2020 MCLAREN 570S

Typical onset: 15,000-40,000 mi

Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000 miles or more), Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or hard acceleration, Misfire codes and rough idle, Eventually catastrophic engine failure with bearing damage

Fix: Complete engine-out rebuild required: piston rings, often pistons themselves, cylinder honing, and if bearing damage occurred, crank work and main bearings. McLaren issued a service bulletin but many early-production engines failed. Engine-out labor alone is 40-60 hours at an exotic specialist. Parts are obscenely expensive and most owners end up with a factory short block.

Estimated cost: $35,000-65,000

Typical onset: 20,000-50,000 mi

Symptoms: Clutch won't engage—car stuck in neutral, Grinding or clunking during shifts, Transmission fault warning on dash, Complete loss of drive suddenly

Fix: The SSG dual-clutch uses hydraulic actuators that fail prematurely. Replacement requires transmission drop or rear clamshell removal depending on access approach. McLaren extended warranty on some VINs but not all 2020s covered. Labor is 18-25 hours, and the actuator assembly itself runs $4,000-6,000 from McLaren.

Estimated cost: $8,000-12,000

Typical onset: 30,000-60,000 mi

Symptoms: Transmission fluid pooling under car (often pink/red), Burning smell after spirited driving, Transmission overheat warnings, Slipping or harsh shifts when hot

Fix: The transmission oil cooler lines and fittings corrode or develop pinhole leaks, especially in humid or salted-road climates. Cooler replacement involves partial undertray removal and sometimes bumper-off access. Not terrible labor but parts are McLaren-priced. Expect 6-10 hours labor plus the cooler and hoses.

Estimated cost: $2,500-4,500

Symptoms: Brake fluid leak visible near rear wheels, Spongy or soft brake pedal, Brake warning light illuminated, Loss of braking force—potential total brake failure

Fix: NHTSA recall 20V-636: hydraulic brake hoses can crack internally and fail. McLaren dealers replace affected hoses under recall—this is FREE if your VIN is included. If not covered or out of warranty, independent replacement runs 4-6 hours labor plus genuine hoses. Do NOT ignore this—it's a safety-critical failure mode.

Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $1,800-3,000

Typical onset: 25,000-50,000 mi

Symptoms: Rough idle and stumbling under load, Limp mode or reduced power warnings, Misfires across multiple cylinders, Fuel trims way off in live data

Fix: Early 570S models had issues with fuel filter media breaking down and contaminating injectors. Requires fuel system flush, filter replacement, and sometimes injector cleaning or replacement. Tank-drop and system purge takes 8-12 hours. McLaren updated filter spec; ensure replacement uses revised part number.

Estimated cost: $2,000-5,000

Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking or banging on hard launches or shifts, Excessive driveline vibration at idle in gear, Transmission appears to shift position under load

Fix: The rubber transmission mounts wear quickly, especially with aggressive driving. Replacement requires partial subframe work and is fiddly but not exotic-level complex. Upgraded polyurethane mounts available from aftermarket. Labor runs 6-9 hours for both mounts.

Estimated cost: $1,500-2,800