Taycan Braking System

[vinay Loi]

I bought my Turbo Sport Turismo in December 2023.

During the first year of ownership, I experienced several minor problems, including DAB buffering and difficulties connecting mobile phones. These issues were inconvenient, but manageable. However, matters deteriorated significantly following the brake hose recall work carried out by Porsche Centre High Wycombe.

Shortly after the recall, I encountered a serious incident. While approaching a T-junction behind another vehicle, I attempted to apply the brakes as normal. Despite having plenty of time and applying firm pressure to the pedal, the car continued to roll forward slowly and collided with the vehicle in front. I reported this immediately to Porsche, but I was advised the incident was likely my fault. At the time, I accepted this explanation and continued using the car.

A few weeks later, I experienced a second, far more concerning brake issue. Approaching a roundabout at approximately 30 mph, the brake pedal felt unusually stiff and the vehicle failed to decelerate properly. I had to press down with significant force—virtually my full body weight—to bring the vehicle to a stop, which only happened gradually and within the roundabout itself. I was extremely fortunate that the road was quiet and that no vehicles were directly in front of me.

Following this, the AA collected the vehicle. Their assessment identified a fault within the ABS system, although they could not determine the exact cause. Around the same period, another electrical fault occurred: the entertainment system suddenly activated at full volume and became unresponsive, forcing me to pull over and restart the vehicle to regain control.

After nearly a month in Porsche’s workshop, I was informed that no faults were found and that the vehicle was “safe to drive.” However, since collecting the car, I continue to experience irregular brake pedal feel and inconsistent braking performance. As a result, I have been driving extremely cautiously and keeping significant distance from other road users because I do not feel confident the brakes will behave reliably.

Most recently, the vehicle’s heating system has also stopped working entirely, adding to my concerns about the overall reliability and safety of the vehicle.

At this stage, I am extremely disappointed and deeply concerned. The issues I have experienced—particularly the intermittent loss of braking force—are not acceptable on any vehicle, let alone one of this value. I no longer have confidence that the vehicle is safe.

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[Lazy]

Why did you make this thread?

Who is it meant for?

This is quite the narrative for a first post

Do you want Porsche NA to see this?

Regardless, get your payback and get rid of that lemon

 

[Tooney]

Older thread: Complete brake failure !!

 

[ferdiaz]

Why did you make this thread?

Who is it meant for?

This is quite the narrative for a first post

Do you want Porsche NA to see this?

Regardless, get your payback and get rid of that lemon

OP is English. No Lemon Law and no Porsche NA there.

 

[Lazy]

OP is English. No Lemon Law and no Porsche NA there.

Thank you for the correction, I didn't see the flag or location

So in the UK if your car has factory issues what is the next step?

 

[SergeyIndy]

Brake system recall was not done properly. I am not sure how you can prove that but part of the procedure is recalibration with most reporting mich greater brake performance with some no difference, but none reported worse.

The heater is a known component that has repeatedly had been failing at scale.

 

[W1NGE]

Thank you for the correction, I didn't see the flag or location

So in the UK if your car has factory issues what is the next step?

Warranty, same as anywhere else.

 

[iansneade]

I bought my Turbo Sport Turismo in December 2023.

During the first year of ownership, I experienced several minor problems, including DAB buffering and difficulties connecting mobile phones. These issues were inconvenient, but manageable. However, matters deteriorated significantly following the brake hose recall work carried out by Porsche Centre High Wycombe.

Shortly after the recall, I encountered a serious incident. While approaching a T-junction behind another vehicle, I attempted to apply the brakes as normal. Despite having plenty of time and applying firm pressure to the pedal, the car continued to roll forward slowly and collided with the vehicle in front. I reported this immediately to Porsche, but I was advised the incident was likely my fault. At the time, I accepted this explanation and continued using the car.

A few weeks later, I experienced a second, far more concerning brake issue. Approaching a roundabout at approximately 30 mph, the brake pedal felt unusually stiff and the vehicle failed to decelerate properly. I had to press down with significant force—virtually my full body weight—to bring the vehicle to a stop, which only happened gradually and within the roundabout itself. I was extremely fortunate that the road was quiet and that no vehicles were directly in front of me.

Following this, the AA collected the vehicle. Their assessment identified a fault within the ABS system, although they could not determine the exact cause. Around the same period, another electrical fault occurred: the entertainment system suddenly activated at full volume and became unresponsive, forcing me to pull over and restart the vehicle to regain control.

After nearly a month in Porsche’s workshop, I was informed that no faults were found and that the vehicle was “safe to drive.” However, since collecting the car, I continue to experience irregular brake pedal feel and inconsistent braking performance. As a result, I have been driving extremely cautiously and keeping significant distance from other road users because I do not feel confident the brakes will behave reliably.

Most recently, the vehicle’s heating system has also stopped working entirely, adding to my concerns about the overall reliability and safety of the vehicle.

At this stage, I am extremely disappointed and deeply concerned. The issues I have experienced—particularly the intermittent loss of braking force—are not acceptable on any vehicle, let alone one of this value. I no longer have confidence that the vehicle is safe.

Hi Vinay
I have almost identical problems with my Sept 23 Taycan after the brake recall. Car has been at Porsche Chester for nearly 5 weeks - they now say the brakes are fine ! I am refusing to take the car back on several grounds including the fact that the friction brakes do not have any backup duality - which is a legal requirement, so even just an abs fault is sufficient for brake failure - how are you getting on with Porsche ??

Ian

 

[ovonrein]

What is "backup duality"?

 

[ovonrein]

I was advised the incident was likely my fault. At the time, I accepted this explanation

Just wow. Take your car (and story) to another service center. Assuming that they will identify that the original center did not carry out the recall correctly, report the incident to Porsche. They will want to know when service centers aren't up to snuff.

 

[iansneade]

Just wow. Take your car (and story) to another service center. Assuming that they will identify that the original center did not carry out the recall correctly, report the incident to Porsche. They will want to know when service centers aren't up to snuff.

Just to expand ; in the UK it has long been a requirement for vehicles to have dual braking systems - dual brake lines, master cylinder etc, so that in the event of a component failure or fault then reasonable braking effectiveness is still available. In the case of the brake failure of my taycan, an ABS fault was enough to give almost total brake failure ( As apparently with other taycans as well ) It is only my opinion & I am sure greater minds than mine can pronounce on this, but this failure does not seem to meet the spirit or the letter of the Regulations

 

[ovonrein]

Thank you. I am no mechanic but I do enjoy the occasional video from Matt Armstrong and I am not aware of him ever filling two brake fluid containers on any car. So I am doubtful of that duality thing. If such a thing existed, I might expect a single circuit for the rear axle and a second for the front - that would be enough redundancy. But you are correct that a faulty ABS will defeat all such mechanical precautions.

I cannot think where to override the ABS in the comfort of my armchair, never mind in the second I realized it was failing on me. It is an interesting point that this single point of failure has never come to my attention in the 40 years or so that ABS existed. I had thought that such a failure would have been more common in its early years.

What are we left with? Can we switch the gearbox into P (to lock up the rear wheels)?

EDIT: May be your "duality" aspect is addressed differently in traditional cars. In traditional cars, there was a brake wire from the handbrake to the rear wheels that could always be used in the event of brake fluid loss. Most cars these days come with electric handbrakes but I think you can still activate those "mid flight" - you will have a rough landing, but still. I believe you get the same effect when you push the P button in the Taycan.

EDIT: Confirmed in manual

 

[Bennachie]

Twin circuit hydraulics to the physical brakes. Electronic handbrake. Three phase redundancy.

 

[ovonrein]

Two brake fluid reservoirs? So you must vent two circuits when replacing brake fluid?

 

[Bennachie]

One reservoir, two circuits; tandem master cylinder and an axle split front/rear.

Some twin circuit systems are split diagonally, FR,RL/FL,RR including others in VW Group.

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