Chronically unreliable. Suggestions?

[Optima99]

My 2023 Taycan 4 CT has been at the dealer for 73 days (and counting) since the beginning of 2024. Issues are related to battery but these are on top of numerous other matters since I got the car. On three occasions it had to be taken to the dealer on a flatbed. I cannot depend on this car and my faith in it is now non-existent.

Has anyone else had chronic issues to this extent? What was the outcome?

I'd appreciate suggestions on what I should do but PLEASE avoid emotive or crazy suggestions, I want to keep this real.

Thank you!

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[alexsas]

well, I had had 7 visits to a dealer for maybe a total of 15 days in 4 months of owning the car, with one delivery on a flatbed. It is ridiculous, but my issues were not mysterious unexplainable/unfixable faults, mostly 'cosmetical'.

The dealer was prepared to replace the car with another one with a reasonable trade-in value of my car - but when I test drove 3 or 4 other Taycans, I was not particularly impressed and stuck with my car. It probably just tells something about this particular model - but hey... we got what we got.

if your issues are more serious than mine (mines were more annoying rather than critical) - you can try having a grown up conversation with the dealer who sold you the car.

 

[pnw-ev-nerd]

I have had zero mechanical issues, a few infotainment bugs, never anything critical. Mine has been rock solid apart from dumb software.

Dunno about the lawd over there but in the US that should be an easy lemon law case to force them to buy the car back from you, or replace it, at your option (in most states, i think)

 

[DavidS78]

I have a '23 Taycan CT 4S and thankfully I have had only minor issues (2). Both were resolved with minimal impact to me but I can certainly see a challenge with not having enough qualified technicians right now and the resultant lead time you have mentioned. It's not an exclusive to Porsche problem though.

As a person many yrs ago who experienced a new car that started giving engine trouble within 3 months of purchase I feel I do have some tips that may help! My issue ended up being resolved with the dealer principle and myself having a frank 'trade-in and new car deal conversation' (after 9 months of solicitors squabbling).

• Have an open conversation with the Service & dealership managers expressing your frustration and lack of confidence in the car. Try to do it face to face also. I've always found Porsche Centre Dublin to be fair and accommodating and who knows you may be able to strike a deal to get into a different car of similar specs (they appear to have quite a few right now!). It also looks better if you can show an attempt to deal with the issue without escalation should escalation be required later.
• DO NOT DO NOT go in all guns blazing with legal threats/letters. You'll likely have ppl in your ear right now reciting your rights and you'll likely find solicitors and motor assessors who see euro signs but inevitably you are the one living with the sub optimal experience each day, not them. In my experience, solicitors and motor assessors got very little done over a vv long period of time and in the end I had to do the hard work myself and negotiate. Legal routes should be the absolute last resort!

Good luck, I hope you get sorted soon and once again begin enjoying an amazing car!

 

[tigerbalm]

Firstly, I've had my share of issues with my first Taycan and I remain a happy customer with Porsche Centre Dublin. I've had to work with them on a number of issues (many of which I've openly documented on this site over the years) and have always found them to work with me within the "art of the possible".

To second what @DavidS78 said: as part of your purchase contract you agreed to go down the SIMI Arbitration process if you want to bring a legal challenge. DO NOT DO THIS. Despite how it might sound – and it is a relatively cheap process – it does not tend to lead to good outcomes for consumers.

There are examples of VW (over diesel gate) absolutely nearly bankrupting customers by dragging out long expensive high-court actions in Ireland.

If you want to pay for legal advice that will absolutely back this up with specifics and get you on the frame of mind to work with the dealer – DM me and I'm happy to make a recommendation. I know, cause I was there myself once!

 

[Optima99]

Thanks for the practical and objective advice. I have been extremely reasonable with Porsche Dublin to date (which they have acknowledged) and taking a legal route is never ever my preferred option. I do however have a car that I have utterly lost faith in so something will have to be done. I am meeting with them in person next Tuesday and will keep you posted.

Porsche Cork opens in 2025, another lesson learned from my Taycan experience is never to buy a car that doesn't have local support as evey hassle becomes double the hassle!

 

[tigerbalm]

Porsche Cork opens in 2025, another lesson learned from my Taycan experience is never to buy a car that doesn't have local support as evey hassle becomes double the hassle!

It is the same dealer company though – so no playing both centres off each other for sales pricing!

It is going to have a massive service centre compared to Dublin. They totally underestimated the growth in service demand when they built the current Porsche Centre during the crash (understandable). They are even going to ship down cars from Dublin to Cork on their own car transporters for repairs when it opens.

 

[tigerbalm]

Dunno about the lawd over there but in the US that should be an easy lemon law case to force them to buy the car back from you, or replace it, at your option (in most states, i think)

Not a thing here. In general I find EU consumer protection laws stronger than the US. But when it come to cars – US has some genuinely great consumer protections.

With the EU – you always deal with the retailer – and can't be pushed to the manufacturer – which works well when its a TV or a Microwave – but less so when its a very expensive car.

The other sting in the tail is that in the EU – the more you "accept" a repair – the more you remove your rights for a refund. The law kinda favours consumers taking extreme views early on in the process – which is against the normal behaviour of reasonable people.

We don't have any real car specific protections – a Taycan is just another "goods" you've purchased from a shop.

 

[PSUEric]

I have a 24 CT4 with almost 8,000 miles over 8 months and have had no issues. I feel terrible for those that are having problems, especially those that the dealer cannot replicate or repair. Going in on Tuesday to Porsche Jacksonville for 2 recalls (Charging Cable and Thermal Control Unit Replacement). The brake hose recall has not yet been authorized, but they will check the hoses while it’s there.

UPDATE: The recalls were completed with no issue. Got a new Macan as a loaner. The front brake lines were inspected for damage, none found. Parts as stated before are not yet available. The tech sent me a video explaining what was completed. Great job by the folks at Porsche Jacksonville!

 

[Art]

Belonging to the group - as you probably have noticed:
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/half-year-and-counting-electrical-system-fault.19064/
Minimal communication from Porsche. 12th June was last SMS telling the next time the problems will be looked at is 12th August - but then came the recall caused by the brake hoses so the repair may need more time.
So the 4S has been faulty since 19th December 2023.

Half year and counting

 

[Redhot2474]

Did you have something equivalent to lemon law in your country?

 

[RGBArgee]

My 2023 Taycan 4 CT has been at the dealer for 73 days (and counting) since the beginning of 2024. Issues are related to battery but these are on top of numerous other matters since I got the car. On three occasions it had to be taken to the dealer on a flatbed. I cannot depend on this car and my faith in it is now non-existent.

Has anyone else had chronic issues to this extent? What was the outcome?

I'd appreciate suggestions on what I should do but PLEASE avoid emotive or crazy suggestions, I want to keep this real.

Thank you!

My first Taycan 4S CT ( March 22) was awful, part Porsche part dealer - replaced with new nearly identical model March 23 - no cost to me apart from minor spec upgrades. New one has been virtually faultless . Now on 11,000 miles and new 21 in Goodyear tyres. Zero points to Pirelli for wear! 21in wheels

 

[SCPoster]

Thanks for the practical and objective advice. I have been extremely reasonable with Porsche Dublin to date (which they have acknowledged) and taking a legal route is never ever my preferred option. I do however have a car that I have utterly lost faith in so something will have to be done. I am meeting with them in person next Tuesday and will keep you posted.

Porsche Cork opens in 2025, another lesson learned from my Taycan experience is never to buy a car that doesn't have local support as evey hassle becomes double the hassle!

I was is exactly the same situation last year. UK based but originally from Ireland (Kerry) - I bought a new MY22 CT4 - waited over a year for the car.

My car ownership spanned 7 months with 4 of those 7 months residing in the dealership/specialist body shop.

I eventually lost faith in the car due to the many attempted fixes that the Porsche workshop/specialist body shop that failed. In fairness they tried everything and were on a learning curve of their own.

My issues stemmed from water ingress. Rainwater was getting in to the body panels and no one could figure out how.
To cut a long story short- I got a full refund eventually. I had amicable conversations with the Service Manager and the salesman who sold me the car during these 4 months.

Advice -
1. record everything on email chronologically - dates and work done - send/forward emails to the dealership.

2. Reaffirm your consumer rights in these emails.

3. Do not threaten legal action but don’t be afraid of it either as an option.

4. Join a few forums like this and get advice - you are already on this.

5. Copy Porsche UK Ltd (if there is an Irish equivalent - contact them) - the supplying dealership saw this as a faulty item which the manufacturer needed to resolve.

6. If you are flexible then research a way out through another Porsche. I suggested trading my CT4 for a 992 if they refunded my full CT4 outlay. It didn’t come to that as i got the refund with no strings attached. Now running a 997.

 

[tigerbalm]

I was is exactly the same situation last year. UK based but originally from Ireland (Kerry)

Hello fellow Kerryman(person). I’m Killorglin!

 

[Optima99]

Quick update. Visited Porsche Dublin yesterday to discuss my car, today is the 88th day of 2024 that my car has been at the dealership. The staff at Porsche Dublin are always willing to discuss, but the outcome was pretty useless, essentially:

1. They have given me a loaner Taycan, what more can they be expected to do?
2. They have no idea when my car will be returned. This was updated 30 minutes later with the news that another battery cell must be replaced, the 3rd. Previous experience suggests that this repair takes a minimum of 8 weeks.
3. Absolutely unwilling to discuss my rejection of the vehicle, a permanent replacement vehicle or a reasonable allowance againt another vehicle.
4. Acknowledged without hesitation that these are issues I could see again and again and that this essentially is part of Taycan ownership!
5. That 'Audi e-Tron GTs & BMW iXs are doing exactly the same'.

Meantime the 6 month old loaner was very dirty on delivery, is showing a consistent amber 'chassis fault' message and the tailgate is full of water such that each time I open it, it floods the luggage area (Ireland gets lots of rain remember, even in summer!).

I'm convinced that Porsche AG have a strategy of 'toughen it out' with Taycan drivers while ensuring that they just about stay within consumer law of the relevant jurisdiction. After that, my belief is that they couldn't care a less, I can draw no other conclusion. They make their money on 911, Panamera, Cayenne, not Taycan.

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