AI DamageMclaren MP4-12C Spider: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mclaren MP4-12C Spider across 4 model years: 8 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
| Year | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) | YouTube repair videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What fails most often
- 1 Exterior lighting 75% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 25% of all complaints
- Exterior lighting: 6 complaints (75% of all).
- Air bags: 2 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 8 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle's airbag did not deploy at all. Vehicle was struck from behind, driver lost control in which vehicle was struck several times with both passenger and driver damage along with extensive front end no deployment of airbags.
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.
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.
Original headlights developed opaque spotting on the interior of the clear housing, which if left unchecked would have compromised the light output and nighttime visibility. Both headlights were eventually replaced under warranty.
The headlight lenses on both sides are growing a mold and fogging. The fogging is gradually worsening, and, at some point, will compromise the light emitted and result in glare.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.