2017 Porsche Macan Owner Complaints

My 2017 Porsche Macan has a Timing Chain Cover Bolt Failure which has caused leaking oil and may lead to total loss of oil and engine failure. This is a known documented design and manufacturing defect affecting the 3.0L and 3.6L engines. The manufacturers original aluminum bolts for the cover suffer from premature failure leading them to break. Porsche has recognized this widespread defect and problem by issuing a technical service bulletin for this issue. Porsche has not issued a recall to fix this problem. I have contacted a Porsche dealer to address this problem but they refused to make the repair without my paying the cost to repair their defect.

NHTSA ID

11752140

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

this is in regards to NHTSA TSB #ATI-1907. i had this issue repaired by porsche san antonio for over 1k. the problem came back and porsche is trying to charge me again saying there is a design flaw they are aware of but cannot perform work under warranty. This is very unfair and makes me think that everytime it rains i cant drive my car because ill have to spend another 1k for a rear camera and parking sensor fail. I hope i can get any kind of help or visibility on this problem. It is not only unsafe, but porsche as a brand has such bad customer service and no one wants to help

NHTSA ID

11745742

Incident

Jun 15, 2026

I am submitting this complaint regarding a known safety issue affecting my vehicle. I own a 2017 Porsche [2017 Macan GTS ], and I recently discovered that the fuel pump flange on my car has developed cracks, causing a noticeable fuel odor and potential fuel leakage. This component matches the description of the part listed under NHTSA Recall No. 17V-289 (Porsche Campaign AH06), which addresses the same defect. However, when I contacted Porsche and checked my VIN, I was informed that my vehicle is not included in the recall, despite exhibiting the exact failure described in the recall documentation. This situation raises serious safety concerns, as fuel leaks pose a significant fire hazard. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate why vehicles experiencing the same defect are being excluded from the recall and ensure Porsche extends coverage to all affected vehicles. I am happy to provide photos, repair invoices, and inspection reports upon request. Thank you for your attention to this important safety matter. Recall Overview The recall campaign is identified as NHTSA Campaign No. 17V-289 (also known internally by Porsche as AH06). NHTSA +2 RepairPal.com +2 Affected vehicles: 2015-2017 Macan S and Macan Turbo, and 2017 Macan, Macan Turbo (with Performance Package), and Macan GTS. Asbury Auto +2 NHTSA +2 Issue: The fuel-pump filter-flange may develop fine hairline cracks due to aging/oxidation and internal pressure, which can allow fuel seepage. Fuel leakage in presence of an ignition source increases fire risk. NHTSA +1 Remedy: Dealers will inspect the flange. If cracked, it will be replaced. If not cracked, a protective film will be applied to the flange to prevent external damage. This work is free of charge. RepairPal.com +1 Date of notice: June 13, 2017 for this recall

NHTSA ID

11698028

Incident

Nov 4, 2025

Headlight severe crazing/crackle and DLR module failure. Both Porsche NA and extended warranty fail to cover or take responsibility for this poorly mfr’d part that is dangerous as it limits visibility as well as others seeing you. I want Porsche NA to own up to this hazardous parts failure.

NHTSA ID

11695816

Incident

Apr 1, 2022

I was sold a vehicle with the incorrect front brakes, an open recall on airbag and bad transfer case all looked at and confirmed by a dealer .

NHTSA ID

11673593

Incident

Jun 21, 2025

Porsche is making use of aluminum fasteners for important engine components. These fasteners are substandard for the service. At 100,000 miles, two of the bolts for the timing chain cover simply broke in half during normal service, resulting in a substantial oil leak and an expensive repair (about $3000). At 120,000 miles, one of the bolts for the valve cover also simply broke in half, resulting in another oil leak and a repair bill of about $1000.

NHTSA ID

11654627

Incident

Apr 10, 2025

On [XXX] at around 6pm the AIRBAG light displayed in instrument cluster and remained steady after vehicle was placed in motion. I called my nearest service dealer at Porsche Carlsbad and they ran a vehicle diagnosis using their scanning tool. The finding was that the Front Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor / Module was defective and needs replacement. The dealer also said that a recall had been issued (for which my vehicle's VIN was not listed). I called Porsche Company North America and they said my VIN was not part of that campaign to fix this issue, but I feel that this recall related to vehicle safety should have included my vehicle since it was within the make/model/year and trim of those included in the recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11628935

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

Porsche Macan has known transfer case problem. Should be recalled. I have a 2017 Macan with 15,000 miles and transfer case bad.

NHTSA ID

11622379

Incident

Mar 15, 2024

Not in a crash, but the leather on the dashboard is peeling off and airbags may not deploy properly because of it. I think this is a safety concern if not addressed early. Leather on dashboard is peeling off due to poor manufacturing.

NHTSA ID

11612699

Incident

Sep 4, 2024

The fuel flange failed causing gas to leak from the vehicle and subsequent fumes from the gasoline leaking. The part was recalled by Porsche and repaired, however Porsche was not able to tell me when the repair was done, what was done nor where it was done. I paid out of pocket for the same failure to be fixed, meaning their previous covered repair either was never completed, or Porsche's solution was put a band-aid on the problem instead of a complete fix. Keep in mind, the car was parked in my garage that filled with the stench of gas (which explodes in high pressure or a spark). I have paid for the repair and it still smells of gas. This is a safety issue of possible fire/explosion due to fumes/gas that leaks due to a failure of the flange.

NHTSA ID

11604247

Incident

Jul 8, 2024

When reversing the transfer case has failed causing it to lurch uncontrollably. also when driving at slow speeds in first gear it stumbles causing erratic driving. This has failed on a number of cars and the extended warranty is not long enough to cover cars that are always failing

NHTSA ID

11593388

Incident

Jun 3, 2024

Fuel pump flange crack. It was a recall for 2015-2018 base model. My car is currently leaking fuel from that area

NHTSA ID

11589831

Incident

May 13, 2024

The front passenger seat occupancy sensor mat degraded and fails to detect a passenger in the front seat.

NHTSA ID

11587920

Incident

Dec 1, 2023

airbag light comes on and off intermittently I am aware there were some problems with the airbag sensor that year and recalls for other models, not my vin, I have called and confirmed there are none for mine. seems to act up more after or while I have a passenger so I suspect (almost positive) this is for the passenger airbag. also when I have a passenger the amber indicator that says airbag on off will randomly switch to off and I'll get the dash light. this makes me think its the airbag weight sensor pad that deteriorates easily that other cars had a recall for but not mine. no water was spilled on the seat before it started acting up the way it has been. as well, the engine motor mounts have a tendency to break fairly easily and fast causing vibrations and possible safety issues.

NHTSA ID

11577431

Incident

Mar 1, 2024

While driving east on I-40 in North Carolina, my power steering catastrophically failed and I had to use all of my arm strength to steer the vehicle. The section of I-40 where this event occurred is extremely curvy (near the Haywood Rest Area) and there is no margin for error. If I had not been alone and totally concentrating on my driving, I could envision a severe accident as there were cars all around me. I managed to drive the vehicle to my Porsche dealer in Columbia, SC for repairs. They found multiple faults for the steering torque sensors and determined that the electric steering rack was faulty. They replaced the steering rack. Prior to this event, I had complained to the Porsche dealer about rubbing noises in the steering. The dealer replaced the steering shaft but the noise came back.

NHTSA ID

11556849

Incident

Nov 21, 2022

The specific concern pertains to the routing of sunroof water drains from the roof to the wheel well of several Porsche vehicles. In this case, the rear water drains are routed directly over fuses and other electronic components within the vehicle. One of the electronic components affected, a Park Assist Control Unit (part 95B 919 475 L), controls multiple vehicle safety functions including perimeter sensors and the backup camera. When this unit fails, the backup camera is blank and perimeter sensors that beep to notify the driver of potentially hidden objects (or people) close to the vehicle do not function. Such failure may jeopardize the overall safety of vehicle occupants and other road users and may affect safe operation of the vehicle. This Park Assist Control Unit has failed in my Porsche Macan on three separate occasions due to corrosion of the terminals. The Porsche Orland Park (Illinois) dealership where I took my vehicle for repair stated that the corrosion was due to leakage from the sunroof drain onto the unit. After the third failure of this unit due to corrosion, I contacted Porsche North America customer support. I was told that the corrosion of the terminals and subsequent failure of the Park Assist Control Unit was due to clogging of the sunroof water drain, causing “pooling and draining to places where it can cause damage.” Although other electronic components directly adjacent to this Unit have never had similar corrosion, there has never been evidence of water leakage inside the vehicle, and I regularly test the drains and have found no sign of blockages, I accepted Porsche North America’s explanation. They stated that “park[ing] a vehicle outside” or “driv[ing] where there are many trees” may exacerbate the issue. Unfortunately, subsequent concerns I raised regarding the tendency for these drains to clog at any time and Porsche’s decision to route a water drain in such close proximity to electronic vehicle safety systems were ignored.

NHTSA ID

11551390

Incident

Sep 26, 2023

While driving at approximately 40 mph, traffic began to slow. When I attempted to slow to match traffic conditions, my brake pedal offered almost no resistance and sank to the floor. The car did not slow. I pumped the brake pedal repeatedly but it had no connection to the cars brakes. A vehicle collision occurred as a result as I coasted into the car ahead of me.

NHTSA ID

11551331

Incident

Sep 4, 2023

It was noted there is fogging, spiderweb type cracks, and discoloration on the inside of each headlight lens. It was discovered through conversations at the dealership and online research that a chemical reaction between the factory lens coating and the gas emitted by the headlight bulbs was the likely cause. Lumen output has gradually decreased as the issue grows worse and both lenses become more opaque in appearance. The car is available for inspection. We are asking NHTSA to investigate this issue for the following reasons: 1) This is a growing safety issue as lumen output is steadily decreasing 2) This is unrelated to regular service/maintenance or any culpability on behalf of the owners 3) Absent replacement, this issue cannot be corrected by the owners 4) It has been reported to be a growing issue among numerous Porsche Macan owners. I asked Porsche if it was covered under the warranty, they stated it was not. They did examine the car. No warning messages.

NHTSA ID

11544727

Incident

May 1, 2023

Driving north on Interstate 95 near Stafford, VA and took exit for lunch. Restaurant was right at exit and we entered the parking area. Went to turn and the steering was frozen. Caution light said Power Steering Malfunction and steering could only be turned slightly with maximum effort by driver and passenger. Managed to move car to parking area. Subsequently towed to Porsche dealership in Arlington VA for repair. If this frozen steering had occurred moments earlier on I95, we would have likely crashed with the vehicle suddenly unable to be steered. We were terrified and believe our lives were in jeopardy. The dealer identified the problem as a broken/defective electronic rack & pinion steering unit. Vehicle has approximately 20,000 miles and is always garaged. The failed parts will be available at the dealer when replacement parts are received. There were no warning lights or indication of any problem prior to the event.

NHTSA ID

11537205

Incident

Aug 4, 2023

Fuel injector connection at fuel rail is spraying fuel onto the engine, fire hazard.

NHTSA ID

11527844

Incident

Jun 19, 2023

A recall was issued by Porsche on 2015-2017 Macan SUV's for front Airbag deployment issues. The recall code was AH02 safety campaign #17V133000. I contacted Porsche because my fault indicator for the front airbag lit up on my dash. I was informed that my VIN was not included. I asked if they could check if my airbag had an identification number and if it was in the batch under recall. They said that they could not look it up. My car was a custom build and may have come down the line at a different time than other stock builds which may have impacted the timing of the airbag install. Either way, my car was in the date range and has the airbag default indicator on therefore it should be covered. I had it tested for $265.00 and they covered themselves saying that it was an airbag control unit and seat pad Fault code B102204. What's the difference, the recall covers faulty airbags and mine is defective and they won't cover it. Please give me some guidance as to what my available options are at this point.

NHTSA ID

11526607

Incident

Oct 11, 2022

Vehicle was driven to Porsche of Arlington (Virginia) for warranty service and a Virginia safety inspection. Service advisor reported that safety inspector informed him the vehicle passed inspection; however, it was noted there is fogging, spiderweb type cracks, and discoloration on the inside of each headlight lens. It was discovered through conversations at the dealership and online research that a chemical reaction between the factory lens coating and the gas emitted by the headlight bulbs was the likely cause. Lumen output has gradually decreased as the issue grows worse and both lenses become more opaque in appearance. Porsche of Arlington advised us the factory warranty had expired, as we had expected. They completed a thorough inspection of the headlight assemblies, took photos at the dealership, and further suggested we contact Porsche Cars North America to file a claim to ascertain whether a remedy could be made under 'good will' as this is undoubtedly a safety issue. Porsche Cars North America responded via e-mail and advised us that 'customer safety and satisfaction is our top priority.' They assigned a case number and informed us we would be hearing from a representative for additional information. After several weeks of phone calls, Porsche Cars North America determined that no 'good will' would be provided as this issue involves/is related to the vehicle's glass/lens and therefore excluded from any adjustments or consideration from Porsche Cars North America. We are asking NHTSA to investigate this issue for the following reasons: 1) This is a growing safety issue as lumen output is steadily decreasing 2) This is unrelated to regular service/maintenance or any culpability on behalf of the owners 3) Absent replacement, this issue cannot be corrected by the owners 4) It has been reported to be a growing issue among numerous Porsche Macan owners 5) We have exhausted our options with the dealership and Porsche Cars North America

NHTSA ID

11523110

Incident

Feb 1, 2023

The 2017 Porsche Macan S is unsafe to drive on the road as the vehicle goes into jerking mode while driving without any warning, the safety light came on as transmission fault. I took the vehicle to River Oaks Porsche, and they diagnosed the issue as transmission problem common with the Macan brand and the Cayenne brand, I then informed the manufacturer, and I was informed that since the vehicle had not been recalled there was nothing they could do with the defect. Since the dealership acknowledged that the issue was common with these brands, I believed that these vehicles should have been recalled for public safety.

NHTSA ID

11521025

Incident

Apr 7, 2023

Did an appointment weeks in advanced in Porsche McDaniels dealership in Columbia South Carolina so they can fix the pending recall about the air bag - mat sensor. They didn’t provide the service, pushing me to reschedule for more weeks. They knew I lived in a city far from the dealership… this is a serious recall and I don’t see Porsche is serious or care about it. I believe they are expecting for the recall campaign expiration date.

NHTSA ID

11517114

Incident

Apr 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Porsche Macan. The contact stated that the front driver's side headlight failed to illuminate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the front driver's side headlight needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.

NHTSA ID

11507840

Incident

Feb 17, 2023

Mileage

7,000 mi