McLaren MP4-12C recalls

5 official safety recalls for the McLaren MP4-12C from NHTSA (United States), DVSA (United Kingdom) and the EU Safety Gate, newest first. Recall repairs are normally free at the maker’s dealers.

Whether your car is affected and still needs the repair depends on its VIN or registration. Check it on the official site for your country:

  1. Passenger air bag inflator may explode

    Reported February 28, 2019Model years 2012–2013NHTSA campaign 19V1410002,792 vehicles affected

    The passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode after long-term exposure to high humidity and temperature changes, sending sharp metal fragments into the vehicle and potentially causing serious injury or death. Dealers will replace the air bags free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
    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.
    Consequence
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    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.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

  2. Passenger air bag inflator may explode

    Reported January 5, 2018Model years 2013NHTSA campaign 18V007000371 vehicles affected

    The passenger air bag inflator may explode when the air bag deploys, sending sharp metal fragments into the vehicle and potentially causing serious injury or death. Dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
    Defect
    McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2013 MP4-12C vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, 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 passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
    Consequence
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy
    McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

  3. Front air bag inflator may rupture

    Reported January 9, 2017Model years 2012NHTSA campaign 17V005000654 vehicles affected

    Long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes may degrade the inflator propellant, causing the air bag inflator to rupture in a crash. Metal fragments could strike occupants, causing serious injury or death. Dealers will replace the inflators free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
    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.
    Consequence
    An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    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.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

  4. Wiper motor may stop working

    Reported October 30, 2013Model years 2012–2014NHTSA campaign 13V541000376 vehicles affected

    High temperatures and humidity may cause the wiper motor brushes to jam and stop the wipers, reducing visibility in bad weather and increasing crash risk. Dealers will replace the wiper motors, free of charge. Wiper motors on vehicles outside the recall area have a lifetime warranty for this issue.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
    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.
    Consequence
    Non-functioning wipers during inclement weather may be reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
    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.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

  5. Door window anti-trap feature may fail

    Reported December 17, 2012Model years 2012DVSA recall R/2012/1574 vehicles affected

    The anti-trap feature on the front door windows may not work as designed, creating a risk of injury during normal window operation or when closing a door. The wiring harness will be reworked and the sensor connectors swapped between the doors.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    ANTI PINCH OPERATION MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY
    Defect
    It is possible the Anti-Trap Feature on both the passenger and drivers door windows will not function as designed. This could result in injury in the event of normal window operation and door closing.
    Remedy
    To re-work the electrical wire harness and switch the connectors from the left door sensor to the right door sensor and right door sensor to the left door sensor.

Sources: NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), DVSA (UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the EU Safety Gate (European Commission) recall data. Each recall covers vehicles sold in that market; models sold elsewhere may differ.

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