Worst 1 year review of the Macan 4 - EVER. 8 months at the dealership for issues.

[TomekGnomek]

It's a shame it has so many problems, because in terms of looks and feel (if you get a decent spec) it's far ahead of anything else I can think of below £100k. It does make you feel special when you sit in it, and it drives very well, too.

I share this sentiment. I like how it looks, love the interiour (quality and styling), it drives crazy good (and this despite my issues with suspension alignment and tires) and overall I wish they had done a better job with reliability. I think once they resolve these issues next gen of this car will be fantastic.

This beeing said I lost confidence in my car (after several dangerous situations), the brand (you should expect better customer service when spending over 100k eur) and the overall lineup (we dont know how many clients experience such problems but when I see them in loaners and the dealer tells me these problems are common I would assume they are in fact common).

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[Wivenhoe]

I was seriously considering getting a Macan EV 4S but after reading this thread and another few on this forum, I don't think I am going to spend £92.8k on this car for now. I appreciate there will be some issues here and there, and I don't expect perfection even at that price, but the car shutting down randomly on a motorway? All sound suddenly not working? Rattling and random vibrations at high speeds? This sounds not only frustrating but downright dangerous. I don't know how you get back into the car after something like that happens.

It's a shame it has so many problems, because in terms of looks and feel (if you get a decent spec) it's far ahead of anything else I can think of below £100k. It does make you feel special when you sit in it, and it drives very well, too.

DenysLu - It may be a coincidence, but my UK 4S has been faultless in the last 6 months. As I had bought a private 25 plate and the car arrived at the dealer in mid Feb, it stayed there for 2 weeks. During that time I received regular emails confirming that as promised they were making sure that the software was the absolute latest version and was running correctly.

You are in London and if you look on here you’ll see a few members were unhappy with the service at one of the London dealers. It may be a bit of a stretch, but the excellent dealer I bought from is in Colchester and they have excelled in sales, ordering, delivery and after sales (sorted the infotainment upgrade without waiting to be asked ahead of a regular service).

I may be one of the lucky ones, but my recommendation is that as you really like it then buy it as the safety issues concerning you seem to be very very rare. I’m not questioning the very serious failures some have had just that I think they are thankfully very rare - I wouldn’t be so forgiving if I had experienced them.

 

[robrain]

I was seriously considering getting a Macan EV 4S but after reading this thread and another few on this forum, I don't think I am going to spend £92.8k on this car for now. I appreciate there will be some issues here and there, and I don't expect perfection even at that price, but the car shutting down randomly on a motorway? All sound suddenly not working? Rattling and random vibrations at high speeds? This sounds not only frustrating but downright dangerous. I don't know how you get back into the car after something like that happens.

It's a shame it has so many problems, because in terms of looks and feel (if you get a decent spec) it's far ahead of anything else I can think of below £100k. It does make you feel special when you sit in it, and it drives very well, too.

Your choice. I haven't got mine yet and I'm not cancelling my order.

1. Any of the car press in the UK (Autocar, AutoExpress, etc.) reporting vast quantities of issues with Macans, multiple returns, etc?

2. This is a forum. It's populated by obsessives, complainers, nerds (charitably: enthusiasts). Some people will have joined just to complain. You seem to have joined to tell us you're not buying one. Give my regards to Elon (kidding, but many YouTube comment threads about the Macan read like a TSLA-holders convention)

3. There are a few squeaky wheels, for sure. And a lot of people saying "ouch, that sucks, glad mine is working fine". Pick your confirmation bias.

Enjoy whatever other car you end up in.

 

[DenysLu]

Rather than start a new poll, I popped this poll back up. Note that as of this second 11.4% of 132 respondents regret their Macan EV purchase. Maybe we can get some updates. It's up to you how you feel about those odds, but that means 88.6% don't regret their purchase. Obviously, YMMV!

Appreciate the more objective view on this but will say that 11.4% is still a fairly large number. Put another way, imagine I offered you to spend $100k on some product which has an 89% chance of leaving you at least partially satisfied, and an 11% chance of leaving you completely disappointed.

Would you spend the $100k on that product or find something else to spend your money on?

Not meaning to talk down on the Macan EV and happy for all those who received a working car, but if you ask me, I'd like the percentage of people experiencing deal-breaking flaws to be well below 1%

 

[DenysLu]

Your choice. I haven't got mine yet and I'm not cancelling my order.

1. Any of the car press in the UK (Autocar, AutoExpress, etc.) reporting vast quantities of issues with Macans, multiple returns, etc?

2. This is a forum. It's populated by obsessives, complainers, nerds (charitably: enthusiasts). Some people will have joined just to complain. You seem to have joined to tell us you're not buying one. Give my regards to Elon (kidding, but many YouTube comment threads about the Macan read like a TSLA-holders convention)

3. There are a few squeaky wheels, for sure. And a lot of people saying "ouch, that sucks, glad mine is working fine". Pick your confirmation bias.

Enjoy whatever other car you end up in.

I did test drive the new model Y too. It beats the Macan in a few ways:

1. More space
2. Screen at the back (if you have children)
3. Tesla network

It is worse than the Macan at everything else, based on my 30-60 minutes with each car. Now is the Macan twice as good as the Tesla, given it's twice as expensive? No. But it is all around better, that is true.

Neither car had issues during my test drive. However, reliability is not something I can judge based on a brief test drive in each car. It is something that is measured statistically for a reason, because problems usually only become obvious when measured in large quantities. Therefore, I came to this forum and consulted other sources. Problems with the new Macan are reported not only here, but elsewhere, too.

For example, I read a post on reddit how one Macan EV just switched off (!) on the motorway. I saw a few more videos on youtube, such as here, where they can't access the charging port of the vehicle because the cover won't open! The fact the charger won't accept their card isn't nice either. Here is a video where they reviewed the Macan across many categories after 3 months of use and gave it 50/100, if I recall correctly.

So after 2 months of research, I have no doubts left that this car has flaws I consider too serious to buy it now. I am not saying this because I prefer the Tesla. As I said, the Macan is the better vehicle, but only so long as it works well, which for too many people it appears that it does not.

 

[tmrqs]

I did test drive the new model Y too. It beats the Macan in a few ways:

1. More space
2. Screen at the back (if you have children)
3. Tesla network

It is worse than the Macan at everything else, based on my 30-60 minutes with each car. Now is the Macan twice as good as the Tesla, given it's twice as expensive? No. But it is all around better, that is true.

Neither car had issues during my test drive. However, reliability is not something I can judge based on a brief test drive in each car. It is something that is measured statistically for a reason, because problems usually only become obvious when measured in large quantities. Therefore, I came to this forum and consulted other sources. Problems with the new Macan are reported not only here, but elsewhere, too.

For example, I read a post on reddit how one Macan EV just switched off (!) on the motorway. I saw a few more videos on youtube, such as here, where they can't access the charging port of the vehicle because the cover won't open! The fact the charger won't accept their card isn't nice either. Here is a video where they reviewed the Macan across many categories after 3 months of use and gave it 50/100, if I recall correctly.

So after 2 months of research, I have no doubts left that this car has flaws I consider too serious to buy it now. I am not saying this because I prefer the Tesla. As I said, the Macan is the better vehicle, but only so long as it works well, which for too many people it appears that it does not.

If you are indeed like Dave that you mentioned twice in your links, the car is probably not for you.

He was actually here for a brief stint - but when his laughable assessments were challenged, he ran for the hills.

Mind you, I’ve got no issue with the guy, but his lack of understanding/knowledge about this specific car was troubling.

The car does have quirks, and in rare occurrences, serious issues. Like most cars.

Godspeed and good luck with whatever car you end up buying - the silent majority here has a trouble free Macan EV and loving every second of it.

 

[TomekGnomek]

The car does have quirks, and in rare occurrences, serious issues. Like most cars.

The seriousness of some issues (car opening doors, turning off on highway, assistance systems causing near accidents) should honestly disqualify the car; let's say you consider buying a Chinese EV and you hear just a couple of stories like that - you wouldn't touch their cars with a ten foot pole. I've had my doors pop open travelling 140km/h with my wife and I assure you this is not fun.

I've not read anything remotely like that about any other new car, but Porsche seems to be getting away with this, perhaps in part due to low(er) volume of cars they sell compared to mainstream brands with 10x users.

Godspeed and good luck with whatever car you end up buying - the silent majority here has a trouble free Macan EV and loving every second of it.

Well it's hard to estimate to be honest. I was mostly fine up to 10k kms, getting more frustrated up to 20k kms, now looking at 30k kms I'm done as new problems keep popping up. The OP is also an early adopter from what I've read. If you do 5k a year you might not notice it or care.

But I see two things happening - most of reported problems are not random but affect the same parts (like assistance sensors) which suggest there are some flaws carried over the production line and affecting more cars.

And also I see change in attitude of my dealer - at first they dismissed my problems, now when I report new issues with assistance errors I get "we know, other customers report this as well, one had a scary moment during a test drive". When I complained for the 3rd time after suspension alignment the chief service guy told me they adjusted it best they could and most of Macan EVs he tried had some subtle steering issues - so it might not get better and if you have experience with other Porsche models you might not be satisfied. Make of it what you will.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone, honestly I'm glad I just leased the car after some consideration and after the lease ends if these issues are resolved and my frustration subsides I would even consider getting simply a new one free of these problems because this car is fun.

BUT if you buy it now and plan to keep the car I would advise to buy extended warranty, if your are buying CPO check for these problems (errors get logged in the computer), if you plan to buy perhaps consider a lease as an insurance (as I did) and finally if you value reliability over fun - perhaps wait a bit and give them a chance to fix these issues. Thats my take.

 

[tmrqs]

Appreciate your take and experience with the car @TomekGnomek.

I’ve followed your “adventures” here and as I stated, some cars have issues, and some have very serious issues. By no means are doors opening at full speed acceptable. I’d lemon that car in a blink.

But these are outliers.

Forums are notorious for attracting people that have problems with their car/device/purchases. Usually minor ones and in some rarer cases, not so insignificant. Not even talking about when the issue is the user themselves.

I may be one of few (maybe even the only one?) who subscribes to essentially every thread on this board (some country specific and color pic threads I don’t).
I get emails about every update and have read absolutely every single post here - even the ones from the threads I just mentioned. And I am on 3 different boards, so I’ve read more than my share of feedback.

In a place where people often come just to complain, issues like what you mention are extremely rare.

So that’s where my mind is at. There will always be lemons, and these should be treated accordingly.
But for a new platform/car, outside of some software quirks and a few technical issues, it’s been pretty good overall.

@Diego put on the kind of mileage you mentioned for instance, on an early 2024 car, and also no issues.

I totally get that some people may not be willing to chance a Macan EV, especially given its price point. But I don’t think it is fair to chastise it entirely for lemon-type rare problems - for its driving qualities put it way above the rest.

At the end of the day, I’m having an amazing experience with it and just want to share the positive to offset some of the complaints.

 

[FirstEV]

UPDATE 5 September 2025:

Obviously as expected the software update has been delayed and they don’t know when it’s due arrival. Now Porsche AG asked them to drive 100-120km in the car to see if any other faults are triggered.

- Anyone know why they would suggest something like that?

 

[CHP]

UPDATE 5 September 2025:

Obviously as expected the software update has been delayed and they don’t know when it’s due arrival. Now Porsche AG asked them to drive 100-120km in the car to see if any other faults are triggered.

- Anyone know why they would suggest something like that?

Jesus. Seems yours is now a Porsche test car. If they are so keen on test driving it they should buy it back from you. I take delivery on Monday. Apparently latest software already factory installed but who knows. According to general sales manager, delivery of MY26 unlikely this year (in UK).

 

[TomekGnomek]

UPDATE 5 September 2025:

Obviously as expected the software update has been delayed and they don’t know when it’s due arrival. Now Porsche AG asked them to drive 100-120km in the car to see if any other faults are triggered.

- Anyone know why they would suggest something like that?

Had something similar, don't know why - they test drove it for 100 kms.
Which suggests to me they have no clue as to what's happening.
Sometimes you can do for days and 500 kms without any errors and sometimes you get 3 during one short trip.

 

[FirstEV]

Da

Had something similar, don't know why - they test drove it for 100 kms.
Which suggests to me they have no clue as to what's happening.
Sometimes you can do for days and 500 kms without any errors and sometimes you get 3 during one short trip.

Exactly my idea.. one of the main reasons it left the shop and came back so many times was their way of brushing the issues off by saying “we can’t see any faults, it drivs well” for me to then take it back within 2 hours because of something new.

the last time I took it in, my dealer even went out to the parking lot trying to plug it in to see if he could just remove the error codes from the OBD to then say “I can’t let you drive the car due to it begins dangerous

 

[CHP]

Da


Exactly my idea.. one of the main reasons it left the shop and came back so many times was their way of brushing the issues off by saying “we can’t see any faults, it drivs well” for me to then take it back within 2 hours because of something new.

the last time I took it in, my dealer even went out to the parking lot trying to plug it in to see if he could just remove the error codes from the OBD to then say “I can’t let you drive the car due to it begins dangerous

Do you have immobiliser installed?

 

[FirstEV]

Do you have immobiliser installed?

No, I actually don’t! Is there anything in particular you have in mind?

 

[CHP]

No, I actually don’t! Is there anything in particular you have in mind?

Touched down with general sales manager yesterday before taking delivery on Monday. We had a long chat and one of my questions was if fobs for immobiliser finally got smaller. He didn't know but mentioned installation/integration is now different as they encountered several problems/faults. Discussion wasn't in context with my previous lemon (I had Porsche installed immobiliser) so really do think this was an honest remark. Just thought this may be of value for those with unresolved faults.

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