2021 Porsche MACAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2021 Porsche MACAN has 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: my daughter accidentally tried to reverse in auxiliary mode- she had the radio on and did not realize the engine was not on the car went into reverse and she had no brakes or steering to stop the car mercedes - bmw- range roger - tesla - we have checked these cars and it isn’t possible to do this s. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 7 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

3 complaints

21%

• My daughter accidentally tried to reverse in auxiliary mode- she had the radio on and did not realize the engine was not on The car went into reverse and she had no brakes or steering to stop the car Mercedes - BMW- Range Roger - Tesla - we have checked these cars and it isn’t possible to do this s
• I wrote earlier today but now I found out the Porsche Cayenne and Porsche 911 all have safety feature lacking in the new macan - if u try to reverse with the engine off a message will come on that says to turn on the engine and engage the gear. The macan can reverse with no engine on and then you h
• 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 exitin

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“My daughter accidentally tried to reverse in auxiliary mode- she had the radio on and did not realize the engine was not on The car went into reverse and she had no brakes or steering to stop the car Mercedes - BMW- Range Roger - Tesla - we have checked these cars and it isn’t possible to do this s”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

3 complaints

21%

• My daughter accidentally tried to reverse in auxiliary mode- she had the radio on and did not realize the engine was not on The car went into reverse and she had no brakes or steering to stop the car Mercedes - BMW- Range Roger - Tesla - we have checked these cars and it isn’t possible to do this s
• 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 exitin
• 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/t

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

21%

• 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 lat
• 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 exitin
• 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 signific

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 lat”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

2 complaints

14%

• My car got stuck and then it caught fire and now is fully demolished
• 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 de

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“My car got stuck and then it caught fire and now is fully demolished”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

1 complaints

• My daughter accidentally tried to reverse in auxiliary mode- she had the radio on and did not realize the engine was not on The car went into reverse and she had no brakes or steering to stop the car Mercedes - BMW- Range Roger - Tesla - we have checked these cars and it isn’t possible to do this s

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 14 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: My daughter accidentally tried to reverse in auxiliary mode- she had the radio on and did not realize the engine was not on The car went into reverse and she had no brakes or steering to stop the car Mercedes - BMW- Range Roger - Tesla - we have checked these cars and it isn’t possible to do this s
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: My daughter accidentally tried to reverse in auxiliary mode- she had the radio on and did not realize the engine was not on The car went into reverse and she had no brakes or steering to stop the car Mercedes - BMW- Range Roger - Tesla - we have checked these cars and it isn’t possible to do this s
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 lat
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: My car got stuck and then it caught fire and now is fully demolished
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)