Porsche announced in June 2022 that they recalled over 12,000 vehicles. Specifically, the recall affects Porshe Taycans sold between October 21, 2019, and April 25, 2022. Amid a recall on your vehicle, it is essential to know your rights and whether you need a lemon law lawyer in Los Angeles.
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Why are the Porches Being Recalled?
The interior design of the Porsche Taycans includes a large center touchscreen, which controls a significant amount of the vehicle’s functions. Most notably, the backup camera image is displayed on the screen when the car is in reverse.
Beginning in early 2020, consumers noticed that the touchscreen was having issues; it would turn black without notice or sometimes would not turn on when the driver started the car. Others noticed that the screen would flicker on and off when the car was running.
Which Vehicles Have Been Recalled?
Taycans with the following part numbers are being recalled for a software issue:
- SW33XX
- 35XX
- 36XX
Starting August 5, 2022, Porsche will notify vehicle owners who need the software update. In the meantime, Porsche owners can enter their 17-digit VIN on Porshe’s website to determine whether their model is affected and needs to be serviced.
If the vehicle has been recalled, Porsche has made it clear that their certified dealers will fix the software defect by updating the system that controls the central computer. Porsche will do the repairs at no cost to the consumer.
Why is this a Problem?
Even with the malfunction, the car will still run without any issues. However, drivers will not be able to use the backup camera when reversing.
Theoretically, the driver can simply turn their head to see if anything is behind them, so the defect does not make the car undrivable. Porsche has even stated that no accidents or injuries have occurred because of the defect. However, if a driver has limited visibility while the vehicle is in reverse, there is an increased likelihood of a crash.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a vehicle with a camera-based rear visibility system must be “equipped with rearview mirrors to provide drivers with a view of objects that are to their side or to their side and rear.”
However, without the camera in functioning condition, the NHTSA has confirmed in a report that the Taycan may not be in compliance with this requirement, which means that this type of defect is against the law.
The Taycan’s History of Unreliability
This is not the first time that Porsche has been forced to place a recall on their Taycan. In 2021, the 2020-2021 Taycans were recalled for two separate issues.
Malfunctioning Airbag Deployment
First, Porsche recalled the Taycan due to airbags failing to deploy. The Taycan is designed so that the wiring which powers the airbags is underneath the driver and passenger seats.
Over time, it became evident that when the seats got moved back and forth, the wiring to the airbags would sometimes get disrupted. The damage to the wiring would mean that the airbags would not deploy if the car were ever in an accident.
Hazard Light Issue
Again, late last year, Porsche recalled the same Taycan model years due to malfunctioning hazard lights. For reasons that Porsche could not understand, the software in the Taycan would cause the hazard lights to come on without warning and in situations where there was no emergency.
Lemon Law and Recalls: When to Call a Lemon Law Lawyer in Los Angeles
In most cases, if your call is recalled, you can take it to your dealer and have it fixed free of charge. Therefore, California lemon laws do not apply, and you will not require a lemon law lawyer in Los Angeles.
However, if you are the owner of a Taycan, which has had a multitude of recalls, or if the dealer has failed on multiple attempts to repair the malfunction, you may have a valid lemon law claim.
If you find yourself at the dealership with your Taycan and struggling to understand the intricacies of California lemon laws, reach out to a lemon law lawyer in Los Angeles today.