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

[FirstEV]

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.

Aha! That’s actually quite interesting, I didn’t know that it had any impact at all.

I wish they could just buy back the car already, as you said, its basically like their testing it like a lab car.

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[CHP]

Aha! That’s actually quite interesting, I didn’t know that it had any impact at all.

I wish they could just buy back the car already, as you said, its basically like their testing it like a lab car.

Faults with my car developed within 30 days and I notified dealer immediately (started with malfunctioning of electric charging cover and charging - couldn't release plug at Porsche charger ). Car handed back after both charging ports replaced and software gremlins fixed (I told them I return car if any more problems occur). 10 minutes into driving, seat belt malfunctioned with typical error messages occurring described by others here on the forum. After sending screen shot I was told they need to replace sensor. Thanks, but no thanks. As fault was reported within first 30 days, I was able to reject car. Return was painless. That's my story.

If I recall correctly, your dealer would not provide written confirmation. I would insist on detailed list of identified and reported faults/errors and how they have been addressed. I made clear I wouldn't take car back without (I got mine with time stamps). Whole saga is not cheap for dealer either and getting more and more expensive by the day.

 

[FirstEV]

Faults with my car developed within 30 days and I notified dealer immediately (started with malfunctioning of electric charging cover and charging - couldn't release plug at Porsche charger ). Car handed back after both charging ports replaced and software gremlins fixed (I told them I return car if any more problems occur). 10 minutes into driving, seat belt malfunctioned with typical error messages occurring described by others here on the forum. After sending screen shot I was told they need to replace sensor. Thanks, but no thanks. As fault was reported within first 30 days, I was able to reject car. Return was painless. That's my story.

If I recall correctly, your dealer would not provide written confirmation. I would insist on detailed list of identified and reported faults/errors and how they have been addressed. I made clear I wouldn't take car back without (I got mine with time stamps). Whole saga is not cheap for dealer either and getting more and more expensive by the day.

Yeah, you’re absolutely right. I will keep that in mind.

Can you explain a bit more regarding the costs for the dealership? My dealer told me that they get paid for x miles/km on the loaner by Porsche HQ. But I can’t be sure how profitable that would be anyway.

 

[CHP]

Yeah, you’re absolutely right. I will keep that in mind.

Can you explain a bit more regarding the costs for the dealership? My dealer told me that they get paid for x miles/km on the loaner by Porsche HQ. But I can’t be sure how profitable that would be anyway.

I am not certain how it works but read here on the forum they are paid pennies on the dollar as compared to regular service paid by us. My dealer (larger network) interestingly reduced number of loaners available significantly. Could be coincidence.

 

[FirstEV]

UPDATE 8 September 2025.
Our dealer has informed us that the software update is pushed at least 6-8 weeks with a big emphasis on it being pushed away further. Great..

PAG also informed them that they should keep testing the car for other issues as well. In other words they don’t even know if the update will help the main cause for the issues (in my own opinion). This is excluded from my AC charging issue that still hasn’t been addressed.

Lastly, but not least: My dealer implies that they don’t know the actual cause, because everything that has happened are symptoms only for a bigger issue that they can’t trace back too.

thoughts?

 

[tmrqs]

If the car spent indeed 8 months out of 10 at the dealership, it should be pretty easy to get Porsche to take it back.

Go straight to Porsche corporate, with the facts: they’ll make you whole.

Keep us posted and good luck!

@FirstEV - this hasn’t changed.

 

[FirstEV]

@FirstEV - this hasn’t changed.

Thank you again for your reply! I’ve been talking to them for about 3 months and today at the latest. They are speaking with the regional manager now but still taking time sadly..

 

[TomekGnomek]

thoughts?

They don't know s... and won't fix these problems until most of 2-3 year leases expire and clients move on. I'm set for another visit with my car in the second half on September, will let you know in case they make any progress.

Go straight to Porsche corporate, with the facts: they’ll make you whole.

I guess each market has different protections but I tried to contact Porsche directly with absolutely no luck. I would bet you there are some many problems like this they won't be able to do a recall and instead will try and fix these issues.

 

[FirstEV]

UPDATE:

Excuse my language, but this has gone too far.

I’ve got this response (paraphrasing obviously) from my dealer, and hear me out:

- So, the car has been in service for more than three times and you still haven’t figured out what the issue may be?
- Yes.
- And all the other issues you changed were on the basis of trying to fix an isolated issue but there weren’t actual faults in the hardware you took out?
- Yes.. but we fixed the issue for the last thing (E-sound)
- Well. How do you know, I haven’t even driven the car, and you’ve tested it for like 10 minutes?
- Haha.. yeah..
- Okay, and now the biggest issue (Red circle of death) and electricity completely shutting if in gear isn’t something you’ve solved and you THINK the software update MIGHT solve it. But you can’t say?
- Yes.
- And the software MIGHT come in November, but it can be postponed even further for a much longer time?
- Yes.
- OH, OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLEARING IT UP FOR ME.
- But if you want, you can take your car and drive it if you want while we have a loaner on standby?
- But you said two days ago that if I want to drive my car, I should expect loads of issues such as red warnings and you haven’t even done anything to the car in regards of it?
- Yeah.. just a suggestion.

This is turning into a comedy, really.

 

[TomekGnomek]

Yes, my latest interactions are very similar and I feel growing frustration on their part (with me for being persistent and for the manufacturer for obviously screwing up). They (the dealer) simply don't know how to handle it and are between a customer and manufacturer. Last time they complained to me they don't get paid for most of the work diagnosing what's wrong and they are simply out of ideas, out of support from manufacturer and to just let it go.

Honestly I get that you might have bad luck with a purchase and end up with a defective product - it happens to the best. What I don't get it the customer experience which is worse than a second hand sketchy used car aftermarket lot. Look at another thread about suspension cracking sounds and response people get from HQ on paper - yeah, we know, just don't brake before speed bumps, it's part of the Porsche driving experience.

My take is given a serious nature of many problems they should offer to buy back cars with these issues. I would bet you they know the scale of this problem is significant and this is simply not a viable solution. This is why you can only wait and hope it gets fixed in the future (by software update or them narrowing this problem to specific part/controller that can be replaced).

 

[FirstEV]

Yes, my latest interactions are very similar and I feel growing frustration on their part (with me for being persistent and for the manufacturer for obviously screwing up). They (the dealer) simply don't know how to handle it and are between a customer and manufacturer. Last time they complained to me they don't get paid for most of the work diagnosing what's wrong and they are simply out of ideas, out of support from manufacturer and to just let it go.

Honestly I get that you might have bad luck with a purchase and end up with a defective product - it happens to the best. What I don't get it the customer experience which is worse than a second hand sketchy used car aftermarket lot. Look at another thread about suspension cracking sounds and response people get from HQ on paper - yeah, we know, just don't brake before speed bumps, it's part of the Porsche driving experience.

My take is given a serious nature of many problems they should offer to buy back cars with these issues. I would bet you they know the scale of this problem is significant and this is simply not a viable solution. This is why you can only wait and hope it gets fixed in the future (by software update or them narrowing this problem to specific part/controller that can be replaced).

Yup. You're probably right on point. Given the situation and that there is a viable security risk with operation the cars, they would be much more worried about the situation. Given our issues, they would probably be scared to the point of a buy-back if we were in the US, but sadly were not.

 

[pm4s]

thoughts?

Incompetent dealer.
Talking from experience with a car having all sorts of unrelated faults.
Took the car in, dealer run a scan of all control modules (around 100).
1 module came back as faulty.
Module ordered from Germany, arrived in 2 days, replaced, picked car up, everything works since.
Moral of the story, 1 module goes bad, the entire car becomes "ill", it does not mean the car is a "lemon".
If scan comes back clean, simpler for dealer to replace car than trace fault with their level of knowledge

 

[CHP]

UPDATE:

Excuse my language, but this has gone too far.

I’ve got this response (paraphrasing obviously) from my dealer, and hear me out:

- So, the car has been in service for more than three times and you still haven’t figured out what the issue may be?
- Yes.
- And all the other issues you changed were on the basis of trying to fix an isolated issue but there weren’t actual faults in the hardware you took out?
- Yes.. but we fixed the issue for the last thing (E-sound)
- Well. How do you know, I haven’t even driven the car, and you’ve tested it for like 10 minutes?
- Haha.. yeah..
- Okay, and now the biggest issue (Red circle of death) and electricity completely shutting if in gear isn’t something you’ve solved and you THINK the software update MIGHT solve it. But you can’t say?
- Yes.
- And the software MIGHT come in November, but it can be postponed even further for a much longer time?
- Yes.
- OH, OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLEARING IT UP FOR ME.
- But if you want, you can take your car and drive it if you want while we have a loaner on standby?
- But you said two days ago that if I want to drive my car, I should expect loads of issues such as red warnings and you haven’t even done anything to the car in regards of it?
- Yeah.. just a suggestion.

This is turning into a comedy, really.

Second Macan arrived, so far so good until yesterday. Some sounds going over speed bumps but this well be do to anti-dive. Had masterclass this morning and free top up charging. All fine, went in for a coffee and at return noticed red circle of death. Jesus. Only temp (gone after a few minutes) and car diagnostic showed faulty charging station. Not a good start again.

 

[tomthemac]

i had a whole heap of trouble with a work place Pod Point 22kw AC back at my Macan 4 delivery Feb 25 - bricked the car everytime i tried to charge - pp meanwhile charges audi , vw , tesla , bmw no problem since 2 year ago install also with recent pod point firmware, so lots of calls to pod point business customer care & porsche HQ techs - no one wanted to admit there was a compatibility problem at either or both ends despite video evidence of 'high voltage error - seek service / dealer ship' error every time from macan & errors from the podpoint also. i wasted A LOT of time but out come was, drum roll .... £200 good will payment from porsche after dealer service said - 'no problem with battery' on emergency visit... and pod point deinstalled /removed the ac charger and then REFUNDED our company in full and we got a BG sync 22kw works like a dream on EVERYTHING inc macan without complaint - less cash too buy/install that pod point... curse on both houses though.

 

[tomthemac]

since that, other problems i've had the same as everyone on here namely in no order really:


1. occasional glitches / disconnections while driving in Apple carplay (hope next weeks WSD0 dealer update sorts that out) (discovered yesterday that phone still connected after carplay bugs out - so if you disconnect... in devices... wait and reconnect - carplay is recovered. but thats a ball ache innit)

2. occasional assistance systems alerts , usually right them selves fairly fast as driving along - think like others here thats bad weather / bright sun etc confusing the Lidar / cameras. keep and eye tho.

3. Bose missing audio issue once so far righted after all manner of resets and in the end lock car leave for over night - worked again (hope next weeks WSD0 dealer update sorts that out)

4. Pano roof doesnt sit flush on one side when 'at home closed' (not a deal breaker they can adjust they said)

5. awful NVH rattle over uneven surfaces (most uk London / country non m'way roads and Normandy D roads my main routes) from close to passenger (left hand side for me UKRHD) air vent (poss behind the gloss blank panel for pass screen (not optioned) can reproduce by gently palm hand bumping the dash in that area - very poor to leave factory (have ext leather too)

6. drivers site (RHD) door car area round arm rest creaks badly when elbow in place - again unforgivable PDI or QC production slip up im guessing

7. Reversing camera washer gave up after a couple of uses - sadly due to 2KM bad surface non metalled track to our place in france it's actually a useful thing! same as others here the motor turns when you hit the button but no water - tried multiple attempts nothing - suspect nozzle jammed

8. pass rear door handle became completely detached one day when I opened the door for a passenger! wow! Porsche assistance said car drivable take to to a dealer straight away - went to the local one in France - they did temp fix told me to go back to supplying UK dealer. Its in and functioning, but the handle doesn't return properly after pulled. sigh

at least im booked in for 22nd at West London Porsche and they've acknowledged all faults as probable fixable warranty problems - no courtesy car though 'you can come to Reading if you like' or wait til November... ffs

mainly worse niggles problems than previous Audi Etron 55 2020 ym (and bomb proof i3 21 YM that is still a daily for family here) - but that one ended in the notorious motor coolant screw up having been perfect for 5 years and hate to say better screwed together at the Brussels factory than the Germany Porsche / Audi factory Macan. also that was second gen etron maybe should have waited for macan ev full facelift...

ah well still love it best car ever - 100% time better to drive and be in than the audi (if im honest the audi 55 was slightly more comfortable and wafty in 'normal / comfort' mode - wish theyd add 'comfort' mode to Macan), but after several test drives we went Macan 4 over the Audi SQ6 as same price ion UK and less options and stiffer surprisingly. also seduced by the 'off road pack' std wheel tyre better efficiency than the SQ6. Lower spec than SQ6 in UK - no air option, no massage seats or air cooled seats - all ok on UK spec options Macan. So mainly happy and hope the beta test period comes good for us all!

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