Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Chassis Cracks- Lower Front Wishbone Mount

I assumed, incorrectly it seems, that these were a later batch of cars that didn't have the other chassis issues. It is a bit difficult to keep up

I recall that Morgan were less than forthcoming when the first chassis problems appeared.

Seems that not much has changed. Hope I'm wrong.

Great work MJF. It’s good to see you're doing pre drive checks like any good engineer would especially with the concern over chassis cracks and breaks.

I would however pose the question to other M3W drivers – do you do your checks before or after you have strapped your wife, partner, children, grandchildren, other family members or friends into the passenger seat?

This of course means you need to know that you should be checking for cracks, you know what you’re looking for and have the skills to do it.

On reflection, I don’t want to contemplate the outcome.

There is NO way Morgan is going to voluntarily declare they have a design fault.

You can bet those issues will be kept very quiet and managed on the old “We’ve never seen that before” basis.

TM knows of 7cars but what about the owners/drivers that are not on TM.

This chassis issue is serious no matter which way you view it.

Seems to me the M3W position can be summarised as follows:-

1) There have been significant quality and reliability issues from the beginning.
2) These issues have now developed to justified concerns as to fundamental engineering and safety.
3) Any investigation as mentioned should be completed by an independent qualified automotive engineer so a universal “fix” can be made available to ALL owners.
4) A recall will cost Morgan a pile of money but that’s better than being sued (particularly in the USA, the new target market).
Vehicle recalls seem to be rather fashionable at the moment and may not be as humiliating as you think.
5) A fix would clear the air and provide a sound reputational and quality platform for future sales.
Like it or not, news of the current M3W problems is entering the public domain.
It’s easy to find the contact details of the various motoring scribes who peddle global automotive publications and it won’t be long before one of them picks up on this.
A fix could potentially save new and second-hand sales from going down like a fat kid on a see-saw.

It is interesting that of all the posts to date on this topic only just over 50% are from current M3W owners.

Of all the M3W owners I know, whilst most have had some quibbles with their cars they still think the they are a great machine and have no qualms in driving them halfway across Europe and back, something I have done many times.

I guess confidence levels in an M3W will be a reflection of how long you have owned one, how many miles you have travelled and what issues you have had. The tolerance of issues with the car is then presumably influenced by the types of adventures you have enjoyed and what it has added to your life as a result.

For anyone who doesn't own one and is looking at the situation from the outside, the idea of having to check a 5 year old car for major structural defects that could easily cause a catastrophic failure before every reasonable length journey must look like complete madness.

As a very recent M3W owner I do not have the confidence as a result of having covered many miles (although this confidence could prove to be mis-guided with long term owners), nor do I have the back catalogue of adventures to think ******** to this, I am going to just carry on enjoying myself.

I only recently came into M3W ownership expecting some reliability and noise issues but my ownership experience has been influenced by reading about a fatal accident, several other cars crashing in the wet, fracturing chassis and broken wishbones.

My intention is that my car is a keeper because I really like it and I would therefore like to think that MMC will do the right thing and replace/repair chassis in at risk vehicles with a solution that has been properly designed and tested using well established procedures that exist in the industry.

I think it is important for anyone running a business to reflect on the power of communication and awareness provided by the internet that just didn't exist that many years ago. The ability to claim that issues are one off isolated failures has well and truly gone so ignorance of an issue can no longer be a defence.

In the mean time I admire the loyalty shown to MMC by many owners, I hope that they do not abuse that loyalty and I look forward to making journeys without checks when an appropriate solution to cracking chassis is introduced.

Exactly

I have owned mine since new and have covered over 17,000 miles mostly in Europe. Having had seperate trips to Italy, Northern Spain, Belgium, Switzerland 3 times and France 3 times. All very enjoyable and without problems on route despite monsoon like rain on one trip for 3 days. The whole experience has been generally very positive and have met many new friends along the way.

I suspect these non-M3W owners have a vested interest in Morgan surviving... which they might not if someone has an injury and lawyers get involved!

I suspect most have the intelligence to have *some* qualms! I do for sure (qualms, not intelligence!). But hasn't stopped me yet. The vibration-induced nerve damage in my foot from my end-June trip may yet be a final qualm though

I wouldn’t say long journeys in mine are qualm free, Rog. It’s more of a wing and a prayer thing that it won’t break down at some point! When I put it back in the garage after a long trip, I pat it each time and say “Well done”. Having said all the above, I do feel much more confident with my 2017 car than I did with my 2013 one.

But that wouldn’t be too difficult! 😊

I do that with my 4/4 Shaun. Not because I'm expecting any failures, just because I've enjoyed the journey!