2013 McLaren MP4-12C Spider

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

I SENT MY 2013 MC LAREN IN FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG RECALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED IT WAS IN DEFAULT WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAID "AIR BAG" AND "TRANSMISSION" WAS IN DEFAULT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG THAT WAS IN DEFAULT. THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES WHEN I SENT IT TO THEM. I BELIEVE THAT THEY MIGHT BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE RECALL PROCESS BY FIXING ONE SAFETY ISSUE AND CAUSING ANOTHER. THE CAR HAS 7359 MILES ON IT SO I FIND IT SURPRISING THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WOULD GO BAD UNLESS THERE IS A DEFECT THAT PERHAPS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THEY ALSO FOUND MANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR BUT NONE THAT I WAS CONSIDER SAFETY CONCERNS. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS WAS $11318.86. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE RECALL WOULD NOT BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCIAL GAIN FOR THE DEALERS. .

NHTSA ID

11205043

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

Mileage

7,359 mi

THE FRONT HEADLAMPS HAVE DEVELOPED CONDENSATION AND MOLD INSIDE THE CLEAR HOUSING. A CLOUDY SUBSTANCE HAS FORMED INSIDE THE HEADLAMPS AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED. THE CONDENSATION HAS SPREAD AND BECOME WORSE OVER TIME PROBABLY DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLAMPS AND NOT BEING PROPERLY SEALED. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN WHICH MCLAREN IS WELL AWARE OF AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY ALMOST ALL OF THE MP4-12C OWNERS. MY HEADLAMPS WERE REPLACED ONCE ALREADY AND THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS RE-OCCURRED WITH THE 2ND SET OF HEADLAMPS AND NOW MCLAREN HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY OF THE CUSTOMER'S HEADLAMPS. HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN PERSUADE MCLAREN TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REPLACE ALL THE HEADLAMPS WITH A BETTER FIX. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11088426

Incident

Oct 21, 2016

Mileage

4,500 mi

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