2017 Porsche MACAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
61 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
14,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 61 complaints (34.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 14.8% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 11.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
Air Bags: 21; Service Brakes: 10; Engine: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Steering: 6; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 47 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 12; 2022: 9; 2023: 12; 2024: 8; 2025: 4; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10980047 · 2017-04-24 (April 24, 2017)
I HAVE A 2017 BASE. THE DISTANCE THE BRAKE PEDDLE TRAVELS BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE SEEMS VERY LONG. ABOUT 1/2 WAY DOWN. THE BRAKES THEN WORK FINE. IF I PUMP THE BRAKE ONCE THE PEDDLE SEEM TO RISE TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL AND THE BRAKES SEEM STRONGER. I TOOK IT TO PORSCHE AND THEY SAID THE BRAKES ARE FINE. THE ONLY TIME I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED THIS BEFORE IN OTHER CARS IS WITH AIR IN LINE OR BAD MASTER. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM ? IT TAKES EXTRA TIME FOR THE BRAKES TO ACTIVATE WHICH CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992795 · 2017-06-02 (June 2, 2017)
BRAKES ARE VERY SPONGY AND NEEDS TO BE PUMPED TO GET IMPROVED BRAKING. VERY RISKY IN SLOW SPEED DUE TO NO TIME/SPACE TO PUMP THE BRAKE. SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER ON 5/15/17 TO CHECK. DEALER REPORT THAT THE BRAKES ARE NORMAL! I UNDERSTAND THAT ARE MANY COMPLAINTS BY THE MACAN OWNERS IN THE MACAN FORUM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11131005 · 2018-09-24 (September 24, 2018)
WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LANE, AT A SHOPPING CENTER WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, READY TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY FELT AS IF IT LOCKED DOWN BRAKES FAILED AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED OUT OF MY CONTROL HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED ACROSS A DIVIDER. I HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING OR BRAKES .. THE CAR FLASHED A POWER STEERING FAILURE.. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, AND MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED OVER $8,000 IN DAMAGES. I HAD ASKED FOR DATA REPORT THAT PORSCHE EXTRACTED FROM MY CAR WITH NO RESPONSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11432283 · 2021-09-09 (September 9, 2021)
The power to the steering has failed causing the vehicle to be hard to steer, which includes an intermittent manual to power feel in the steering so that pulling hard on steering (during loss of power to steering) causes vehicle to veer in direction of steer. While pulling hard, the steering will suddenly feel "powered" but then immediately return to feeling manual. This puts anyone at risk in the vehicle, as it is dangerous to make turns. Appointment for diagnosis at dealer has not been scheduled yet. No other inspections have taken place. No …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11432283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11407094 · 2021-04-08 (April 8, 2021)
I WENT ON A TEST DRIVE ON THIS CAR AND THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE ENGINE. I NOTICED AFTER THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION THAT CAN CAUSE FIRE. I'VE CONTACTED PORSCHE ABOUT 15 TIMES AND THEY WONT RETURN MY CALL AT ALL. I ALSO STARED A CASE WITH THEM AND THEY WONT ANSWER BACK. THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY BURNT. NEED ASSISTANCE.
Owner-reported narrative. 47,220 miles reported. Look up ODI 11407094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11527844 · 2023-06-20 (June 20, 2023)
Fuel injector connection at fuel rail is spraying fuel onto the engine, fire hazard.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11527844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11521025 · 2023-05-08 (May 8, 2023)
The 2017 Porsche Macan S is unsafe to drive on the road as the vehicle goes into jerking mode while driving without any warning, the safety light came on as transmission fault. I took the vehicle to River Oaks Porsche, and they diagnosed the issue as transmission problem common with the Macan brand and the Cayenne brand, I then informed the manufacturer, and I was informed that since the vehicle had not been recalled there was nothing they could do with the defect. Since the dealership acknowledged that the issue was common with these brands, I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11521025 at NHTSA ↗