Porsche Recalls 40,000 Taycans Over Seat Wiring Snafu

Some 40,000 Porsche Taycan owners are being asked to bring their vehicles in for an important fix.

The German automaker has reportedly issued a global recall covering 40,000-plus Taycan electric vehicles. The cars’ wiring harnesses may be faulty, a company spokesperson told the Teslarati blog.

“It was discovered that in certain instances, a wiring harness under the front seats in some 2020 and 2021 Taycan vehicles may get caught as the seat is moved forward or back,” the spokesperson said. “If this happens, it could make the seat harder to move or inoperable. In rare cases, the wiring harness may be damaged and could affect the supplemental restraint system (airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners), causing the red airbag warning light to illuminate.”

The recall covers certain Taycan EVs produced between July 2019 and May 2021. U.S. owners of recalled vehicles were likely to be notified by late July, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Dealers will inspect the seat wire harness for damage, add fabric tape to secure the harness, and repair damaged wires as necessary, free of charge,” Porsche told NHTSA. The company said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the defect, adding that it decided to recall the affected cars “as a precautionary measure.”

Porsche has seen its sales soar in the U.S., even as the pandemic and chip shortage had many major auto manufacturers sputtering. Still, the Taycan recall is the latest in a string of callbacks announced by Porsche in recent years.

Last year, for example, the company said it was recalling more than 10,000 Taycan electric vehicles because of a software glitch that may cause the vehicles to lose power unexpectedly. Porsche acknowledged the snafu increased the risk of a crash.

The company last year also ordered Porsche dealers to stop selling certain 911s, Boxsters, Caymans, Cayennes, and Panameras. It said at the time that the defect could cause the vehicles to fail emissions requirements.

California Porsche Owners’ Lemon Law Rights

Fortunately, Porsche owners in California have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

Formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the lemon law generally requires carmakers to do a wide variety of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. 

It also forces the companies to buy back (or replace, in some situations) vehicles that they are unable or unwilling to fix. That means compensating the owner for the purchase price of the vehicle, as well as for financing fees, rental car costs and other related expenses.

How a Lemon Law Attorney Can Help

If you are locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over a malfunctioning or defective vehicle, an Los Angeles lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

We have successfully assisted car owners across the state. Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer at our firm today.