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Throughout my content, I often try to find place for a Porsche piece. The brand has a place near my heart, but that doesn't mean I shy away from pointing out some of its imperfections. While I am not one for making excuses on behalf of car companies (they aren't paying me anyways), the car industry is a dynamic environment and sometimes, things happen.
My latest find is from the Facebook group, Porsche Taycan Owners Club, where one eager owner of a 2024 Porsche Taycan 4S is experiencing a known issue with his high-performance EV. Jeff Voge, the owner of this Porsche EV, posts frequently in the group after coming from a Tesla Model 3. Here's what he says about his Porsche Taycan issue in a short post supplemented by images (which I used for the purpose of this article):
“I was just 3 minutes earlier, raving about how reliable and incredible the Taycan has been.”, Jeff posts, clearly frustrated by the message illuminated on the dashboard.
Not a new issue, but one that may require Porsche to take further action
I have heard other owners complain about the same issue, so this isn't a new problem. One of the technical service recalls Porsche issued was for this very problem. However, this was for Taycan and Taycan Cross Turismo models produced in 2020 and 2021. As with every early batch of models, these issues are to be expected. Around 43,000 vehicles were affected by this issue... originally.
But Jeff's Taycan 4S is a 2024 model and still, the “Engine control error” message was displayed on the dashboard instrument cluster. So, what gives?
The original cause for the issue was due to faulty software. The “Engine control error” or also the “Loss of motive power”, which may also be displayed on the driver screen, was due to the software giving false signals, causing a powertrain shutdown.
Fellow owners chime in with their own insight
Mark Tan says, “Both of our 2020 Taycan Turbos experienced this. Both occurred while 'gunning' it and asking for high throttle demand, resulting in shutdown and coasting to a shuddering stop.
Mine, the front motor control unit fried, had to be replaced ~$24k job.
Wife's, the two coolant fans located in the front bumper were blocked and damaged/ inoperable, causing the battery and coolant temps to get too high ~$8k job"
(Both under warranty, thankfully)
Both had hard codes stored when the tech looked at them, so that helped.”
The Taycan forum and Reddit have extensive discussions about the Porsche EV's issues. While some owners praise the Porsche Taycan's driving characteristics and tech, others are dissatisfied with its reliability and are still on the fence about getting one.
Norman K Chu says: “I would like to be part of this owners' club but this is the biggest fear! Like the dreaded IMS on my 986, what’s the % of failure on this vehicle?”
Mark Tan says: “100%, once these are out of warranty, they are GONE. But brilliant cars when they are operational!
I would never own one that's not covered by a warranty. I've got another 4+ years and until 115k miles on these two (Fidelity warranty sold by Porsche)”
Phil Knapper says, “Most unreliable car I’ve ever owned, couldn’t wait to hand it back.”
The good news is, all Porsche Taycan issues are covered under warranty or through the service recalls the company is issuing. However, the Taycan issues persist to the point where some dealers are starting to take matters into their own hands. With the EV model's declining sales, it remains to be seen whether Porsche will discontinue the Taycan in favor of a new Panamera.
Porsche's 911 continues to carry the brand's heritage on its shoulders, even with hybrid tech. Meanwhile, the sports car manufacturer backtracked on its electrification strategy, working to retrofit most of its EV models to hybrid or ICE power.
That said, the 718 EV is still happening, but there is already a negative reception. Do you think Porsche's EV models are doomed? Maybe you own a Porsche Taycan or a similar EV model. If so, I would love to hear about your experience in the comment section below.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
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