Head-to-head reliability
Mclaren MP4 12C vs Honda Accord
How the Mclaren MP4 12C and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: the McLaren has 7 complaints and 5 recalls over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints and 38 recalls. The McLaren's issues center on foggy headlights and wipers; the Accord's on engine, electrical, and collision-avoidance faults. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mclaren MP4 12C or Honda Accord 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, so its 7 complaints over 10 years (0.7 per year) reflect a small owner pool rather than a trouble-free car. The pattern is consistent: headlights fog and grow mold, wipers fail intermittently, and the IRIS infotainment system has documented problems. Recalls cover wiper motors and Takata airbag inflators, and one owner reported an airbag that did not deploy in a serious crash.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mass-market sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years (about 452 per year), so problems are far more common in absolute terms. Owners report engine stalling or rattling, electrical failures including power steering and braking lockup, and forward collision avoidance that can brake unexpectedly. Recalls address hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, seat belt retractors, and occupant sensors.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mclaren MP4 12C | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.7 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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 or create glare. This matters because it affects nighttime visibility and is a known issue on these cars.
Complaints describe front windshield wipers that intermittently fail or do not properly clear water and debris, sometimes with a wiper error message. In rain, this can severely limit the driver's view, and recalls cover wiper motor problems.
The IRIS system controls navigation, radio, and other critical car settings, and owners report many documented problems that led McLaren to issue an upgrade. If it fails, you may lose access to functions needed for daily operation.
A Takata recall is listed, and one owner reported that the airbag did not deploy at all in a serious 2018 crash with injuries. Buyers should confirm the recall was performed, since an unrepaired inflator can be dangerous.
“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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS, followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises on acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can leave you with reduced power or a car that feels unreliable.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking failing and locking up at highway speeds, plus a tire failure after a TPMS service. Electrical faults like these can be sudden and affect control, so they are a serious ownership concern.
Owners describe the system braking or threatening to brake unexpectedly, sometimes under adaptive cruise control at highway speed. This can cause a near-collision or loss of confidence in the driver-assist features.
The fuel/propulsion category has 602 complaints, and recalls cover fuel pumps and hybrid power control software. A failing fuel pump or hybrid control issue can cause stalling or loss of power, which is a safety risk.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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.
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Mclaren MP4 12C or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The McLaren MP4-12C has far fewer issues per year (0.7 vs. 452.4), but that is largely because so few were sold and driven. The Honda Accord's much higher complaint count means you are more likely to encounter a reported problem, though many are covered by recalls or warranty. In practice, the McLaren is a niche car with known cosmetic and electronic quirks, while the Accord is a high-volume car with a broader mix of engine, electrical, and driver-assist complaints.
Key differences
- The McLaren has 7 complaints over 10 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524, so the Accord generates far more owner-reported issues in absolute terms.
- McLaren complaints cluster around exterior lighting (moldy, foggy headlights) and wiper failures, while Accord complaints cluster around engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance problems.
- The McLaren has 5 recalls including Takata airbag inflators and wiper motors; the Accord has 38 recalls including hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, and seat belt retractors.
- The McLaren has 1 crash-related complaint and 3 injuries; the Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 146 injuries, reflecting its much larger fleet.
- Inspect both headlight lenses for mold, fogging, or yellowing, since owners report this worsening over time and it can affect night visibility.
- Test the windshield wipers in all modes, including intermittent, and check for any wiper error messages, because owners report intermittent failure and there are wiper motor recalls.
- During a test drive, watch for sudden brake, ABS, or hill descent warnings and any loss of power, as owners report these alarms and speed loss.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control at highway speed if safe, because owners report unexpected braking or near-collisions.
Before you buy
- Ask for the VIN and check NHTSA for open recalls on both vehicles, especially the McLaren's Takata airbag and wiper motor recalls and the Accord's fuel pump and hybrid software recalls.
- On the McLaren, inspect headlights for mold or fogging and test wipers and the IRIS infotainment system for full function.
- On the Accord, scan for stored engine, ABS, and hybrid codes, and test the electronic power steering and braking at low and highway speeds.
- Request a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the specific model, including a battery health check on the Accord hybrid.
- Get a vehicle history report and ask for service records showing recall completion and any prior repairs for the reported issues.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mclaren MP4 12C vs Honda Accord
- Mclaren MP4 12C total complaints
- 7
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mclaren MP4 12C total recalls
- 5
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mclaren MP4 12C avg complaints/year
- 0.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mclaren MP4 12C
- Mclaren MP4 12C top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE