Recall (9/1/23): Insufficient Sealant Causing High-Voltage Battery Leak on 2023 Taycans APB2 (4,777 Units Affected)

[snstevens]

My 2023 4s that i've had since last November just came up in the recall check officially (already thought it was in the range just have that extra validation now).

Honestly not sure what to do, really think if you do this recall it will likely take a really long time because even if the battery is unaffected I'm sure they still have to take apart a lot of stuff and reseal it all and even then I would be worried about how safe it is... the problem is I don't know what I would get if I got something else... love my taycan but there is nothing in the same price range that looks as sharp, drives as good, thoughts?

I’d get it tested and then, if a new battery is indicated, I’d drive it until the new battery arrives and is available for installation. To my knowledge this is not a safety issue.

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[DougFrisk]

(Nota Bene: During editing, slightly more than twenty expletives were removed from this post prior to hitting "post reply." Feel free to add them back in as needed while you read this.)

Just had a chat with the dealership's manager and service manager, who apparently just spoke with Porsche.

There is a vent on the back of the battery which is a one time use part and Porsche won't be getting supplies to dealers for another two weeks at the earliest. This is what's removed to do the pressure testing. Once they have the parts in stock they promise that our car will be the first in line to be tested.

It is in fact a battery pressurization test of some sort. That was something I'd highly suspected but the service manager confirmed it.

I asked about the VAL that was sent to Germany as part of the WNT8 campaign and was told the second one wasn't looked at because WNT8 has been canceled and replaced with this new recall.

When I asked why our car was being held hostage while the vast majority of cars are on the road and can remain on the road until the customer is ready to bring it in they didn't have an answer.

I did ask if it was possible lemon a car that hasn't been delivered yet since it has effectively been "in the shop" since May 12th. They didn't laugh, I didn't laugh, there was awkward silence.

 

[violuma]

I did ask if it was possible lemon a car that hasn't been delivered yet since it has effectively been "in the shop" since May 12th.

Disclaimer: IANAL, this is not legal advice.

If you have executed a purchase agreement, I think you might have a shot. Whether you want to go down this road or not obviously depends on political concerns as well, because it might put you in a (more) adversarial position WRT the dealer.

MN's lemon law's definition of "consumer" uses the term "purchased", not something like "taken delivery of". Assuming that the purchase agreement was signed at least a month ago, as you point out, it's been "out of service" for 30 cumulative days, which meets the qualification.

I think your first step would be to serve the dealer with written notice of your intent to invoke the lemon law. I would include language implicating Porsche itself, if for no other reason than that this will trigger a duty on the part of the dealer to forward your correspondence upstream by certified mail, which might raise your visibility level to the mothership. They then have one more "attempt" to fix things. Wait whatever interval you consider reasonable, and then request arbitration.

Once you get in front of the arbiter, it'll be subjective, and you'll have a chance to make your case, even if you've never actually taken delivery of the car.

Further details: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/325F.665 (actual law) and https://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/handbooks/mncarlaws/CH1.asp (consumer-targeted FAQ).

 

[snstevens]

Disclaimer: IANAL, this is not legal advice.

If you have executed a purchase agreement, I think you might have a shot. Whether you want to go down this road or not obviously depends on political concerns as well, because it might put you in a (more) adversarial position WRT the dealer.

MN's lemon law's definition of "consumer" uses the term "purchased", not something like "taken delivery of". Assuming that the purchase agreement was signed at least a month ago, as you point out, it's been "out of service" for 30 cumulative days, which meets the qualification.

I think your first step would be to serve the dealer with written notice of your intent to invoke the lemon law. I would include language implicating Porsche itself, if for no other reason than that this will trigger a duty on the part of the dealer to forward your correspondence upstream by certified mail, which might raise your visibility level to the mothership. They then have one more "attempt" to fix things. Wait whatever interval you consider reasonable, and then request arbitration.

Once you get in front of the arbiter, it'll be subjective, and you'll have a chance to make your case, even if you've never actually taken delivery of the car.

Further details: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/325F.665 (actual law) and https://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/handbooks/mncarlaws/CH1.asp (consumer-targeted FAQ).

I think @violuma offers sound advice, and I like the use of a lawyer to impress the dealer with the level of your concerns. (I also happen to like that you used n.b. above ?).

However, I'd like to offer another perspective. While I suspect going nuclear with the dealer will work, it will make it impossible to work with them on a car or service in the future. My suggestion is that you arrange to speak to the manager. Your goal is to be regarded as a reasonable person who the dealer would like to make a customer.

During that meeting tell her about how disappointed you are, how much you look forward to taking possession of the Taycan, and while you are sure you could get out of the purchase, you really want to make this work out. Tell her that you would like to have her support, and that might include a short-term loaner - Taycan preferred. If she balks at this, say that you would be willing to pay a reasonable rental fee (say $50/day) and see where that goes. If none of these suggestions work, ask her to offer suggestions.

At an appropriate point in the conversation, ask the question "How are you going to make this right for me? I've been very patient and want to be a good customer, but it feels I'm being left out in the cold here while you have a signed purchase agreement, but I have no vehicle." If the manager has nothing in mind, suggest a free/heavily discounted Wheel & Tire insurance package combined with Cosmetic Repair package (normally $2,500 for both). When the conversation is over, take notes immediately in which you can memorialize her responses to your suggestions (positives and negatives).

If this has been a terrible conversation and the dealer has acted like an asshole, then I'd go to the lawyer and get out of the deal. In parallel with all of this, I'd also take a look at other Taycan's on the secondary market with CPO warranty of 3-4 years. You might actually find a terrific deal.

Good luck, and provide updates if you like.

 

[Chowster]

Can anyone confirm if the APB2 is the confirmed reason for the stop sale order on MY2024 cars?

If so, are they following the same timeline of the MY23 cars, with no action until November 1? I have a MY24 GTS sitting at the dealer storage awaiting delivery!

 

[violuma]

Can anyone confirm if the APB2 is the confirmed reason for the stop sale order on MY2024 cars?

Your comment here is the first I have heard of a stop sale applying to MY24s. The official APB2 recall notice is here: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V615-2712.PDF. It only mentions MY23.

EDIT: Just noticed your maple leaf flag, not sure if it matters.

 

[Chowster]

Your comment here is the first I have heard of a stop sale applying to MY24s. The official APB2 recall notice is here: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V615-2712.PDF. It only mentions MY23.

EDIT: Just noticed your maple leaf flag, not sure if it matters.

Yes, I'm in Canada. Production started 7/18, completed 7/24. Arrived late Aug/early Sept at my dealer in Vancouver, but did not show arrival in TYD (shows still stuck "en route")

Sales tells me there is a stop sale on MY24 Taycans, but says my car is awaiting a software update. I have my suspicions that it's actually awaiting battery inspection for APB2.

 

[summerlion]

There is a vent on the back of the battery which is a one time use part and Porsche won't be getting supplies to dealers for another two weeks at the earliest. This is what's removed to do the pressure testing. Once they have the parts in stock they promise that our car will be the first in line to be tested.

Two weeks is at least consistent with how far back my delivery date slipped this most recent time. I don't know the significance of a dealership vs being held at the port though. You would assume these things come in via the port to begin with before being sent to the individual dealerships and therefore the techs at the port would have first crack, but maybe not. I can see them prioritizing cars already at dealerships over poor chumps like me.

Yes, I'm in Canada. Production started 7/18, completed 7/24. Arrived late Aug/early Sept at my dealer in Vancouver, but did not show arrival in TYD (shows still stuck "en route")

Sales tells me there is a stop sale on MY24 Taycans, but says my car is awaiting a software update. I have my suspicions that it's actually awaiting battery inspection for APB2.

I'm sorry man, that absolutely sucks. At the same time, I have to laugh. How many "stop sale" orders are we up to in the last 12 months? Not exactly what you would expect if they "built your Taycan, with the utmost care and many hours of skilled labor. All parts were assembled to produce a unique car of the highest quality."

 

[DougFrisk]

I've been looking at Taycan batteries on eBay to try to figure out what the testing will involve. The only place I can see the adapters listed here: MC-10238775-0001.pdf (nhtsa.gov) connecting to the battery are circled below.

Using the wedding photo from our Taycan, the locations in the finished car are marked below.

It looks like you can get to the vent/valve at the back through the trunk, but the forward port is buried under the center console. There's several hours of shop time just to do the test, and apparently once that vent on the back is removed it must be replaced with a new one.

 

[Fall7St8nd]

I've been looking at Taycan batteries on eBay to try to figure out what the testing will involve.
...
It looks like you can get to the vent/valve at the back through the trunk, but the forward port is buried under the center console. There's several hours of shop time just to do the test, and apparently once that vent on the back is removed it must be replaced with a new one.

Great info... thanks for sharing. I'm officially in the VIN range and will need to get this checked out (but not in a rush at the moment). I've heard Porsche (re)assembly is quite good. With this kind of test, I hope I don't have to worry about future creaks/rattles. I've really enjoyed the quiet driving experience so far!

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

Using the wedding photo from our Taycan, the locations in the finished car are marked below.

It looks like you can get to the vent/valve at the back through the trunk, but the forward port is buried under the center console. There's several hours of shop time just to do the test, and apparently once that vent on the back is removed it must be replaced with a new one.

Thanks for sharing. Suddenly I'm not so keen on getting this testing/recall done. And I just don't see how that one-time vent on the back can be replaced without dropping the battery.

(Also, one thumb up for the use of "wedding" descriptor; I thought only the Germans used that term in the context of car assembly.)

 

[snstevens]

Thanks for sharing. Suddenly I'm not so keen on getting this testing/recall done. And I just don't see how that one-time vent on the back can be replaced without dropping the battery.

(Also, one thumb up for the use of "wedding" descriptor; I thought only the Germans used that term in the context of car assembly.)

While I love the photos from @DougFrisk above, I don't get why the battery can't be tested from below.

They certainly don't take the car apart from the inside to replace the battery, so why can't the battery shield be removed from below giving access to the battery ports?

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

While I love the photos from @DougFrisk above, I don't get why the battery can't be tested from below.

They certainly don't take the car apart from the inside to replace the battery, so why can't the battery shield be removed from below giving access to the battery ports?

It seems to be on the top side (which would make sense, as the bottom of the battery is likely hardened for impact protection, and to act as a structural element). I'm not sure what it would take to drop the battery - at the factory it looks quite easy (robots/cranes, no windows/windshield, scissor lift for the battery) but having been inside P of Bellevue's service area, I haven't seen any of that..

 

[trixxiee_CH]

So I was supposed to pick up my GTS ST tomorrow but instead I have just received a sad news from the dealer. There is a stop delivery campaign in Porsche Switzerland and this includes my MY2023 GTS. Although I am very disappointed I do understand that this happened very last minute and I'd rather wait a bit more and have the vehicle checked and cleared than risking a battery failure.

 

[malyala]

Mine (GTS ST) is stuck at port with sliding delivery dates. I checked the VIN and it it not in any recalls. I don’t know MY24 makes any difference (as the VIN is not in the range of affected list). The latest is that it should be sent to dealership in 5 days. Will see if the date holds good.

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