The 2016 McLaren 570S uses McLaren's M838TE 3.8L twin-turbo V8 and 7-speed SSG dual-clutch transmission. While spectacular to drive, these early Sports Series cars have documented piston cracking issues and transmission hydraulic failures that can lead to catastrophic engine damage if ignored.
Piston Cracking / Ringland Failure (M838TE Engine)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 15,000-40,000 mi
Symptoms: Metallic rattling on cold start that disappears when warm, Misfires under boost or hard acceleration, White smoke from exhaust on startup, Sudden loss of compression in one or more cylinders, Check engine light with misfire codes
Fix: Engine-out required for full inspection. Cracked pistons necessitate complete engine rebuild with updated forged pistons. McLaren issued service campaigns but many early cars missed updates. 60-80 hours labor for full rebuild including heads, bearings, gaskets.
Estimated cost: $35,000-55,000
Dual-Clutch Transmission Hydraulic Pump Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 20,000-50,000 mi
Symptoms: Grinding or clunking during shifts, especially when cold, Transmission goes into limp mode, stuck in one gear, Delayed engagement from Park or Neutral, Transmission overheat warnings on dash, Jerky engagement in stop-and-go traffic
Fix: Hydraulic pump and accumulator assembly fails, starving clutches of pressure. Requires transmission drop and rebuild of hydraulic unit. Often includes new clutch packs if slippage occurred. 25-35 hours labor, parts expensive due to McLaren-specific SSG components.
Estimated cost: $15,000-22,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 30,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddles under car after parking, Burning smell during spirited driving, Transmission temperature rising above normal, Low fluid warning on instrument cluster
Fix: Oil cooler lines and cooler itself develop leaks at fittings. Requires rear clamshell removal for access. Replace cooler, lines, and top off SSG fluid with proper McLaren-spec fluid. 8-12 hours labor due to bodywork removal.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Transmission Mount Failure
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive drivetrain clunk during acceleration or deceleration, Vibration through chassis at idle in gear, Visible sagging of transmission when viewed from below, Grinding noise over bumps from transmission area
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mounts collapse or leak, allowing excessive movement. Requires transmission support and mount replacement. Access somewhat restricted by carbon tub. 6-8 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,500
Fuel Filter Clogging (Ethanol Sensitivity)
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Rough idle and hesitation under acceleration, Limp mode activation under full throttle, Fuel pressure faults stored in ECU, Engine stuttering at high RPM
Fix: M838TE is sensitive to fuel quality and ethanol content. Fuel filters clog prematurely with lower-grade fuel or E85 contamination. Filters located in rear section requiring partial underbody panel removal. 3-4 hours labor, but check fuel pumps simultaneously as they often fail together.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Head Gasket Seepage (Both Banks)
Rare · high severityTypical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant consumption without visible external leaks, White residue on block between head and cylinder deck, Slight coolant smell from engine bay after hard runs, Overheating under sustained high load
Fix: Head gasket weeping develops on high-mileage or tracked cars. Engine-out service required for proper access to all fasteners. Replace both head gaskets, resurface heads if warped, new head bolts mandatory. 50-65 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $25,000-35,000
Buy only with comprehensive pre-purchase inspection including borescope and transmission pressure tests, confirmed engine rebuild history, or budget $40K+ for inevitable engine-out work — spectacular car, but early 570S examples are financially punishing without proper maintenance history.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.