McLaren 12C (MP4-12C): history, fuel economy and recalls

By CarWhere Research · Updated

The McLaren 12C, sold in the US as the MP4-12C, is the first road car McLaren Automotive produced, launched in 2011. It introduced McLaren’s one-piece carbon fibre MonoCell, which weighs 75 kg, and uses a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8. A 12C Spider followed, and the 650S succeeded both.

Years
2012–2014 (US model years)
Body
2-door coupe (also sold as 12C Spider)

McLaren 12C (MP4-12C) specs

McLaren 12C (MP4-12C) output and performance as published by McLaren
VariantEnginePowerTorqueTop speedSource
MP4-12C Coupe / Spider (US)Seven-speed automatic (EPA listing) · Rear-wheel drive3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 (EPA listing)———[1][2]

Figures are McLaren's published numbers; acceleration is shown only in the form McLaren published it. "—" means no official figure was found.

McLaren 12C (MP4-12C) fuel economy

McLaren 12C (MP4-12C) EPA fuel economy estimates (mpg)
Model yearVariantCityHighwayCombinedSource
2012MP4-12C Coupe (7-speed auto, 3.8L turbo V8)152218[1]
2014MP4-12C Coupe (7-speed auto, 3.8L turbo V8)152218[3]
2014MP4-12C Spider (7-speed auto, 3.8L turbo V8)152218[2]

McLaren 12C (MP4-12C) generations and years

McLaren 12C (MP4-12C) generations, years and key changes
GenerationYearsNotes
12C / MP4-12C Coupe2011–2014Production began in 2011, and the first car was approved for shipping from the McLaren Production Centre on July 18, 2011. The first production 12C is now in the McLaren Heritage Collection.[4][5]
12C Spider2012–2014The open version, with a heated glass rear window that works independently of the roof — a feature McLaren carried over to the 650S Spider. EPA lists it for model year 2014, and NHTSA’s wiper recall covers 2012–2014 Spiders.[6][2][7]
Successor: 650S2014–2016McLaren said it built on the 12C to create the 650S, revealed in March 2014; its 2014 results called the 12C “outgoing”. McLaren’s site map now lists the 12C and 12C Spider under its 'legacy' models.[4][8][9]

McLaren Automotive’s first car

McLaren calls the 12C the first road car produced by McLaren Automotive. It introduced the MonoCell, a single-piece carbon fibre tub that weighs 75 kg, which McLaren says gave a road car unprecedented stiffness and lightness at the time. The McLaren Production Centre took 14 months to build, from groundbreaking until the first 12C was approved for shipping on July 18, 2011.[10][5]

From 12C to 650S

The 650S Coupé and Spider were revealed at Geneva in March 2014, and McLaren’s 2014 sales total of 1,400 core-range cars included “some examples of the outgoing 12C.” The 5,000th Super Series car, completed in February 2015, was a 650S.[8][6][4]

What to check before buying a used 12C (MP4-12C)

On a used 12C, confirm completion of four NHTSA campaigns: three passenger air bag inflator recalls (two limited to cars registered in certain humid states and territories) and a wiper motor recall for cars sold in Gulf states. Then check service history and extended-warranty eligibility.

  • Air bag inflator recalls 17V005, 18V007 and 19V141

    17V005 covers 2012 cars and 18V007 covers 2013 cars ever registered in listed humid states and territories; 19V141 covers 2012–2013 MP4-12C cars more widely. Confirm the passenger frontal air bag inflator was replaced.[7]

  • Wiper motor recall 13V541

    Covers 2012–2014 MP4-12C coupes and Spiders built October 10, 2011–October 23, 2013 and sold or registered in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana or Texas.[7]

  • Annual service history

    McLaren’s published service schedule (as stated for the 750S in 2023) is once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first; a stamped retailer history should show at least one visit a year.[11]

  • Extended warranty eligibility

    McLaren’s published terms (as stated in 2023) sell the McLaren Extended Warranty in 12- or 24-month periods until a car is 15 years old, so check whether the car is still eligible and whether cover has lapsed.[11]

McLaren 12C (MP4-12C) recalls

NHTSA safety recall campaigns that cover the McLaren 12C (MP4-12C)
CampaignReportedSubjectScopeUnits
19V141000February 28, 2019Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May ExplodeThese 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.2012–2013 MP4-12C (also 2014–2016 650S, 2015–2016 675LT, 2014–2015 P1, 2015–2017 570)2,792
18V007000January 5, 2018Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May ExplodeS. 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.2013 MP4-12C ever registered in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Saipan and the U.S. Virgin Islands371
17V005000January 9, 2017Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May RuptureS. 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.2012 MP4-12C originally sold or ever registered in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Saipan and the U.S. Virgin Islands654
13V541000October 30, 2013Windshield Wiper Motor may not FunctionDue to a combination of high ambient temperatures and humidity, the wiper motor brushes may jam causing the wiper motor to stop working.2012–2014 MP4-12C Coupe and Spider built Oct 10, 2011–Oct 23, 2013, sold or registered in FL, GA, AL, MS, LA, TX376

From the U.S. DOT open-data recall dataset (NHTSA). Units are the vehicles the manufacturer reported as potentially affected, which can span several models. Recall repairs are free at an authorized dealer.

See how a specific McLaren 12C (MP4-12C) was built at the factory.

See what a specific McLaren VIN was factory-built with. The CarWhere McLaren build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.

McLaren build sheet by VIN

Related McLaren pages

Frequently asked questions

Is the McLaren 12C the same as the MP4-12C?

Yes. U.S. EPA and NHTSA records list the car as the MP4-12C, while McLaren now calls it the McLaren 12C.

When did the McLaren 12C come out?

McLaren began 12C production in 2011, and the first car was approved for shipping on July 18, 2011.

What gas mileage does a McLaren 12C get?

The EPA rates the 2012 and 2014 MP4-12C at 15 mpg city, 22 highway and 18 combined, for both the coupe and the 2014 Spider.

Has the McLaren MP4-12C been recalled?

Yes. NHTSA lists three passenger air bag inflator campaigns (17V005, 18V007, 19V141) and a wiper motor campaign (13V541) that cover MP4-12C cars.

Is the McLaren 12C discontinued?

Yes. McLaren followed the 12C with the 650S in 2014 and called the 12C “outgoing” in its 2014 results. EPA records for the MP4-12C stop at the 2014 model year, and McLaren now lists the 12C and 12C Spider among its legacy models.

Sources

Specifications, prices and production figures are as published by McLaren; recalls are from the U.S. DOT/NHTSA recall dataset and fuel economy from the EPA. CarWhere does not publish auction or market values for these cars.

  1. EPA fuel economy: 2012 McLaren MP4-12C Coupe (Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 3.8 L, Turbo) — U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  2. EPA fuel economy: 2014 McLaren MP4-12C Spider (Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 3.8 L, Turbo) — U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  3. EPA fuel economy: 2014 McLaren MP4-12C Coupe (Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 3.8 L, Turbo) — U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  4. Groundbreaking McLaren Super Series continues to break records — 5,000th car (Feb 2, 2015) — McLaren Automotive press release (republished by Automotive World) (secondary reference)
  5. McLaren Automotive passes 15,000 cars built milestone (May 25, 2018) — McLaren Automotive press release (republished by Automotive World) (secondary reference)
  6. Open-top McLaren 650S Spider joins 650S Coupé for Geneva global debut (Mar 4, 2014) — McLaren Automotive press release (republished by Automotive World) (secondary reference)
  7. NHTSA recalls dataset (DOT open data 6axg-epim), McLaren campaigns — U.S. DOT / NHTSA
  8. McLaren Automotive races ahead — 2014 results (Jan 7, 2015) — McLaren Automotive press release (republished by Automotive World) (secondary reference)
  9. McLaren Cars site map — current model pages and 'legacy' model pages (checked Nov 9, 2026) — McLaren Automotive
  10. McLaren's carbon fibre heritage: from the MP4/1 Formula 1 car to the new W1 (Mar 6, 2025) — McLaren Automotive press release (republished by Automotive World) (secondary reference)
  11. The new McLaren 750S: peak supercar performance, pure exhilaration (Apr 26, 2023) — McLaren Automotive press release (republished by Automotive World) (secondary reference)
  12. Recalls Data (NHTSA recall campaigns) — U.S. Department of Transportation open data

More McLaren research

Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by McLaren Automotive Limited. McLaren and the model names are trademarks of their owners.