Going fast would probably be one thing that McLaren has executed exceptionally well with the 720s but for how long, what we think, was a question they did not even include in the build directory. Even though the 2022 McLaren 720s eats the 2022 Ferrari F8 Tributo or even something like the super exclusive 2022 Lamborghini Huracan STO for breakfast in most of the performance metrics, the build and longevity of the bits and bobs that have been bolted on this coupe, have been a let-down since inception and still continues to be. The problems range from minor built quality issues to more intense gripes like engine failure, which could cost thousands of dollars in repairs. Unavailability of spares off-the-shelf and its ridiculous pricing are two places where McLaren is facing heavy backlash from owners. To keep it short, this is not the experience you would want on a supercar, especially when the prices start at $299,990.
2022 McLaren 720s Coupe Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?
2022 McLaren 720s User Complaints and Problems
The McLaren 720s is no stranger to complaints and in fact, is infamous for being one of the most unreliable and questionably-built expensive sports cars of this era. Even though the NHTSA has low counts of consumer complaints, the unofficial forums on this sports coupe have been piling up with accusations mainly pointing to the underwhelming build, feeble engine durability, and questionable customer support. We think the low number of takers for this car is the reason for this underreport.
Listed below are the most common problems of the 2022McLaren 720s and their implications on the ownership experience.
Mechanical Complaints
- Engine- Loose/dislodged baffles in the turbo air intake manifold on the McLaren 720s cause the car to bog down at higher RPMs. Certain owners also complain about the possibility of this baffle coming in contact with the compressor blades, causing the shreds to enter the engine via intake, damaging the intercooler and engine internals, potentially increasing the risk of engine fire if it ever reaches the catalytic converter. The dealerships do admit this to be a common issue with older models, but the automaker has not released any official statements on this. This is also the only officially recognized problem with the McLaren 720s by the NHTSA.
- Coolant drying- Another common issue closely related to the engine on the McLaren 720s. Owners have noticed the coolant tank on the car drying up with no visible leaks. One owner is said to have found the cause which was a pinhole leak that occurred on one of the rubber lines only when the engine was at high working temperatures. That said, this has been a one-off fix and hasn't been helpful to all owners facing the same problem.
Electric System Complaints
- Battery issues- Issues with the battery on the McLaren 720s are something that has been bugging a lot of owners in more than one way. Resisting to trickle charge till full capacity is one of the most common issues with the unit. The issue has been traced to be with the battery management software or some faulty electronics like the LIN-bus communication modules. The battery life indicator remaining blank, the seats, air conditioning, and media screen not functioning are some common indicators of this issue as reported by owners.
Structural complaints
- Suspension issues- Multiple owners have complained about the “Damping Failure” warning that comes up randomly on the dashboard. Even though there are no visible leaks or damage with the struts, the car still throws this warning. Even though this issue was left unsolved initially, it was later dismissed as an error code triggered by a faulty reading from pressure sensors on the accumulators when values go over permissible limits.
- Broken undertray- The OEM front and rear under trays on the McLaren 720s have been said to be of poor quality. Many owners have been complaining about it coming loose or braking on its own without any history of the car ever bottoming out.
- Overall Build Quality- Unequal exterior panel gaps have something that has been a big issue that many owners complain of in the McLaren 720s since launch. The issues continue with the interiors as well with fit and finish levels below par for a car that commands close to 300 grand. Vibrating panels and rotary driver’s display, dead buttons, and door panels that come loose with mileage are some of the major issues that owners complain about.
The table shows the number of complaints officially recognized on the NHTSA so the figure depicted is substantially lower than what has come out through multiple owner forums.
|
Category |
Number of complaints |
|---|---|
|
Fuel and Propulsion System |
0 |
|
Engine/ Powertrain |
1 |
|
Safety |
0 |
|
Service brakes |
0 |
|
Electrical |
0 |
|
Structural |
0 |
2022 McLaren 720s Recalls
In contrast to the complaints mentioned, the number of recalls on the McLaren 720s has been comparatively low. It has only had a maximum of 2 instances of factory-initiated recalls in its runtime. That said, these recalls did come late in the car’s life and you could easily call out McLaren for dealing with faults negligently. Given the insane number of quality control issues that owners of the McLaren 720s are facing and are complaining about, we think that McLaren should have been a bit more diligent with their approach.
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
23rd July 2021 |
21V561000 |
Vehicle may pull to one side while braking |
Banjo bolts in the brake assembly may be missing holes that supply brake fluid, causing the brakes to fail on one corner, increasing the risk of a crash |
|
2 |
23rd April 2020 |
20V231000 |
Foam pads may retain moisture and corrode the fuel tank. |
A Foam pad underneath the fuel tank may retain moisture and corrode the fuel tank, potentially causing a fuel leak and increasing the risk of fire. |
The 2022 McLaren 720s does not have any recalls on its name as its similarly priced competitors, the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan STO, and the 2022 Ferrari F8 Tributo. That said, we cannot dismiss the possibility of something showing up later. For instance, the recalls by McLaren for the fuel tank corrosion issue in Q2 2020 had VINs from units sold in 2017.
|
Component Affected |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Safety |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Exterior |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Electric |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Interior |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Drive System |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Fuel System |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Engine |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Which McLaren 720s model year should you avoid?
The McLaren 720s has been a supercar that hasn't received any major update since its introduction back in 2017. So the car you get now is mostly identical to what you got back then. That includes the problems as well. McLaren did throw in a couple of recalls but that was only recently. If we were to go by our guts, we would suggest you not get anything older than the 2019 model year. Even if you do, make sure that it has a clean record and you got a guy who knows these cars better than you, with you.
Should you buy a used McLaren 720s?
Don’t get us wrong here, the McLaren 720s is one supercar we would happily classify as a hypercar slayer. Everything about the performance of the McLaren 720s is insane and it unquestionably will be one of those cars that will let you fly around a circuit in the shortest time. But, that’s a big “but”, the sort of attention to the finer stuff that McLaren has given on this model is questionable as most of the cars that ran off the production line have come across some sort of problem within 15,000 miles of use. We would have been least bothered by it if the service and support network were clean, but that is not the case here either. With the cheapest one we could find marked at over $230,000, we definitely would advise you to give this purchase a second thought.
