
2020 Porsche TAYCAN
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2020 Porsche TAYCAN has 134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: i was trying to leave a parking spot. i put the car in drive mode & it didn't move. the vehicle showed the message: 'motor control error ' move vehicle to a safe place' and was encircled by a red light. i turned the car off and on several times thinking vehicle would reset itself. but vehicle wo. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
134
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
51 complaints- • I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING SPOT. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE MODE & IT DIDN'T MOVE. THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE MESSAGE: 'MOTOR CONTROL ERROR ' MOVE VEHICLE TO A SAFE PLACE' AND WAS ENCIRCLED BY A RED LIGHT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES THINKING VEHICLE WOULD RESET ITSELF. BUT VEHICLE WO
- • WHILE DRIVING, CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE ABRUPTLY AND STOPPED ITSELF. DASH FLASHED MOTOR CONTROL ERROR IN RED AND THE SYSTEM CONTROL ERROR AND WAS COMPLETE UNRESPONSIVE AND UNDRIVEABLE. CAR WAS TOWED TO PORSCHE AND THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS AFTER 3 DAYS. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE CAR SLAMMED ON THE BREAK
- • ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE CAR HAD CATASTROPHIC FAILURES DUE TO THE 12 V BATTERY DRAINING FOR NO REASON. AND ONE OCCASION THE CAR HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO THE MAIN BATTERY SYSTEM HAVING A FAILURE. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. ALL TIMES THE VEHICLE WITH STA
“I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING SPOT. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE MODE & IT DIDN'T MOVE. THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE MESSAGE: 'MOTOR CONTROL ERROR ' MOVE VEHICLE TO A SAFE PLACE' AND WAS ENCIRCLED BY A RED LIGHT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES THINKING VEHICLE WOULD RESET ITSELF. BUT VEHICLE WO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
22 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 PORSCHE TAYCAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GOSSETT PORSCHE (1875 COVINGTON PI
- • WHILE DRIVING, CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE ABRUPTLY AND STOPPED ITSELF. DASH FLASHED MOTOR CONTROL ERROR IN RED AND THE SYSTEM CONTROL ERROR AND WAS COMPLETE UNRESPONSIVE AND UNDRIVEABLE. CAR WAS TOWED TO PORSCHE AND THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS AFTER 3 DAYS. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE CAR SLAMMED ON THE BREAK
- • ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE CAR HAD CATASTROPHIC FAILURES DUE TO THE 12 V BATTERY DRAINING FOR NO REASON. AND ONE OCCASION THE CAR HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO THE MAIN BATTERY SYSTEM HAVING A FAILURE. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. ALL TIMES THE VEHICLE WITH STA
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 PORSCHE TAYCAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GOSSETT PORSCHE (1875 COVINGTON PI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
15 complaints- • THE CAR SHOWED AN ELECTRICAL ERROR & LOST POWER THEN SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. ONCE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT LOCKED ME INSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND HAD I NOT TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS TO EXIT THE FREEWAY I MAY NOT HAVE SURVIVED. THIS NEE
- • WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT C. 55MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC, THE CAR LOST ALL MOTOR POWER AND STARED TO COAST TO A STANDSTILL. AN ERROR WAS ON THE DISPLAY SAYING 'DRIVE SYSTEM CONTROL FAULT - PARK VEHICLE SAFELY. I MANAGED TO GET TO A SLIP ROAD OFF THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUDDERED TO A HALT FROM AR
- • AS I WAS COASTING TO A STOP AT A STOPLIGHT THE CAR SHUDDERED AND LOST ALL POWER FROM THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND A RED WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD SAID 'DRIVE SYSTEM CONTROL FAULT, PARK VEHICLE SAFELY'. I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF OTHER TAYCAN OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM
“THE CAR SHOWED AN ELECTRICAL ERROR & LOST POWER THEN SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. ONCE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT LOCKED ME INSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND HAD I NOT TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS TO EXIT THE FREEWAY I MAY NOT HAVE SURVIVED. THIS NEE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
14 complaints- • - Parking Assist has failed several times with message "ParkAssist not available. Continued driving possible, Service necessary" - Forward collision warning (aka Warning And Break Assist) has disabled itself several times for no apparent reason with message "WBA Limited, See owners manual". The sen
- • The backup camera is highly distorted and it is difficult to see what is in the distance (more than 10 ft) from the rear of the car. I have had multiple incidents where I almost hit someone who was walking up the street past my driveway entrance. The other problem is when you turn the backup camera
- • In the center of the lane on a straight highway, vehicle will suddenly brake without warning. There are no vehicles ahead. A warning light comes on the dash and says “Driver Control Required,” yet both my hands are on the steering wheel. The feeling is that of a brake check performed by the electr
“- Parking Assist has failed several times with message "ParkAssist not available. Continued driving possible, Service necessary" - Forward collision warning (aka Warning And Break Assist) has disabled itself several times for no apparent reason with message "WBA Limited, See owners manual". The sen”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
9 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT C. 55MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC, THE CAR LOST ALL MOTOR POWER AND STARED TO COAST TO A STANDSTILL. AN ERROR WAS ON THE DISPLAY SAYING 'DRIVE SYSTEM CONTROL FAULT - PARK VEHICLE SAFELY. I MANAGED TO GET TO A SLIP ROAD OFF THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUDDERED TO A HALT FROM AR
- • Car completely shut down in an intersection, lost all power and would not move, error read: Motor control error stop vehicle in a safe place. prior to shutting down the vehicle jerked and slammed on the brakes in a busy intersection.
- • HV battery failure. No warning. Vehicle could not be put in gear or moved. Vehicle has been at Porsche Conshohocken since 12/23/2021. No resolution as of 02/04/2022. Vehicle has been out of service 47 days.
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT C. 55MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC, THE CAR LOST ALL MOTOR POWER AND STARED TO COAST TO A STANDSTILL. AN ERROR WAS ON THE DISPLAY SAYING 'DRIVE SYSTEM CONTROL FAULT - PARK VEHICLE SAFELY. I MANAGED TO GET TO A SLIP ROAD OFF THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUDDERED TO A HALT FROM AR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 134 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING SPOT. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE MODE & IT DIDN'T MOVE. THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE MESSAGE: 'MOTOR CONTROL ERROR ' MOVE VEHICLE TO A SAFE PLACE' AND WAS ENCIRCLED BY A RED LIGHT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES THINKING VEHICLE WOULD RESET ITSELF. BUT VEHICLE WO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 PORSCHE TAYCAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GOSSETT PORSCHE (1875 COVINGTON PI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: THE CAR SHOWED AN ELECTRICAL ERROR & LOST POWER THEN SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. ONCE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT LOCKED ME INSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND HAD I NOT TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS TO EXIT THE FREEWAY I MAY NOT HAVE SURVIVED. THIS NEE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: - Parking Assist has failed several times with message "ParkAssist not available. Continued driving possible, Service necessary" - Forward collision warning (aka Warning And Break Assist) has disabled itself several times for no apparent reason with message "WBA Limited, See owners manual". The sen
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Porsche TAYCAN — Year Comparison
How does 2020 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 134
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2020 Porsche TAYCAN