McLaren MP4-12C Production Halted Due to Safety Concerns
Oct 5, 2011 | 07:26 PM
#1
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McLaren MP4-12C Production Halted Due to Safety Concerns
Multiple unofficial reports on the McLaren MP4-12C are out, indicating that the company has paused the production of the supercar, due to the fact that there have been issues with multiple features of the vehicle.
"The problems could affect driving safety, as well as comfort, as they range from the brake hoses and door opening system, to the glass engine cover and Iris entertainment system. Others problems target the water ingress, as well as the electrical cables in the dashboard.
We don’t know if McLaren is recalling the units of the cars that are already in customer possession, or how does it feel to own the car these days. However, the British carmaker should be able to overcome all this and we're waiting for the moment when the problems are left in a cloud of tire smoke."
McLaren MP4-12C Production Halted Due to Safety Concerns - autoevolution
Oct 5, 2011 | 10:03 PM
#6
The black sheep of the family.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,322
They have halted production so they can properly deal with customer cars that have already been delivered.
Whilst it hasn't gone swimmingly for them ( Ron the perfectionist must be having a nervous breakdown ), they seem to be handling everything extremely well.
Whilst it hasn't gone swimmingly for them ( Ron the perfectionist must be having a nervous breakdown ), they seem to be handling everything extremely well.
Oct 6, 2011 | 11:42 PM
#8
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 286
From: New Delhi, India
They should not have launched a car that wasn't ready to be launched. It's that simple. This is a major bullet in the foot for them.
See the discussion going on with a few actual owners on Pistonheads:
yes, problems happen. I think the disappointment comes from the fact that in the end, mclaren is no better than ferrari or porsche in their quest for perfection, exagerated by the fact that they showed a lot of arrogance and self confidence when they launched their car.
you mention some issues with the 458. well they seem to affect a limited number. it is not an excuse, but it happens. and there is a good 2 or 3000 458 on the roads.
mclaren delivered probably 100 or 200 cars, ALL with niggles. they actually knew the cars were faulty and not finished. from outside, it sounds as professional as a kit car company and they find new issues every month (leaking suspension in the test cars, doors, engine cover flying off, IRIS that never worked, overheating gearboxes, etc...)
most of those problems are electronic related, can be worrying considering the car dynamics rely entirely on computers... I have mentioned that the PR have got it completely wrong,and when you have driven the car its easier to marvel in the 98% rather than worry about the 2%,i am in contact with several owners that feel the same,and its these people that will sell the car in the long run,as for the customer service,its streets ahead of the competition.All the above issues were sorted in a matter of days and people who took the cars were aware of the iris problem ,due to unforseen circumstances.As for the gearbox overheating ,there was only one (mine)due to driver error while operating the launch control.
There have been 100 cars delivered,all have some issues ,but mostly minor,thats why they are not shipping more until this is sorted,and the build quality is certainly excellent that was my point. mclaren delivered 100 cars and stopped its production to focus on adressing the problems. it sounds normal that the customer service is excellent! (still they seem unable to give production dates or clear explanations on various issues like when is the IRIS coming) the real test will be when 1000 or 2000 cars will be on the road or even more, in several years. The customers know when iris is coming,and they havent stopped production,they have stopped deliveries,there is now no hardware problems,so no need to stop production,its a software issue that will be solved in a couple of weeks,then all the cars can be delivered at the same time when its downloaded,only the customers that were expecting their cars in the next 3 weeks will be affected,everyone has been told of a 3 month delay,but thats been the same for all
This differs somewhat from what I've been told from Mclaren directly. There is no final fix date for IRIS. I've been told they're aiming for the end of the year but no guarantees. I've also been told by the head of after sales that it's definitely hardware too.
Its unfortunately a bit more than software issues. My car is currently back with McLaren with a tech from the factory looking at the numerous non-software issues, and my business partners car was collected today, along with the software faults that all cars have, his has gone back for all hardware related faults/failures and paint defects.
Whilst the car is superb to drive and be in as a driving experience, the customer satisfaction experience still leaves room for improvement, which to be fair McLaren are working on. However, with the issues our two cars have (numerous stupid software faults aside, two of which keep putting my car in limp mode) have I do sometimes wonder what their test engineers were doing for 5+ years.
and have you got rid of your mclaren? It's being collected tomorrow. I did try to live with it for another week or two after I posted that I was going to sell it but the problems just got worse and more frequent. On Saturday, at different times, I was told by the computer I had 4 punctures, the airbags weren't working, the air brake wasn't working, the air brake then got stuck, and the car told me that the passenger seat belt was not fastened even though no passenger was in the car.
Provided they get rid of the car quickly and I'm not out of pocket, I am prepared to give Mclaren and the dealer another chance at a later date, but I get a very strong sense from the people I talk to there, that whilst they hope to have some fixes in the next 2-3 weeks, they are a LONG way from fixes for all of this stuff and the fact that production has now stopped highlights just how far away they are.
And my own thoughts:
See the discussion going on with a few actual owners on Pistonheads:
Originally Posted by ANDYCLAX
Originally Posted by snaelro
Originally Posted by ANDYCLAX
LMB.the point i was trying to make was that no customer cars were effected and the problem occured on a PP car,the window securing points were altered as a precaution.The main problem was that the PR promised us a perfect car,and because of that they are getting cut no slack,i think Mclaren have learnt a very expensive lesson,but if you look on any ferrari 458 forum,they are having just the same problems even after 18 months of production not just 3 months,ie 3 transmission failures in 750 miles,front lifter failure,brake caliper leaks,doors seals coming off,lights filling with water,air conditioning not working,ecu remap,steering failure,premature wearing of ceramics,plus may more and the more publicised ones.
This is not a dig at other manufacturers,it small volume production and problems happen,its how they are delt with that makes the difference,im more interested in the 98% that is world beating tecnology rather than the 2% that they have got wrong,but that is the British way wether it is a public or press attitude.And they will get it right,it just takes time
This is not a dig at other manufacturers,it small volume production and problems happen,its how they are delt with that makes the difference,im more interested in the 98% that is world beating tecnology rather than the 2% that they have got wrong,but that is the British way wether it is a public or press attitude.And they will get it right,it just takes time
you mention some issues with the 458. well they seem to affect a limited number. it is not an excuse, but it happens. and there is a good 2 or 3000 458 on the roads.
mclaren delivered probably 100 or 200 cars, ALL with niggles. they actually knew the cars were faulty and not finished. from outside, it sounds as professional as a kit car company and they find new issues every month (leaking suspension in the test cars, doors, engine cover flying off, IRIS that never worked, overheating gearboxes, etc...)
most of those problems are electronic related, can be worrying considering the car dynamics rely entirely on computers...
There have been 100 cars delivered,all have some issues ,but mostly minor,thats why they are not shipping more until this is sorted,and the build quality is certainly excellent
Originally Posted by ANDYCLAX
Originally Posted by snaelro
Originally Posted by ANDYCLAX
for the customer service,its streets ahead of the competition.
[...]
There have been 100 cars delivered
[...]
There have been 100 cars delivered
Originally Posted by Lambo FirstBlood
This differs somewhat from what I've been told from Mclaren directly. There is no final fix date for IRIS. I've been told they're aiming for the end of the year but no guarantees. I've also been told by the head of after sales that it's definitely hardware too.
Originally Posted by ANDYCLAX
Christian Marti,head of european sales is suggesting january,how near can you get with something so complicated,and the small amount of hardware needed for the iris dosent effect the continued production of the car,there are a few small hardware improvements to come ,but many will not be on a recall basis,such as a different type of bolt securing the front suspension onto the carbon tub,perfectly safe,but on some cars causes a squeek.LMB,things are moving along daily,i dont see things differing too much,when i said customers know when its coming,we are all being told similar things,without it in writing im suggesting we have an idea,and we are not being left in the dark,afterall we all talk to Mclaren directly.
[footnote]Edited by ANDYCLAX on Thursday 6th October 20:41[/footnote]
[footnote]Edited by ANDYCLAX on Thursday 6th October 20:41[/footnote]
Originally Posted by Maff
Its unfortunately a bit more than software issues. My car is currently back with McLaren with a tech from the factory looking at the numerous non-software issues, and my business partners car was collected today, along with the software faults that all cars have, his has gone back for all hardware related faults/failures and paint defects.
Whilst the car is superb to drive and be in as a driving experience, the customer satisfaction experience still leaves room for improvement, which to be fair McLaren are working on. However, with the issues our two cars have (numerous stupid software faults aside, two of which keep putting my car in limp mode) have I do sometimes wonder what their test engineers were doing for 5+ years.
Originally Posted by Lambo FirstBlood
Originally Posted by snaelro
and have you got rid of your mclaren?
Provided they get rid of the car quickly and I'm not out of pocket, I am prepared to give Mclaren and the dealer another chance at a later date, but I get a very strong sense from the people I talk to there, that whilst they hope to have some fixes in the next 2-3 weeks, they are a LONG way from fixes for all of this stuff and the fact that production has now stopped highlights just how far away they are.
Originally Posted by Beefmeister
This really is shocking to me, as an automotive engineer. I can't imagine any of the companies I've worked for (Ford, Jag, LR, Aston, Fiat to name a few) ever getting away with half of the faults the MP4 has had at launch.
To say 'Yes, you can have your car but no infotainment system for 3 months' is baffling. I just can't understand why they would let cars go out the door with known issues. As has been said before, what exactly was going on in the development testing phase?
Did they purely concentrate on the drivetrain? That seems to be sorted, but the electronics reek of a 1980s Rover.
Genuinely shocked and frankly annoyed that they have dropped the ball so much - they had the opportunity to smash Ferrari with this car, and they are just going to end up a laughing stock and lose customers.
Such a shame, such a waste.
To say 'Yes, you can have your car but no infotainment system for 3 months' is baffling. I just can't understand why they would let cars go out the door with known issues. As has been said before, what exactly was going on in the development testing phase?
Did they purely concentrate on the drivetrain? That seems to be sorted, but the electronics reek of a 1980s Rover.
Genuinely shocked and frankly annoyed that they have dropped the ball so much - they had the opportunity to smash Ferrari with this car, and they are just going to end up a laughing stock and lose customers.
Such a shame, such a waste.
Oct 7, 2011 | 04:10 AM
#9
McLaren Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,578
From: California, USA
"Multiple unofficial reports on the McLaren MP4-12C are out, indicating that the company has paused the production of the supercar, due to the fact that there have been issues with multiple features of the vehicle.
The problems could affect driving safety, as well as comfort, as they range from the brake hoses and door opening system, to the glass engine cover and Iris entertainment system. Others problems target the water ingress, as well as the electrical cables in the dashboard.
We don’t know if McLaren is recalling the units of the cars that are already in customer possession, or how does it feel to own the car these days. However, the British carmaker should be able to overcome all this and we're waiting for the moment when the problems are left in a cloud of tire smoke."
McLaren MP4-12C Production Halted Due to Safety Concerns - autoevolution
The problems could affect driving safety, as well as comfort, as they range from the brake hoses and door opening system, to the glass engine cover and Iris entertainment system. Others problems target the water ingress, as well as the electrical cables in the dashboard.
We don’t know if McLaren is recalling the units of the cars that are already in customer possession, or how does it feel to own the car these days. However, the British carmaker should be able to overcome all this and we're waiting for the moment when the problems are left in a cloud of tire smoke."
McLaren MP4-12C Production Halted Due to Safety Concerns - autoevolution
No offense to you personally, but this is just more sensationalist 'journalism' (term used loosely) with a dramatic headline that has little basis in fact. The only thing they have halted are deliveries so they can ensure that very few customers have to be imposed upon with some of their early revisions.
AutoWeek - a fairly respected source of news - had this to say:
McLaren slows MP4-12C production for fixes
British supercar maker McLaren has slowed production of the MP4-12C because of quality issues. The company says the problems are not safety- or performance-related.
"There are no safety concerns for the delay," Tony Joseph, director of McLaren North America, told Autoweek. "We've had some quality-related issues in a few cars we wanted to address before we continue to deliver customer cars."
Joseph refuted Internet reports of McLaren MP4-12C performance and safety issues. He said that the primary problems were minor, such as condensation in the headlamps, door operation and a battery-draining issue.
"We believe the battery issue is coming from the electrical head unit, which appears to not be shutting off," he said.
A temporary fix is being used. Locking the car door shuts down the car's electronics to prevent the battery from draining.
Not every McLaren MP4-12C delivered--59 throughout Europe--has been affected by the problems.
Joseph said that McLaren has been handling the issues on a case-by-case basis, sending repair people out from dealerships.
There are 179 MP4-12Cs ordered for North America. Factory shipments of those cars might be delayed by two or three weeks.
"We want to make sure we deliver a proper product to our customers," Joseph said. "And I would rather delay getting them in customers' hands by a couple of weeks if I can ensure a better product."
McLaren dealers in the United States are still expected to receive demonstration vehicles on schedule.
Read more: McLaren slows MP4-12C production for fixes - Autoweek
British supercar maker McLaren has slowed production of the MP4-12C because of quality issues. The company says the problems are not safety- or performance-related.
"There are no safety concerns for the delay," Tony Joseph, director of McLaren North America, told Autoweek. "We've had some quality-related issues in a few cars we wanted to address before we continue to deliver customer cars."
Joseph refuted Internet reports of McLaren MP4-12C performance and safety issues. He said that the primary problems were minor, such as condensation in the headlamps, door operation and a battery-draining issue.
"We believe the battery issue is coming from the electrical head unit, which appears to not be shutting off," he said.
A temporary fix is being used. Locking the car door shuts down the car's electronics to prevent the battery from draining.
Not every McLaren MP4-12C delivered--59 throughout Europe--has been affected by the problems.
Joseph said that McLaren has been handling the issues on a case-by-case basis, sending repair people out from dealerships.
There are 179 MP4-12Cs ordered for North America. Factory shipments of those cars might be delayed by two or three weeks.
"We want to make sure we deliver a proper product to our customers," Joseph said. "And I would rather delay getting them in customers' hands by a couple of weeks if I can ensure a better product."
McLaren dealers in the United States are still expected to receive demonstration vehicles on schedule.
Read more: McLaren slows MP4-12C production for fixes - Autoweek
Originally Posted by Beefmeister
This really is shocking to me, as an automotive engineer. I can't imagine any of the companies I've worked for (Ford, Jag, LR, Aston, Fiat to name a few) ever getting away with half of the faults the MP4 has had at launch.
To say 'Yes, you can have your car but no infotainment system for 3 months' is baffling. I just can't understand why they would let cars go out the door with known issues. As has been said before, what exactly was going on in the development testing phase?
Did they purely concentrate on the drivetrain? That seems to be sorted, but the electronics reek of a 1980s Rover.
Genuinely shocked and frankly annoyed that they have dropped the ball so much - they had the opportunity to smash Ferrari with this car, and they are just going to end up a laughing stock and lose customers.
Such a shame, such a waste.
To say 'Yes, you can have your car but no infotainment system for 3 months' is baffling. I just can't understand why they would let cars go out the door with known issues. As has been said before, what exactly was going on in the development testing phase?
Did they purely concentrate on the drivetrain? That seems to be sorted, but the electronics reek of a 1980s Rover.
Genuinely shocked and frankly annoyed that they have dropped the ball so much - they had the opportunity to smash Ferrari with this car, and they are just going to end up a laughing stock and lose customers.
Such a shame, such a waste.
>8^)
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