PORSHE TAYCAN TURBO missing electric steering wheel due to parts shortage? Really?

[IainSmith]

Hi,
So this is our 7th Porsche, every one we've ordered has had electric steering adjustment.
We just done the handover today to pick up our new car, when setting up each others memory settings we instantly noticed the lack of electric adjustment.

We questioned this, the sales manager stumbed and said it wasn't specced as is only on the 14 way or 18 way option. We pointed out that you can only choose the 14 or 18 way option on the turbo model.

He then went away and apologised and said there is a part shortage on the Column needed to adjust this electronically? Really? I thought the worldwide parts shortage was only more the computer side of things.
He then mentioned it would be after fitted.

I'm leaning to believe this has been missed off our spec.

Can any if you shed any light on this? I can't find any evidence of the claims online.

Thanks

100% true.. due to semi conductor shortages

i was in a taycan CT yesterday. Brand new which had a manual steering wheel adjustment

the upshot of what was a massive fire in the factory in China is a worldwide shortage of semi conductors which are used in ever element of electric devices including things like your kettle etc! Even the Tyre pressure monitor on your car uses them.

what Porsche are trying to do is keep production moving on our orders with retrofitting parts which are kind of none essential. They will fit your car with the electric adjuster..
your dealership should know this

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[Bognar67]

This is an interesting thread with many differing points of view. Can all agree on the following?

1. Someone at the factory decided to install manual steering columns on Taycans ordered with electric steering columns.

2. The decision to change to manual steering columns should have been transmitted to a high-level company officer.

3. Someone at Porsche likely decided whether or not to communicate this non-conformity directly to the customers.

4. Some customers received a letter about the component change, and others did not.

5. All of us prefer to be advised of missing components and features prior to delivery so that we may make intelligent and informed decisions.

6. It is unlikely that your dealership has any experience converting the steering column on a Taycan from manual to electric.

7. The Taycan has many sensitive electronic components.

8. There is some risk of damage when your vehicle is retrofitted.

All agreed.
Referring to point 8: My 911 has arrived with body painted PORSCHE at the back although I have ordered in high gloss black. They changed it afterwards (as a very little easy work). When I went back for the car they informed me need more time for polishing.... As a result I always saw scratches around of the sign. For me there is no "easy work" with this experience.

 

[Yorkshirepuds]

the pizza comparison is sensational ?

Bizarrely, I did have a home delivery of pizza a couple of months ago and the chips* were missing! If I was a conspiracy theorist I might think the two situations were related...

*That's UK 'chips' by the way which I think the rest of the world knows as 'French Fries'

 

[B61]

Chips: https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datoteka:Potato-Chips.jpg

French fries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries#/media/File:Fries_2.jpg

Poteto, Potato

 

[DGT]

This is an interesting thread with many differing points of view. Can all agree on the following?

1. Someone at the factory decided to install manual steering columns on Taycans ordered with electric steering columns.

2. The decision to change to manual steering columns should have been transmitted to a high-level company officer.

3. Someone at Porsche likely decided whether or not to communicate this non-conformity directly to the customers.

4. Some customers received a letter about the component change, and others did not.

5. All of us prefer to be advised of missing components and features prior to delivery so that we may make intelligent and informed decisions.

6. It is unlikely that your dealership has any experience converting the steering column on a Taycan from manual to electric.

7. The Taycan has many sensitive electronic components.

8. There is some risk of damage when your vehicle is retrofitted.

No. Can't agree with a lot of this. Your point #1 is ludicrous. This was not a decision made by "someone at the factory." Please. This is across product lines and factories and a logistics nightmare that every manufacturer is trying to manage. Porsche shut down Macan production for two months because of this - apparently to prioritize for other models. This was back in APRIL. Later shut down Cayennes for some time in Bratislava. 911s and Taycans were prioritized - but it has caught up with them now as well. Before they shut down the Macan line they were informing dealers that they would not be able to accept any orders with 14 or 18 way seats and memory package at all. Later decided to change that strategy to above. I'm sure you doubt all this so see the attachment - a Macan S (sister's) that went into body shop and then was caught in the shut down. It arrived at the dealership yesterday, and yes she was informed before it arrived that only one key was sent for now, but it does have the electronic steering column (hit and miss as parts are available). So your basic premise is pure speculation not supported by any evidence. An issue this important to any large company is discussed and strategized at the highest levels. They're not idiots. And that covers your #2.

Communication has been spotty - how early they can communicate on individual cars is difficult to know. Dealers are informed when invoiced. How they communicate to customers is up to them.

4 is true but from what I have seen on the 911 forum it's not common. Maybe done early on. Communication is saw was from PCNA, not PAG.

5 is true and true in general. I have known for months that this is a possibility and still don't know if mine will show up (it's at the port) with or without. But I'd much rather have the car than wait. And it's fascinating when you read about this on the 911/992 forum. People are happy to have their cars and not screaming and pounding on their high chairs.

Regarding 6, I have spoken with the senior tech at my dealership. He has prepped and serviced 7 new cars for us and the Taycan will be the 8th. He's been briefed on the fix - obviously hasn't done it yet - and described it as straightforward and not complicated. They're not replacing the steering column. He'll show me when I pick mine up (if it needs it). He replaced the PCM computer on a Panamera Turbo for me - that was only "big ticket" thing on a new car for me - and described this as nothing compared to that.

As you show your 4S as "delayed", if you really believe Porsche AG is doing the things you're speculating about it's rather surprising that you haven't canceled your order.

 

[DGT]

My Turbo was delivered without electric steering adjustment. The dealership contacted me before delivery to let me know that the car would be upgraded to electric adjustment when the chip was available. No big deal. I think i have adjusted the steering once and i would rather have the car delivered than it be delayed for such a minor detail

Bravo. Thank you for a bit of sanity. Enjoy your car.

 

[B61]

Anyone knows if it's possible to install later on TPM as well?

 

[W1NGE]

100% true.. due to semi conductor shortages

i was in a taycan CT yesterday. Brand new which had a manual steering wheel adjustment

the upshot of what was a massive fire in the factory in China is a worldwide shortage of semi conductors which are used in ever element of electric devices including things like your kettle etc! Even the Tyre pressure monitor on your car uses them.

what Porsche are trying to do is keep production moving on our orders with retrofitting parts which are kind of none essential. They will fit your car with the electric adjuster..
your dealership should know this

CT 4S - 14-way or 18-way come with electric steering column adjustment (both are options on the 4S and either are standard on the Turbo / Turbo S.

So check your Porsche Code (and order sheet) for what you ordered to confirm.

Anyone knows if it's possible to install later on TPM as well?

Not entirely sure. You can source replacements and they come as standard with the car, right?

 

[DGT]

Anyone knows if it's possible to install later on TPM as well?

They have been installing TPMS chips at the ports as needed for months now, but that seems to be needed much less than it was a while ago. So yes, they can be installed later, but why they've been doing it at the port vs. at dealerships isn't entirely clear. I have heard that it is not a safety issue/hold at the port situation. I've also heard that it's not part of the TPMS sensor system in the wheel but the receiver - so they were'nt having to remove wheels/tires at the port.

 

[B61]

Looks that I haven't made myself clear enough ... I wanted to ask if it's possible to use/drive the car without TPM (and install that when available)?

 

[W1NGE]

Looks that I haven't made myself clear enough ... I wanted to ask if it's possible to use/drive the car without TPM (and install that when available)?

Ah sorry - doh!

I would expect so - the car is set for it and can be configured by the dealer when available is my guess.

Driving the car would be possible - your wheels will just have standard valves which will be replaced when TPM becomes available.

Suggest confirming exactly what to expect with the dealer to avoid any surprises.

Not much point in delivering a car you can't drive temporarily as it could be months before the situation is resolved.

 

[B61]

Thx @W1NGE ... I thought so, just wanted to check.
I'm going to propose my dealer to get the car without TPM.

 

[ElectricSoul]

I own a Tesla Model Y. Recently, without reducing the price and without notice, Tesla dropped the radar from the car (which, in my opinion, makes the Tesla auto steer function less safe) and the lumbar adjustment on the passenger seat.

For what it's worth, it's unrelated to the supply chain problems. Tesla is moving to a vision-based full-self driving stack and are no longer relying on radar outside of data collection.

> American market will no longer be equipped with radar. Instead, these will be the first Tesla vehicles to rely on camera vision and neural net processing to deliver Autopilot, Full-Self Driving and certain active safety features.
https://www.tesla.com/support/transitioning-tesla-vision

 

[chrisk]

How important is the electric steering adjustments and the second key depends on everyone use case. If the car is shared by two drivers in the household then both are very important. If the car is for a single driver they are less important. Either way, Porsche should have notified the customers early and let them make a decision instead of trying to sell them incomplete cars with a promise to upgrade when parts are available (no ETA).

 

[DGT]

How important is the electric steering adjustments and the second key depends on everyone use case. If the car is shared by two drivers in the household then both are very important. If the car is for a single driver they are less important. Either way, Porsche should have notified the customers early and let them make a decision instead of trying to sell them incomplete cars with a promise to upgrade when parts are available (no ETA).

Refuse it, or see if they'll hold on to it until parts are available. Alternatively they would not have built the car at all and you'd be waiting for months. Your choice.

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