Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Porsche Macan S problems

Owners filed 29 complaints about the 2016 Porsche Macan S with NHTSA between Aug 2017 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (13).

Complaints
29
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags13
  2. Engine4
  3. Steering4
  4. Electrical system2
  5. Forward collision avoidance2
  6. Vehicle speed control2
  7. Seat belts2
  8. Service brakes2
  9. Visibility/wiper2
  10. Suspension1
  11. Seats1
  12. Exterior lighting1
  13. Structure1
  14. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20171
20182
20191
20205
20215
20224
20232
20243
20256

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

13 reports2 related recalls
“Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer said it needs replacing. This is a VERY COMMON issue and Porsche is not recalling to fix. Please investigate and make Porsche correct this serious issue. Thank You”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2025Air bagsODI 11659916

Engine

4 reports
“Y shaped plastic Coolant line cracks and leaks do to manufactures poor choice of materials! Resulting in engine overheating, and sever loss of coolant! Spraying entire engine compartment under hood white dried up coolant over spay spots with empty coolant reservoir and no heat. You would think that line would be made from an aluminum as it beads to with stand high heat temperatures from being against and engine.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 9, 2025EngineODI 11698440

Steering

4 reports1 crash
“Vehicle speeds up and breaks uncontrollably. When stopped it displays several codes on the dashboard 1) power steering fail, increased effort, driving permitted, 2) GRA/ACC fault driving permitted 3) faulty windshield wipers No fault codes are found with a code reader.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2024Steering, Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11620491

Electrical system

2 reports1 crash
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Porsche Macan S with approximately 130,000 miles on the odometer. The contact later obtained a Carfax report on the vehicle and discovered that the last odometer reading was at 190,000. The vehicle was a private dealer sale. The seller was contacted regarding the discrepancy. No further information was available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2025Electrical systemODI 11693578

Forward collision avoidance

2 reports
“The steering felt loose as if the car can loose control”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2025Steering, Suspension, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11673849

Vehicle speed control

2 reports
“THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR MAT HAS FAILED AT 48K MILES. TAKEN TO DEALER THEY SAID IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER MACANS OF THIS YEAR, BUT THIS VIN IS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL. RECALL # 17V133.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2020Seat belts, Vehicle speed controlODI 11364300
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.