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 over 10 years (0.7/yr) with issues like headlight fogging and wiper failure, while the Honda has 4,438 complaints (443.8/yr) including engine and collision avoidance problems. The McLaren has 5 recalls, the Honda 38. 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 an exotic supercar with very low complaint volume—just 7 over 10 years—but the issues that do surface are quality and safety related. Owners report headlight lenses fogging and growing mold, which can reduce visibility and cause glare. Windshield wipers intermittently fail or don't clean properly, which is concerning in rain. There's also a serious airbag non-deployment complaint tied to the Takata recall, and the IRIS infotainment system has had documented problems.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume mainstream sedan with a much larger complaint count—4,438 over 10 years—reflecting its popularity. The top issues are engine problems (noise, loss of power, warning lights), electrical system glitches (including rodent damage to wiring), and forward collision avoidance system malfunctions that cause false alerts or unintended braking. Brake system complaints are also frequent. While many complaints are minor, the sheer number and the safety-critical nature of some issues (e.g., unexpected braking) are worth noting.
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 | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 144 |
| 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 headlight lenses developing mold and fogging, which gradually worsens and can compromise light output, causing glare and reduced visibility at night.
Windshield wipers intermittently fail to operate or don't clean the windshield properly, especially in rain, which can be a safety hazard. Some owners see an error message on the dash.
One owner reports that after a serious crash, the airbag did not deploy at all, which is extremely concerning. This is linked to the Takata recall for the passenger frontal inflator module.
The IRIS system, which controls navigation, radio, and other critical vehicle functions, has had documented problems. McLaren issued an upgrade after the first version had many issues worldwide.
“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
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises, loss of power, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure. Some vehicles lose speed and cannot maintain highway speeds.
Issues include TPMS warnings leading to tire failures, and rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness, which can cause engine problems. Electrical gremlins are common.
The system can malfunction, causing false alerts or unintended braking at highway speeds, which is dangerous. Dealers have failed to resolve the issue in some cases.
Brake system complaints are frequent, with some owners reporting failures that trigger multiple warning lights and loss of braking ability.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“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…”
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 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.
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…
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 (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
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 complaints per year (0.7) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but that's partly because it's a low-volume exotic. In practice, the Accord's issues are more widespread and affect everyday usability and safety, while the McLaren's problems are more about quality and visibility. Neither is problem-free, but the Accord's higher complaint rate means you're more likely to encounter an issue.
Key differences
- The McLaren has 7 complaints over 10 years, while the Honda has 4,438—a massive difference in volume, but the McLaren is a niche supercar.
- McLaren owners report headlight fogging and wiper failures, while Honda owners report engine and electrical issues, plus false collision warnings.
- The McLaren has a Takata airbag recall and one report of non-deployment, while the Honda has multiple recalls including airbag sensor and fuel pump.
- The Honda's forward collision avoidance system can cause unintended braking, a safety concern not reported on the McLaren.
- Inspect the headlight lenses for any fogging, mold, or discoloration, as this is a known issue that can impair night visibility.
- Test the windshield wipers in various speeds and conditions to ensure they operate consistently and clean the glass properly.
- Check for any warning lights related to the engine, brakes, or collision avoidance systems, and have a mechanic scan for stored codes.
- Look for signs of rodent damage under the hood, especially to wiring harnesses, and inspect the condition of the TPMS sensors and tires.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to confirm recall completion, especially for the Takata airbag recall on the McLaren and the airbag sensor recall on the Honda.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with each brand—exotic car specialist for the McLaren, Honda dealer or independent for the Accord.
- Test drive both vehicles and specifically test the wipers, headlights, and any driver assistance features (like adaptive cruise control) to ensure they work.
- Check for any outstanding recalls and verify they have been remedied.
- Consider the cost of ownership: the McLaren will have much higher insurance, maintenance, and repair costs than the Honda.
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 | 226 |
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
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
- 4,438
- Mclaren MP4 12C total recalls
- 5
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mclaren MP4 12C avg complaints/year
- 0.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mclaren MP4 12C
- Mclaren MP4 12C top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE