I own a 2018 Porsche Macan with approximately 98,000 miles. My vehicle has developed a strong gasoline odor, particularly near the rear fuel-filler area, along with visible liquid leaking underneath the vehicle. There are no warning signs or error codes on the dashboard at all. The car has not been inspected by the mechanic as I am afraid to drive it now because of fire risk. I discovered the federal safety agency Recall 20V‑077 (Porsche Campaign ALA2), which addresses fuel-pump flange cracking and potential gasoline leakage. I also located an XXX, as well as multiple 2026 the federal safety agency safety complaints involving other 2018 Macans with nearly identical symptoms, including a wet fuel-pump cover and strong gasoline odor. That vehicle's VIN was reportedly excluded from the recall. I am requesting that Porsche investigate this issue as a potential safety-related defect, verify my vehicle's complete recall and service history, and explain whether my vehicle is susceptible to the same fuel-pump flange failure. Please advise whether Porsche will cover the inspection and any necessary repairs given the potential fire hazard. I am not operating the vehicle because of the fuel leak. I am a single mother to a toddler and we have to go to work and school, please assist ASAP. Thank you very much! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2018 Porsche Macan problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags10
- Fuel system10
- Steering6
- Electrical5
- Seat belts3
- Brakes2
- Driver assistance2
- Lights2
- Body1
- Engine1
- Seats1
- Tires1
- Transmission1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 Porsche Macan
Recalls 5
Seat belts: rear/other: anchorage
- What is wrong
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Macan S, 2017-2020 Macan, 2017 Panamera Turbo, 2018 and 2020 Macan Turbo and Panamera 4, 2018 Macan Sport Edition, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, and 2019 Panamera 4 Sport Turismo vehicles. The screw that attaches the lower seat belt anchor to the seat frame on the outboard rear seats may not have been tightened properly.
- Risk
- An improperly tightened seat belt anchor can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace and tighten the lower rear outboard seat belt anchor screws, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2023. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1‑800‑767‑7243. Porsche's number for this recall is APA9.
Recall number 23V443000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
- What is wrong
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Macan, Macan Turbo Kits, Macan GTS, 2015-2018 Macan S, and Macan Turbo vehicles. The front passenger seat occupancy sensor mat may degrade and fail to detect a passenger in the front seat.
- Risk
- The air bag will not deploy during a crash if a front passenger is undetected, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensor mat and seat cushion, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1‑800‑767‑7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMA2.
Recall number 21V131000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Macan vehicles. The fuel pump service cover may contact the flow nozzle on the filter flange of the fuel pump, potentially causing cracks and a fuel leak.
- Risk
- Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Porsche will rework or replace and apply a protective film to the fuel pump flange. in addition, the fuel pump flange will be inspected and replaced if cracks are present. The recall began April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1‑800‑767‑7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ALA2.
Recall number 20V077000 · Recall details
Equipment
- What is wrong
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid, Cayenne GTS, Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid Platinum Edition, Macan Turbo and Macan GTS vehicles, 2017-2018 Cayenne S, Macan, Cayenne Platinum Edition and Macan S vehicles and 2018 Cayenne vehicles equipped with the optional ski bag. The ski bag fastening strap may have been sewn with incorrect thread, possibly resulting in the strap seams tearing and the ski bag being unsecured in the event of a crash.
- Risk
- If the ski bag detaches during a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ski bags, free of charge. The recall began January 10, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1‑800‑767‑7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ12.
Recall number 18V844000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2018 Porsche Macan S and Macan vehicles. These vehicles have a control unit that may fail and prevent safety-related functions such as driver display alerts and possibly impair drivability and post-crash functions.
- Risk
- Failure of the control unit may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected control unit, free of charge. The recall began July 27, 2018. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1‑800‑767‑7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ05.
Recall number 18V318000 · Recall details
See all 5 recalls for the 2018 Porsche Macan
Defect investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
Technical service bulletins for the 2018 Porsche Macan 576
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Warranty Information: Warranty Extension for Transmission Electronics Control Unit (39/26)
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Advanced Technical Information for Paint Thickness or Decals Affecting Corner Radar Sensor Operation
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche A40 Engine Oils
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils
2018 Porsche Macan fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | AWD | 20 | 25 | 22 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | AWD | 17 | 23 | 19 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | AWD | 17 | 23 | 19 |
What 2018 Porsche Macan owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Fuel System / Fuel Pump Flange Area. Yes, the vehicle and the affected components are parked, completely out of service, and available for physical inspection upon request. - How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle is experiencing an active, severe external fuel leak, creating an immediate and extreme safety hazard due to the severe risk of fire or explosion. As a single parent, this is my sole vehicle used to transport my son, and this sudden catastrophic failure directly endangers our safety. Furthermore, I serve on active duty in the military; reliable transportation is an absolute operational requirement where a mechanical breakdown is not an excused absence. This failure not only threatens our lives from the threat of combustion, but it also severely jeopardizes my military career by stranding me without transport. The car is entirely unsafe to drive or operate on public roads. - Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not yet inspected or reproduced by a professional service center. Because my VIN shows past fuel system safety recalls (such as campaigns AH06 / ALA2) as "closed out," I anticipate facing a manufacturer runaround and being forced to pay out-of-pocket for a recurring factory defect, prompting this direct the federal safety agency filing. - Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No dashboard warning lamps or error messages appeared. The issue was first detected via a sudden, extremely strong smell of raw fuel localized around the right rear passenger seat, accompanied by the characteristic sticky, sap-like residue matching the failure pattern reported by other Macan owners in the exact same recall repair zone.
The contact owns a 2018 Porsche Macan. The contact stated that while driving or while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside the vehicle, and the odor was coming from underneath the rear passenger’s seat. The contact raised the rear passenger’s seat and became aware that the cover of the fuel pump was wet. The contact had stopped driving the vehicle due to the possible safety risk. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V077000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,558.
The vehicle is leaking fuel from the top of the tank, filling the cabin with fuel odor. I contacted the dealership due to the recall for the 2018 Macans with this exact issue and my vehicle matches ever symptom of the recall yet they are stating my vehicle is not included and I must pay out of pocket for towing, diagnostics and repairs.
A strong gasoline odor developed around my 2018 Porsche Macan while parked in a closed garage. Over several days, the odor became noticeable inside the passenger compartment and was strongest near the rear passenger seat. No check-engine light or other warning appeared. Because of the potential fire hazard, the vehicle was towed to an authorized Porsche dealer rather than driven. The dealer confirmed the fuel odor from the rear-seat area. After removing the rear seat, the Porsche technician documented: “FOUND TOP HAT FOR FUEL SUPPLY IS CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL.” The dealer replaced Porsche part PAC-919-679, identified on the invoice as “FLANGE WITH FUEL FILTER,” along with associated seals/parts. I learned that the federal safety agency Recall 20V‑077 / Porsche Campaign ALA2 involves certain 2015-2018 Macans and cracking/damage involving the fuel pump/filter flange that can result in fuel leakage, fuel odor, and increased fire risk. Porsche Cars North America states that my vehicle's VIN is not included in ALA2. However, an authorized Porsche dealer documented a cracked and leaking fuel-supply flange/top hat, which appears substantially similar to the failure addressed by ALA2. I asked Porsche to explain the technical or engineering difference between my vehicle's failure and the ALA2 condition. Porsche denied assistance because the vehicle is outside warranty and its VIN is not included in the campaign, but did not provide a technical explanation distinguishing the failures. I am reporting this because an actual fuel leak and gasoline fumes entering the passenger compartment created a serious fire/safety hazard without any dashboard warning. I am concerned substantially similar failures may be occurring in Macans outside the current ALA2 recall population and ask the federal safety agency to evaluate whether Recall 20V‑077 adequately identifies all susceptible vehicles. The Porsche dealer invoice documenting the crack, active fuel leak, diagnosis and repair is available upon request.
The contact owns a 2018 Porsche Macan. The contact stated that while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's wife noticed an unusual odor in the interior and the exterior of the vehicle. In addition, the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed a fuel leak on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The contact stated that the vehicle was a fire hazard and unsafe to drive. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V077000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however the VIN was not included. The contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 44,920.
My fiancé was driving the car normally on the elevated interstate at about 130 in the morning central time on Monday, April 20 when the suddenly burst into flames! The entire vehicle is destroyed bumper-to-bumper the fuel pump on these models are apparently reason for recalls because of this exact reason.my fiancé's life was endangered because of this fire.thank Goodness there was no collision.police inspected and towed the vehicle
Air bag light turns to "off" despite passenger sitting in seat. Took car to dealer (Bill Pearce Motors) who "verified customers concern" and "found fault present for passenger seat mat resistance to high" with a recommendation to replace "seat mat and module." This is at our expense (quote of $3700) and two trips to the dealer, being charged diagnostic fee each time. It is noted that a previous recall exists for this issue, however, it did not cover this vehicle. the federal safety agency ID 21V‑131
I am writing to formally submit a safety complaint regarding my 2018 Porsche Macan. I have experienced a significant issue with the vehicle’s headlights, which I believe poses a serious safety risk. Description of the Issue: The headlights on my 2018 Porsche Macan have failed without any prior warning or indication. There were no dashboard alerts or error messages to notify me of a problem. The failure occurred suddenly while driving at night, resulting in a complete loss of forward illumination. This created a hazardous situation, as I was unable to see the road ahead and other drivers were unable to see my vehicle clearly. Safety Concerns: The headlight failure happened unexpectedly and without any warning. This issue significantly increases the risk of a crash, especially when driving at night or in low-visibility conditions. Upon inspection, I was told the entire headlight assembly would need to be replaced, which is costly and concerning for a relatively new vehicle. Request for Investigation: I am aware that other owners of the 2018 Porsche Macan have reported similar headlight failures. I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this matter, as it appears to be a widespread and potentially dangerous defect. Reliable headlight operation is essential for safe driving, and sudden failure without warning is unacceptable. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please let me know if you require any additional information or documentation.
Engine failure
Compare the 2018 Porsche Macan
Other model years
Questions about the 2018 Porsche Macan
Is the 2018 Porsche Macan reliable?
Owners have filed 36 complaints about the 2018 Porsche Macan, 1.5 times a typical Macan model year.
What is the 2018 Porsche Macan year score?
The 2018 Porsche Macan scores 57 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Porsche Macan: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Porsche Macan?
Airbags, with 10 complaints. Next is fuel system (10).
How many recalls does the 2018 Porsche Macan have?
5 recalls, covering seat belts, air bags and fuel system, gasoline.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Porsche Macan airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 21V131000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Porsche Macan have bad airbags?
The Porsche Macan model years with the most airbags complaints are 2017 (21 complaints), 2016 (10 complaints) and 2018 (10 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Porsche Macan get?
Official estimates for the 2018 Porsche Macan range from 19 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, AWD) gets 20 city and 25 highway.
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