RoadVitals

2012 McLaren MP4-12C Spider

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 May 23, 2018
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.
3
Latest Feb 28, 2019
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 2012 McLaren MP4-12C Spider, most frequently naming the exterior lighting category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 81 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Exterior lighting2100.0%

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

3 campaigns cover this model year

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
19V141000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Feb 28, 2019
2,792 units potentially affected
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2012-2013 MP4-12C, 2014-2016 650s, 2015-2016 675 LT, 2014-2015 P1 and 2015-2017 570 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bags, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
McLaren Automotive IncorporatedView on NHTSA.gov
17V005000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 9, 2017
654 units potentially affected
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2012 MP4-12C vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began November 13, 2017. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
McLaren Automotive IncorporatedView on NHTSA.gov
13V541000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Oct 30, 2013
376 units potentially affected
The defect: McLaren Automotive, Inc. (McLaren) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 MP4 12-C Spider and Coupe vehicles manufactured October 10, 2011, through October 23, 2013 and originally sold in, or currently registered in, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Due to a combination of high ambient temperatures and humidity, the wiper motor brushes may jam causing the wiper motor to stop working.
The risk: Non-functioning wipers during inclement weather may be reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: McLaren will notify will notify owners and dealers will replace the wiper motors, free of charge. Vehicles outside of the recall area will have a lifetime warranty on their wiper motors that fail for this issue. The recall began on December 19, 2013. Owners may contact McLaren at 1-646-429-8916.
McLaren Automotive IncorporatedView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lighting
Filed May 23, 2018

HAZE,CONDENSATION AND VISIBLE IMPERFECTIONS INSIDE BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES. MORE PRONOUNCED ON DRIVERS SIDE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG MCLAREN OWNERS, PLEASE SEE PICTURES OTHER OWNERS HAVE SUBMITTED.

NHTSA ID
11097341
Incident
Jun 6, 2015
Mileage
2,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 26, 2018

HEADLIGHTS ARE DEVELOPING FOGGING ON THE INNER SURFACE. I AM WORRIED THIS WILL LEAD TO POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AND IS SAFETY CONCERN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF MCLAREN MP4-12CS AS WELL AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
11081394
Incident
Jan 22, 2018

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

KA-02005 V2

Updated Voltage for Sensor Position

KA-01783

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

McLaren DMTL Test Diagnosis

KA-01988

Apple CarPlay Quick Start Guide and Troubleshooting

KA-02005

Airbrake Diagnosis Guide

KA-01783 v2

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

McLaren DMTL Test Diagnosis

KA-01910 v2

SUSPENSION

Nose Lift Operation Concerns

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

McLaren MP4-12C Spider by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015100—
2014311—
2013221—
2012Viewing230—
2011000—

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.