Head-to-head reliability
Mclaren MP4 12C vs FORD F 150
How the Mclaren MP4 12C and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mclaren MP4 12C vs FORD F 150: the McLaren logged 7 complaints over 10 years, about 0.7 per year, with 5 recalls, while the F 150 logged 11,621 complaints, about 1,162 per year, with 151 recalls. The McLaren's reports center on headlights and wipers; the F 150's on power train limp mode. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mclaren MP4 12C or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mclaren MP4 12C
The Mclaren MP4 12C is a low-volume exotic, and its complaint record reflects that: only 7 complaints over 10 years, about 0.7 per year, alongside 5 recalls. The reported problems cluster around small but annoying failures — fogging headlight lenses, wipers that stop working or smear, and the IRIS infotainment system — rather than major mechanical breakdowns. There is also one crash-related complaint involving a Takata airbag that did not deploy, and the recalls include wiper motor and passenger-side airbag inflator campaigns. For a buyer, this reads as a car with few reported complaints but ones that can affect visibility and electronics, so recall status and cosmetic condition matter.
FORD F 150
The Ford F 150 is a high-volume truck, and its complaint volume is enormous: 11,621 complaints over 10 years, about 1,162 per year, with 151 recalls, 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries and 1 death. The dominant theme is the power train, especially transmission lead frame and limp-mode failures, followed by electrical system complaints that often describe the same lead frame issue. Owners also report rear-window defroster shorts that can shatter the back glass, plus lighting and engine complaints. In practice, this is a truck with many reported problems per year, so a thorough history and recall check is essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mclaren MP4 12C | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.7 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mclaren MP4 12C
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
- 02VISIBILITY/WIPER2
- 03EQUIPMENT1
- 04AIR BAGS1
Owners report mold growing inside both headlight lenses, causing fogging that worsens over time and can reduce light output and create glare. This matters because it affects nighttime visibility and is a known cosmetic-to-functional issue on these cars.
Owners describe windshield wipers that intermittently fail to operate, sometimes with an error message on the dash, or that fail to clear water and debris properly. Since the recalls include wiper motor campaigns, a buyer should confirm the fix was done.
The IRIS system controls navigation, radio and other configuration functions, and owners report documented problems that led to an upgrade. A buyer should check that the system works and has been updated, since it affects daily usability.
One owner reported a serious crash in which the airbag did not deploy, tied to the Takata recall. Recalls list passenger-side inflator modules, so verifying recall completion is a key safety check.
“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. IT IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE IN THESE CARS, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY, B…”
“The contact owns a 2013 McLaren MP4-12C. The contact stated that mold was developing in the lens covering the headlights, causing the headlights to be foggy. The contact stated that the failure was affecting his vision of the roadway while driving and was cau…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners repeatedly describe lead frame failures and transmissions that go into limp mode or stick in 5th gear, sometimes almost daily. This matters because it can strand a driver or cause a near-collision, and the lead frame issue is described as long-running.
Many electrical complaints are the same lead frame problem, plus an output speed sensor failure that triggers limp mode and a recall software fix. Buyers should confirm recall work such as 26S28 was performed.
Owners report a short in the rear window defroster that can cause the back window to shatter outward shortly after use. This is a surprising and potentially dangerous failure worth inspecting.
Lighting is among the top complaint areas, with 1,224 reports, though the sample text does not detail the specific failure. A buyer should still test all lights and check for related recalls.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mclaren MP4 12C — 5 recalls
The 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 combinat…
The risk: Non-functioning wipers during inclement weather may be reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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 Decembe…
The 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.…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
The 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 r…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
The 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…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Mclaren MP4 12C or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mclaren MP4 12C has far fewer issues per year, about 0.7 complaints versus about 1,162 for the Ford F 150, a difference of roughly three orders of magnitude. In practice, the McLaren's record suggests fewer reported problems, but its complaints touch visibility and airbag deployment, while the F 150's much larger record centers on transmission limp-mode failures that owners describe as recurring.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: about 0.7 per year for the Mclaren versus about 1,162 per year for the Ford F 150.
- Failure pattern: the McLaren reports fogging headlights, wiper failures and IRIS electronics, while the F 150 reports lead frame and limp-mode transmission failures.
- Safety reports: the McLaren has 1 crash-related complaint and 3 injuries, while the F 150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries and 1 death.
- Recalls: the McLaren has 5 recalls including wiper motor and airbag inflators, while the F 150 has 151 recalls including engine, seat belt pretensioner, door latch and airbag inflator subjects.
- Inspect both headlight lenses for mold or fogging, since owners report this worsening over time.
- Test the wipers at several speeds and check for error messages, and confirm the wiper motor recall was completed.
- Ask for proof that lead frame and transmission recall or software work was done, and test drive for limp mode or harsh shifting.
- Check the rear window defroster for shorts and inspect the back glass, given reports of it shattering after defroster use.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN through NHTSA to confirm all open recalls are closed on the specific vehicle.
- For the McLaren, inspect headlight lenses, test wipers and verify the IRIS system works.
- For the F 150, get service records for lead frame and transmission work and test drive at highway speed.
- Check the rear defroster and back glass on the F 150, and test all exterior lights on both vehicles.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the model's reported failure areas.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mclaren MP4 12C | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mclaren MP4 12C or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mclaren MP4 12C vs FORD F 150
- Mclaren MP4 12C total complaints
- 7
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Mclaren MP4 12C total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Mclaren MP4 12C avg complaints/year
- 0.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Mclaren MP4 12C
- Mclaren MP4 12C top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN