The seat occupancy sensor fails and deactivates passenger air bag. A previous recall exists for 2015-2018 but the issue continues to occur in 2021 Macan models: [XXX] Requesting the recall include model years 2015-2021 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2021 Porsche Macan problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes4
- Transmission3
- Airbags2
- Body2
- Electrical1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes4
- Transmission3
- Airbags2
- Body2
- Electrical1
- Engine1
- Steering1
Recalls 1
Suspension: rear: shock absorber
- What is wrong
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Porsche Macan, Macan S, Macan GTS, and Macan Turbo vehicles. The screw connection on the shock absorbers of the front and rear axle might not be tightened properly.
- Risk
- A failed screw connection may cause damage to the braking system, driving instability, and the potential loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy has been performed. Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will rework and tighten the screw connections, free of charge. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1‑800‑767‑7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMA8.
Recall number 21V224000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Porsche Macan 535
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
- Advanced Technical Information for VTS Remote Services Fail due to False 3G
- 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 C30 Engine Oils
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils
2021 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 | 19 | 23 | 21 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | AWD | 18 | 24 | 20 |
| 2.9L 6‑cyl | AWD | 17 | 21-22 | 19 |
What 2021 Porsche Macan owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was driving at a low speed, less than 30 mph, and was approaching a curve in the road. I attempted to slow down by pressing the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not decelerate. Instead, it seemed to accelerate. I panicked and repeatedly pressed the brake pedal several more times, but the vehicle remained out of control. The vehicle left the roadway, went down a steep slope, struck bushes and tree branches, and eventually came to a stop. All four airbags deployed, and I observed smoke that appeared to be associated with the airbag deployment. The front ,side,underside and lower portion of the vehicle sustained impact damage. At no time before the accident did I observe any warning lights or messages indicating a problem with the braking system or any other vehicle system. Based on my experience during the incident, I believe the vehicle experienced a brake malfunction, as the brakes did not respond when I attempted to slow or stop the vehicle.
Water intrusion into the rear of the vehicle flooded due to a manufacturers defect. this area houses the battery and other electrical wiring. The water created a potential electrocution and short of much of the wiring, but the rust contaminated the air quality in the vehicle. Evidence of this corrosion shows persistence for more than a couple of years and the car was inspected twice by the dealer over this time, the most recent a year ago. Since then, I have been diagnosed with several respiratory ailment s along with a lymphoma diagnosis. the cost of the repairs is $7500 and I appealed to the dealer who is repairing the car, the dealer where I purchased the car and Porsche USA corp. all passed on helping me pay for the repairs. there was a lawsuit settlement in 2025 for this very same issue where they exended the warranties for two more years. However, I never received notice to participate in the law suit.
Vehicle developed a check engine light and camshaft sensor fault at approximately 48,000 miles. Engine began making abnormal ticking noise and later entered reduced power/limp mode condition. Vehicle was initially evaluated by an authorized Porsche dealership, where damage to the camshaft trigger/tone wheel and internal mechanical concerns within the valvetrain were identified through diagnostic evaluation and bore scope inspection. Supporting documentation from the authorized Porsche dealership, including bore scope video and diagnostic findings, has been retained. A Porsche-focused independent repair facility later identified a fractured rocker arm within the valvetrain assembly as the root cause of the failure. The failed rocker arm caused contact damage to the camshaft and related components. Repair facility advised that further movement of the failed component could have resulted in catastrophic engine failure. Failed component has been retained and documented with photographs. Vehicle required major valvetrain and camshaft repair. Concern involves internal engine component failure at relatively low mileage with potential loss of power and severe engine damage.
The CHIME SPEAKER in the failed with less than vehicle 11,000 miles on the odometer. This extremely low mileage indicates that the failure is due to a manufacturing defect rather than standard wear and tear. I am particularly concerned because this is not merely a convenience issue; it is a significant safety concern. The chime speaker is the primary method of delivering audible alerts for: - Turn Signal Indicators: The lack of an audible "click" prevents confirmation that signals are active, which can lead to driver error or unintentional signaling. - Seatbelt Warnings: Critical reminders for passenger safety are now silenced. - System Fault Alerts: Any immediate mechanical or electrical warnings from the vehicle’s diagnostic systems are currently uncommunicated to the driver. - Lane departure warnings. - Collision alerts - Blind spot alerts - Other advanced driving assist and safety systems. The fault has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealer (Porsche Tysons Corner). The fault is also confirmed by the vehicles onboard diagnostic and warning system. The dealers proposed fix is to replace the entire instrument cluster at a cost of more than $5000 or turn the repair over to an audio shop in hopes that they can replace remove the instrument cluster and replace the chime speaker with a non-OEM part as the OEM lowest replaceable part is the entire instrument cluster. This is safety issue because very few vehicle owners will be will to spend more than $5000 to repair/replace the chime speaker.
On November 12, 2025 the transmission, power train, and/or other components on my Porsche Macan S failed. My Macan was parked (gear selector in "Park") on a level surface, the ignition turned off and the key removed from the ignition when it was tapped from behind by another vehicle that was exiting a residential garage. The Macan proceeded to roll over two hundred feet from the impact, jumped two curbs, crossed a street with active traffic, and finally stopped when it hit a tree. There was extensive damage to my vehicle but fortunately there were no injuries because the Macan was unmanned at the time of impact. If there were pedestrians and/or other vehicles crossing the path of the Macan they would have been hit. There were no warning signs prior to the failure. This incident has been reported to Porsche Cars North America, Inc. ("PCNA"). I requested an inspection of my vehicle at an authorized Porsche repair dealership but was told: "PCNA has determined that our involvement would not be required in this matter therefore, we are unable to investigate it further". PCNA has disavowed any responsibility for the manufacturer's defect that endangers other drivers, pedestrians and me, given the risk of reoccurrence.
There was a recall on the passenger sideair bag sensor for previous years but the issue is still occurring in my 2021 Porsche macan turbo. The error code reports a faulty air bag sensor. The recall should be extended to later year models. Thank you
The sunroof exploded outward as I was driving alone on the road. It was a loud bang and sounded like a gun shot. It scared me and I swerved. Luckily, I did not crash, and the sun visor was closed otherwise, the glass would have fell on me and possibly into my face and eyes - very dangerous! The dealer claimed that a rock probably hit it, but there was no rock that hit my sunroof and the glass blew outward - see attached pics. The sunroof was eventually repaired by the Porsche dealer and paid by my insurance with my deductible. No warning at all. It just blew out! Please check if there is a design flaw with the type of glass used which could affect the structural integrity of the glass with temperature changes and pressure created when opening and closing the doors of the vehicle. The Porsche dealer claimed that they were not accountable, yet I did absolutely nothing to cause this to happen. My insurance has gone up and I lost a lot of time dealing with this.
When I first purchased my car, it reversed while the car was on auto hold while I was on a steep hill with a stoplight. There was no way to stop the car as the break didn’t work somehow it worked when I slammed the gas. The dealership said it was a software issue so they updated it. A few months later it was worse. I tried to put the car in park and slam the brakes but it didn’t work. I don’t remember how I got it to move because there was a car behind me and I was panicking. Both times my 5 years old was in the back seat. I’m addition, when I go up my hill there’s a clicking sound on the back right tire side. I called the dealership for that and they said that was normal.
My car got stuck and then it caught fire and now is fully demolished
Compare the 2021 Porsche Macan
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Questions about the 2021 Porsche Macan
Is the 2021 Porsche Macan reliable?
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2021 Porsche Macan, fewer than a typical Macan model year.
What is the 2021 Porsche Macan year score?
The 2021 Porsche Macan scores 76 out of 100 (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 2021 Porsche Macan?
Brakes, with 4 complaints. Next is transmission (3).
How many recalls does the 2021 Porsche Macan have?
1 recall, covering suspension.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Porsche Macan get?
Official estimates for the 2021 Porsche Macan range from 19 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, AWD) gets 19 city and 23 highway.
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