PORSCHE Complaints

This vehicle can not be driven on straight roads of freeways without the "take over steering warning" engaging. This is problematic, this morning on icy roads driving on straight roads the warning engaged, braked and cut power and put the vehicle into a slid on icy roads. This warning also happen frequently on freeway driving, suddenly braking and almost causing drivers behind the vehicle to react to the sudden braking putting this vehicle in jeopardy of rear end collisions or other possible accidents.

Driving through a parking lot, less than five miles an hour, and suddenly heard a horrible knocking sound. Stopped and looked under the car. Nothing. Drove it very slowly to mechanic less than a mile away. Front drive shaft had collapsed and fallen down, according to the mechanic.

I have a 2020 Porsche Macan S. My passenger side head light went out and upon taking it to the dealership, I was informed that it’s a a headlight assembly failure. My car is out of warranty, and the dealership quoted me $5400 approx for replacement of the assembly. The diagnosis provided by the dealership indicates that in my case the issue is a full failure of the headlight assembly (LED/driver/module). That is a manufacturer defect. I researched online, and saw many Reddit users as well as Porsche Forums talk about this very issue on 2019 and 2020 Macans. I’ve seen and failure is not isolated: I have found multiple owner reports of 2020 Macan headlight LED failures, which suggests a potential systemic defect. I also see one complaint already filed at NHTSA with a very same problem/concern and I am filing another, hoping this reaches attention and can be resolved. There was several customers nationwide, who also had this happen, and those headlight assemblies should last the lifetime of the car is what the dealership had told me. $5400 is a very expensive and steep cost for a headlight assembly, and it’s certainly an issue that causes great safety concern for 2020 Macan S users, and a major defect. I have reached out to Porsche North America several times over the month, and they have not offered to fix this at goodwill. I have informed them that I would file a NHTSA complaint as well as a BBB complaint, which also yielded no results. Given the cost and the fact that headlights are a critical safety item, I am formally requesting full recall to have Porsche take accountability and replace and or repair at no cost to its customers for the failed headlight assembly.

My airbag light has remained on, uninterrupted, for over about one month now. I had the fault code read by an independent shop and they informed me that the fault was the occupant sensor for the passenger seat (BodySense front passenger seat occupancy sensor mat). They also informed me that this was the subject of a recall. Recall 17V-133/AMA2. I contacted a Porsche dealer as to the problem, made an appointment and took the car to the dealer. The dealer informed me that the recall on this part had already been completed. I expressed my concern that the recalled part obviously failed again, but the dealer indicated that corporate would not allow them to replace it again under the prior recall. I then filed a claim with Porsche NA. After weeks of back and forth with Porsche NA, they denied my claim, despite the fact that a previously recalled part had failed again. Performing some investigation since, I have learned that I am not alone and that the previously recalled Generation 1 seat occupancy sensor mat was replaced with a generation 2 mat, but that those were also failing. In fact, in January 2021 Porsche investigated this matter and did conduct another recall in February of 2021. However, for whatever reason my car was not part of that recall, though it suffers the same issue as to the failure of the Generation 2 mat. Any assistance you are able to provide is appreciated. Thank you. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Case Number: 1170739 – Additional Evidence Submission I would like to provide an additional document for Case #1170739. The manufacturer (Porsche Cars North America) stated in writing that the vehicle is “safe to drive even with warning indicators illuminated,” but in the same communication offered a rental vehicle if I found this “inconvenient.” These two statements cannot logically coexist, and they raise concerns that the manufacturer may be minimizing or mischaracterizing a potential safety-related defect. Furthermore: The warning indicators involve the coolant and fuel systems of an E-Hybrid model, which may be connected to thermal management and combustion-related safety. The vehicle remained in the dealer’s possession for an extended period during repeated repair attempts. During a visit, I found the hood partially open while the vehicle was being stored long-term, raising questions regarding proper safety and storage protocols. Additional system warnings appeared after prolonged non-operation, suggesting possible deterioration related to improper storage or incomplete diagnostics. I respectfully request NHTSA’s assessment of whether it is appropriate for a dealer or the manufacturer (Porsche Cars North America) to advise a customer to operate a vehicle on public roads while warning indicators are illuminated. From a consumer’s standpoint, this does not appear reasonable or safe, and I wish to operate my vehicle only in a condition that is objectively safe for road use. The fact that such guidance was provided to me is deeply concerning, and I would appreciate the agency’s evaluation of whether this type of advice aligns with I am submitting the manufacturer’s email for your review, as it appears inconsistent with standard safety guidance and may reflect an attempt to address the matter through customer-service accommodations rather than technical evaluation. Please add this information and attached documentation to my existing case file. Thank you.

Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 1991 Porsche 911. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently purchased from a dealer in the State of Utah, and the Utah dealer had purchased the vehicle from the importing dealer in the State of Georgia. The dealer in Georgia had purchased and imported the vehicle from a dealer in Europe in 2023. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the dealer in Europe was contacted for additional records on the vehicle and the contact received documents related to the vehicle and the contact became aware that the vehicle had 100,000 additional Km/H than listed in the ad for the vehicle. The contact became aware that the mileage on the vehicle had been altered. The contact stated that the mileage on the documents from the dealer in Norway exhibited the correct mileage. The contact stated that the mileage had been rolled back when the vehicle was imported into the United States of America. The contact also found records of the mileage at the time that the vehicle was sold by the dealer in Georgia to the dealer in Utah and it was evident that the mileage had been tampered with. The contact stated that vehicle mileage was in kilometers per hour and indicated that the odometer reading was 233,000 Km/H. The contact stated that there was also an invoice for an engine rebuild at 91,000 Km/H however, the invoice from the dealer in Norway indicated that the engine rebuild was at 191,000 Km/H. The contact stated that the mileage when the vehicle was imported from Norway indicated that the mileage was 226,000 Km/H, and the sales ad in Georgia indicated that the mileage was 126,000 Km/H. The contact then became aware that the vehicle title had been altered. The contact also found a similar vehicle that was imported from the Netherlands on the website for the dealer in Atlanta, Georgia and noticed that the mileage had also been tampered with after purchasing a European Vehicle History Report on the vehicle. The contact stated that there have been several lawsuits filed against the imp

The main water pump on my 2018 Porsche Panamera 4S failed prematurely. This is not a simple external coolant leak; the internal seal failed, allowing pressurized engine coolant to migrate into the vehicle's vacuum system. The coolant traveled through the vacuum lines and contaminated the vacuum solenoids and change-over valves. This failure mode presents a significant safety hazard because the vacuum system controls critical engine components, including turbocharger wastegates and exhaust flaps. Contamination of these components can lead to sudden loss of power, "limp mode" activation while driving at highway speeds, or unexpected engine behavior, increasing the risk of a crash. Cross-Reference to Known Defects: This vehicle utilizes the EA839 V6 engine platform, which is shared with Volkswagen and Audi vehicles (specifically the Audi S4, S5, SQ5, and Q7). Audi and Volkswagen have already acknowledged this specific manufacturing defect in the class action settlement Fiscina v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Case No. 2:21-cv-11251). Under that settlement, Audi extended the warranty on this water pump to 10 years/80,000+ miles for the exact same failure mode (coolant migration into the vacuum system). Despite my vehicle using the same engine and suffering the exact same mechanical failure, Porsche refuses to offer coverage or acknowledge the defect. I am requesting an investigation into why Porsche models equipped with the defective EA839 engine are excluded from the safety remedies and warranty extensions provided to Audi owners.

I am reporting a series of safety-related defects involving the electrical, cooling, and fuel systems of my 2021 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid. The vehicle was initially brought to the authorized Porsche dealership due to an electrical system error, and the dealer kept the vehicle for an extended period. After approximately five months, the vehicle was returned to me without a clear explanation of the root cause or details of the repair. The very next day after receiving the vehicle, a coolant temperature warning appeared while driving, indicating abnormal engine overheating. This created an immediate safety hazard, as overheating can lead to sudden engine failure, loss of power, or a potential fire risk. I returned the vehicle to the dealership again for further repairs. Afterward, another serious issue occurred: because this is a hybrid vehicle, I went to refuel, but the fuel door would not open, and a fuel system error warning appeared again. This made the vehicle unsafe to operate, especially while already on the road. Due to these repeated failures, I was required to tow the vehicle multiple times. These problems — electrical malfunction, coolant overheating during driving, fuel system errors, and a non-functional fuel door — occurred repeatedly even after prolonged service by the dealership. The combination of electrical faults, overheating risk, hybrid system malfunction, and fuel system failure presents a significant safety concern. I will provide additional documentation to support this report. I request that NHTSA review this case to determine whether an investigation is warranted, as these issues may indicate a broader defect affecting this model.

The vehicle experiences a sudden and dangerous malfunction while driving. Without any prior warning, the vehicle begins to shake and then immediately brakes on its own, coming to an abrupt stop in the middle of traffic. Only after the vehicle has already braked and shut down does an “Engine Control Error” message appear on the display. There is no advance alert and no time for the driver to react or move out of traffic. This is exceptionally concerning especially as this vehicle was being used a primary mode of transportation for my 2 young toddlers who were present in the vehicle during these failures. The vehicle was purchased directly from Porsche as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle in June 2025, and was represented by Porsche as having passed all safety and mechanical inspections at the time of purchase. Despite this, the vehicle has continued to experience catastrophic failures. Following the initial shutdown incident, the vehicle was towed to Porsche for service on September 2. Porsche stated that the issue had been repaired and assured that the vehicle was safe to operate. However, on September 29, the same failure occurred again. The vehicle shook, abruptly braked in active traffic, shut itself down, and only then displayed the engine control failure message. This shows that the underlying defect was not corrected and continues to pose a serious safety hazard. The problem is severe, unpredictable, and reproducible. It places the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists at immediate risk because the vehicle becomes immobilized in traffic with no prior warning and no ability to pull over safely. The vehicle has been inspected by Porsche technicians, but the root cause remains unknown, and Porsche has been unable to provide a successful repair or assurance of safety. This pattern strongly indicates a critical defect in the engine control or power-management system that renders the vehicle unsafe for public road use.

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.