Engine & Brake issues are among the top complaints from vehicle owners
The Porsche Macan is a compact, high-performance, luxury SUV that was launched as a 2015 model in the U.S. Today it is the manufacturer’s top-selling model.
But this doesn’t make it perfect. Every year since its launch there have been a variety of consumer complaints to the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These range from 2 or 3 for the 2021 model to 32 for the 2017 model.
There have also been recalls every year except 2020, some years as many as 5.
There are no NHTSA safety ratings for any models, which means the tests commonly undertaken to assess vehicle safety have not been done.
There are 2 complaints on file with the NHTSA about the 2021 Porsche Macan. These refer to 5 components or systems and both report serious issues.
One complaint describes a crash due to malfunction. The other describes a fire that destroyed a Macan. This complaint is similar to one about a 2020 model that describes how a Macan GTS was destroyed by fire overnight while it was parked.
According to the categories chosen by the complainants, the components and systems involved are the electrical system, forward collision avoidance, the brakes, steering, and the structure of the car.
There are also relatively minor complaints in forums. These include the automatic lock system failing and interior lights staying on after closing the doors. Other issues involve very rough idling and the car lurching forward when the engine shifts from second to first gear in “normal” engine mode.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | |
| Structure:body | |
| Power Train | |
| Steering | |
| Unknown Or Other |
It isn’t clear where this vehicle was when it caught alight. But what is clear is it was completely destroyed.
“My car got stuck and then it caught fire and now is fully demolished.”
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There are 2 complaints, both of which describe the same incident. While the complaints have different NHTSA ID numbers, in both cases the incident date (October 10, 2021) and vehicle identification number are the same.
The initial complaint is categorized under Steering, Electrical System, and Service Brakes.
“My daughter accidentally tried to reverse in auxiliary mode. She had the radio on and did not realize the engine was not on. The car went into reverse and she had no brakes or steering to stop the car.”
Recognizing this as a potentially dangerous scenario, the family and friends tried to recreate the problem in 4 other cars: a Mercedes, a BMW, a Range Rover, and a Tesla.
“We have checked these cars and it isn’t possible to do this scenario in those cars. Porsche said the car is fine and if she was 6’ 3” and weighed 250 (pounds) it would be difficult but possible to apply enough pressure to the brakes. She weighs 100 pounds so it wasn’t physically possible.”
She goes on to say that her husband has a 5-year-old convertible Mercedes and he tried to recreate the scenario in his car.
“The first thing that happens is the emergency brake won’t let him reverse. When he released the brake with the engine off and the radio on, it did reverse but the brakes worked normally.”
Friends with the other cars also did a check. All found they have safety features that prevent the car from going into reverse. Otherwise, the cars still had “normal brakes”.
“My daughter had an accident and luckily nobody was hurt. This seems dangerous.”
The follow-up complaint is categorized as a forward collision avoidance problem and provides additional information.
She states that she has discovered that the Porsche Cayenne and Porsche 911 all have the safety features that are lacking in the new Macan.
“If you try to reverse with the engine off, a message will come on that says to turn on the engine and engage the gear. The Macan can reverse with no engine on and then you have no brakes and no power steering. There is a small window of one attempt according to Porsche to use the brakes, but you would need to be a strong large man to accomplish the amount of effort required per the dealership. This was not reviewed at the time of purchase.
“It seems this safety feature has been around for at least a decade and I am not sure why the Macan hasn’t upgraded this important feature or let the customers know in advance. We have $5,000 of damage to the car. We have $5000 of damage to the house. And we will be without a car for 4-8 weeks depending on if parts are here or in Germany.”
Even though there are no consumer complaints about suspension problems, there is an urgent recall that tells owners of 10 2021 Porsche Macan vehicles to stop driving their cars immediately.
The issue is that the screw connection on the shock absorbers of the front and rear axle might not be tightened properly. This failed screw connection may damage the braking system. If this happens, there may be driving instability. This means the driver could lose control of the car, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recall is dated March 31, 2021, three weeks before the manufacturer sent out a notification to dealers listing all the parts required to fulfill the recall.
If you think your 2021 Porsche Macan is a lemon, our advice is to contact a lemon lawyer with experience dealing with problem vehicles. We have helped many vehicle owners settle cases against manufacturers. This may be in the form of a cash settlement, trade-in, buy-back agreement, or replacement vehicle.
Call the Lemberg Law Helpline if you’d like us to assess your problem free of charge. If we go to court, it won’t cost you anything because the law says Porsche must pay the legal bills.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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