2021 Porsche Taycan Engine Control Module Software Recall (21V486)
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. · 10,373 vehicles · Reported June 29, 2021
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. is recalling 10,373 2021 Porsche Taycan vehicles. The monitoring software can incorrectly detect a fault and shutdown the power train, causing a loss of motive power. A loss of motive power increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V486 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V486000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | AMB5 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 29, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Porsche Cars North America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Porsche Taycan |
| Units affected | 10,373 |
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling > Engine > Engine Control Module (Ecu / Ecm) > Software |
| Safety risk | A loss of motive power increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Porsche Taycan in recall 21V486?
The monitoring software can incorrectly detect a fault and shutdown the power train, causing a loss of motive power.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Taycan Turbo, Taycan Turbo S, Taycan 4S, 2021 Taycan, Taycan Cross Turismo, Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo, Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, and Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo vehicles. The monitoring software can incorrectly detect a fault and shutdown the power train, causing a loss of motive power.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Taycan with recall 21V486?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loss of motive power increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loss of motive power increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the software.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V486?
Recall 21V486 covers 10,373 vehicles: 2021 Porsche Taycan.
NHTSA lists 10,373 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Porsche | Taycan |
What is the fix for the Taycan engine control module software recall?
Yes. Dealers will reprogram the power electronics and the engine control unit, free of charge.
Dealers will reprogram the power electronics and the engine control unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB5.
When was recall 21V486 announced?
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. reported recall 21V486 to NHTSA on June 29, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 30, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 29, 2021 | Porsche Cars North America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V486000. |
| July 30, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 64 months ago. If your Taycan was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Taycan is part of recall 21V486?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V486 is open on your Taycan, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V486000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Taycan owners do about recall 21V486?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V486000 applies to your Taycan.
- Call a Porsche dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any software symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Taycan owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 17 of them about the engine.
Since recall 21V486 was reported on June 29, 2021, owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 2 of them (14%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the engine and were received on or after June 29, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related engine issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 71 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 17 of them involve the engine. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Porsche Taycan: 71 complaints in total, 17 about the engine
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
I received a recall notice that my vehicle was affected for a battery cell that needed to be replaced and scheduled a date with Porsche and when I finally took the car in they said it’s not a active recall which seemed odd…
2021 Porsche Taycan owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11640258, filed February 3, 2025
About a month ago while driving at low speed (about 25mph), the car started to shake and the following error was displayed – Engine Control Error – Park Vehicle in a Safe Place. I pulled over, shut the car down, waited 30 seconds and restarted it. The same incident happened a week later.
2021 Porsche Taycan owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11696887, filed October 31, 2025
I was stopped at an intersection waiting for traffic. There was a small opening in traffic, and I accelerated rapidly from a stop while making a left turn to enter traffic when the "engine/motor" suddenly completely died, and the car quickly came to a stop. The dash displayed a message: "Engine Control Error.
2021 Porsche Taycan owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11703259, filed December 5, 2025
Can recall 21V486 make my Taycan a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Engine defects can mean stalling, loss of power, oil consumption or overheating. When the same engine complaint brings the 2021 Porsche Taycan back to the dealer more than once, that history matters under California's lemon law.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case 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.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
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.
Has your Taycan been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Porsche Taycan recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V486
Did the recall 21V486 fix work?
Since recall 21V486 was reported on June 29, 2021, owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 2 of them (14%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed July 30, 2021.
Is the 21V486000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Taycan is part of recall 21V486000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
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 recall record 21V486000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Porsche. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.