming the seat belts category. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts2100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
85V059000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

May 7, 1985
150,000 units potentially affected
The defect: WIDESPREAD LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE OPERATION OF WEBBING SENSITIVE AND DUAL SENSITIVE SEAT BELTS HAS LEAD TO NON-USE OF BELTS BY A NUMBER OF OWNERS. SOME BELTS RETRACTORS MAY JAM, BIND OR LOCK. THIS MAY DISCOURAGE THE USE OF THE SAFETY BELTS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: NON-USE OF SEAT BELTS SUBJECTS OCCUPANTS TO RISK OF INJURY IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN BRAKING.
The remedy: INSTRUCTINS ON PROPER BELT USAGE AND SIMPLE CHECKS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS AND WILL REPLACE ANY MALFUNCTIONING RETRACTOR.
JAGUAR CARSView on NHTSA.gov
82V072000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Jul 19, 1982
120 units potentially affected
The defect: THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABELS AND VEHICLE IDENDIFICATION NUMBER PLATES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 115, "VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER-BASIC REQUIREMENTS".
The remedy: VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE, IF MISSING, WILL BE INSTALLED WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
JAGUAR CARSView on NHTSA.gov
78V164000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Aug 2, 1978
7,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE OVERDRIVE WIRING HARNESS COULD CHAFE AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE SLEEVE TO THE OVERDRIVE WIRING HARNESS AT THE BASE OF THE GEAR LEVER TO PRECLUDE CHAFING.
JAGUAR CARSView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Seat belts
Filed Mar 26, 2007

1978 MGB CUSTOMER HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS CUSTOMER STATED THAT THEY HAD ALWAYS BEEN FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE BELTS**CC THE CONSUMER CAME ACROSS A RECALL REGARDING THE SEAT BELTS FOR HIS VEHICLE. RECALL #85V059000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10186860
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Seat belts
Filed Nov 23, 1998

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN PUTTING OFF A SAFETY RECALL ON THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ON BOTH SIDES. LAND ROVER ACKNOWLEDGED SAFETY DEFECTS, AND PROMISED TO INFORM CONSUMER IN A FEW MONTHS. THE FEW MONTHS HAVE JUST ADDED INTO A TWO YEAR WAITING. *AK

NHTSA ID
831221
Incident
Mar 15, 1996

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

MG Mgb by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1980110—
1979220—
1978Viewing240—
1977030—
1976010—
1975010—
1973010—
1972010—
1969010—
1968010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.