Recall 18V007 affects 371 2013 McLaren MP4-12C vehicles with a passenger air bag inflator explosion risk. Repair is free at any franchised McLaren dealer.
McLaren is recalling 371 2013 MP4-12C vehicles ever registered in certain states and U.S. territories because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode if the air bag deploys in a crash. Sharp metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death, and McLaren dealers will replace the passenger air bag free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in the 2013 McLaren MP4-12C is the gas-generating part inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash that requires deployment, the inflator is supposed to burn its propellant in a controlled way and fill the air bag quickly enough to cushion the passenger.
On affected MP4-12C vehicles, the Takata inflator uses ammonium nitrate propellant that degrades after long-term exposure to high humidity, high heat, and temperature swings. If the vehicle is in a crash and the passenger air bag deploys, degraded propellant can burn too aggressively. That creates excessive internal pressure and can rupture the inflator body instead of producing a controlled air bag deployment.
There is no warning sign before failure. The inflator sits inside the air bag module, so an owner will not see, hear, or feel the problem during normal driving.
Who's affected?
| 2013 McLaren MP4-12C | front air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 371 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2013 McLaren MP4-12C coupe is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific coupe is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the front passenger air bag inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants and cause serious injury or death. Schedule the inflator replacement soon, especially before carrying a front passenger. Repair is free at any franchised McLaren dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013 McLaren MP4-12C is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised McLaren dealer to schedule the free front passenger air bag inflator replacement that fixes the inflator explosion risk in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if McLaren mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V007 when you call.
- Avoid carrying a front-seat passenger until the inflator is replaced.
- Call McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916 with questions about this recall.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a McLaren technician replaces the front passenger air bag inflator in the passenger frontal air bag module. The replacement parts and labor are free under recall 18V007. McLaren has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related inflator repair before the recall notice. Bring repair invoices and proof of payment to the dealer, or contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916 for the reimbursement path.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 5, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 22, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| January 31, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 6, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 9, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V007?
Recall 18V007 covers 371 2013 McLaren MP4-12C vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture during a crash deployment after long-term humidity and temperature exposure. McLaren dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2013 McLaren MP4-12C is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V007. If it is, contact a franchised McLaren dealer to schedule the front passenger air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 18V007 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and McLaren will replace the front passenger air bag inflator free of charge at a franchised McLaren dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a passenger frontal air bag inflator rupture during deployment. In a crash, sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants and cause serious injury or death. The fix is the free inflator replacement at a McLaren dealer.
What if I bought the McLaren MP4-12C used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2013 McLaren MP4-12C is included, then call a franchised McLaren dealer or McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V007000 |
|---|---|
| McLaren customer service | 1-646-429-8916 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V007 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V007000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →