NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation: Loss of Motive Power in 2021 Porsche Taycan (PE21-013)
Opened May 17, 2021 · Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation (PE21-013) on May 17, 2021 into loss of motive power in 2021 Porsche Taycan. The investigation is closed on December 23, 2021 and led to recall 21V486000.
PE21-013 at a glance
| NHTSA action number | PE21-013 |
|---|---|
| Type | Preliminary Evaluation |
| Opened | May 17, 2021 |
| Status | Closed December 23, 2021 |
| Vehicles | 2021 Porsche Taycan |
| Component | Electrical System |
| Manufacturer | Porsche Cars North America, Inc. |
| Resulting recall | 21V486000 |
What is NHTSA investigating in the Porsche Taycan?
From NHTSA’s investigation summary:
In May 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) of complaints received alleging a loss of motive power while in motion at any speed with no prior warning to the driver in the 2020-2021 model year (MY) Porsche Taycan electric vehicles.
ODI had received 9 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and several field reports.
All complaints alleged that a loss of motive power occurred without warning and error messages about a battery fault displayed during or after the vehicle stalled.In the subject vehicles, a pulse-controlled inverter is mounted on each of the two drive modules on the front and rear axles.
The software designed to continuously monitor end-to-end communication between the safety-related electronic control units (ECUs) in the vehicle can, in certain instances, incorrectly and sporadically detect a potentially faulty communication, set an error memory entry, and trigger a shutdown of the power train, resulting in loss of motive power.
If this occurs, the affected vehicles display the warning message ?Motor control error.
Stop vehicle in a safe place in the instrument cluster.Porsche has corrected the software malfunction in production.
Further, Porsche is conducting a safety recall (21V-486) to upgrade the software on vehicles already in the field.
In view of the recall action, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed.
The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at nhtsa.gov under the following identification numbers: 11435775, 11433960, 11431568, 11429897, 11427688, 11426921, 11426902, 11424618, 11424613, 11424296, 11424175, 11424015, 11423458, 11423311, 11422549, 11422463, 11421593, 11421575, 11421494, 11421347, 11420845, 11420788, 11420734, 11420572, 11419756, 11419735, 11419730, 11419721, 11419422, 11418975, 11418935, 11418793, 11418705, 11418692, 11418593, 11418476, 11418405, 11418381, 11418245, 11418237, 11418153, 11418142, 11418132, 11418106, 11415110, 11414731, 11414486, 11404336, 11386164, 11383427, 11377898, 11377875, 11364083
What is a preliminary evaluation?
Preliminary Evaluation is the first stage of a federal defect investigation. NHTSA reviews complaints, crash reports and manufacturer data to decide whether a safety defect may exist. It can close with no action, be upgraded to an engineering analysis, or end with a recall.
Did this investigation lead to a recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists recall 21V486000 as the result of this investigation: 2021 Porsche Taycan Engine Control Module Software Recall (21V486).
Which vehicles are part of this investigation?
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Porsche | Taycan |
What are Porsche Taycan owners reporting to NHTSA?
NHTSA’s public database lists 71 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this investigation (all components). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
What should owners do?
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for any open recall on your vehicle.
- If you have the problem NHTSA is investigating, take the vehicle to a dealer now and get a repair order, even if the dealer cannot find anything.
- Keep a log of every time the problem happens: date, mileage and what happened. Photos and videos help.
- File your own complaint at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. Owner complaints are what start and expand investigations.
- If the problem keeps coming back, talk to a lemon law attorney.
Recalls on the same vehicles
- 2021-2025 Porsche Cayenne Backup Camera Recall (25V896)
- 2026 Porsche Panamera Macpherson Strut Recall (25V415)
- 2022-2023 Porsche Taycan Passenger Air Bag Recall (25V221)
- 2021-2023 Porsche Taycan High-Voltage Battery Recall (24V731)
- 2021-2024 Porsche Taycan High-Voltage Battery Recall (24V732)
- 2025 Porsche Taycan Backup Camera Recall (24V730)
- 2024 Porsche Taycan Lighting Control Module Software Recall (24V654)
- 2021-2025 Porsche Taycan Foundation Components Line Recall (24V455)
- 2021-2023 Porsche Taycan High-Voltage Battery Recall (24V215)
- 2021-2024 Porsche Taycan High-Voltage Battery Recall (24V217)
Can a recall or defect investigation make my car a lemon in California?
Not by itself. What matters is whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps your vehicle at the dealer, and a federal investigation or recall is strong evidence that the problem is real.
Under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a manufacturer that cannot fix a warranty defect that substantially impairs a vehicle’s use, value or safety within a reasonable number of attempts may have to repurchase or replace it (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)). Within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the law presumes a reasonable number of attempts after two repairs of a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four repairs of the same defect, or more than 30 days out of service (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)).
An owner who prevails can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA investigation, recall and complaint data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
State Bar of California license record · Avvo · Martindale-Hubbell · Lawyers.com · LinkedIn · Our attorneys
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page reports public NHTSA data and is general information, not legal advice. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.