Total Complaints
2 filings
MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDER · model year
2012 MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDER
2 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2012MCLARENMP4-12C SPIDER carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 MP4-12C SPIDER is exterior lighting with 2 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
No open NHTSA investigation overlaps the 2012 MP4-12C SPIDER in the current dataset. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
Recalls (3)
13V54100030/10/2013
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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 combinat
19V14100028/02/2019
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 r
17V00500009/01/2017
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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
Recent Complaints
20180523EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
Mileage: 2,500
20180326EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
Compare 2012MCLARENMP4-12C SPIDER to Similar Vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2012 MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDER have?▼
The 2012 MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDER has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDER?▼
Yes, the 2012 MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDER has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDER?▼
The most-complained component for the 2012 MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDER is EXTERIOR LIGHTING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 2012 MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.