Porsche Taycan Class Action Lawsuit: EV Battery Defect Alleged

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Porsche Taycan EVs have a battery defect that causes power loss and poses fire risks, impacting vehicle performance and safety.

Consumers Affected: Owners of Porsche Taycan EVs manufactured from 2020 to 2024.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division

Owners of Porsche Taycan electric vehicles (EVs) have filed a class action lawsuit alleging a defect in the 800-volt lithium-ion batteries used in 2020-2024 models. The claims state that the batteries may lose power, short circuit, and even pose fire risks, leaving owners with safety and performance concerns.

The lawsuit involves all Taycan models produced from 2020 to 2024, including the Taycan Turbo, Taycan 4S, Taycan GTS, and Taycan Cross Turismo.

Porsche Taycan EV Batteries Defective, Lawsuit Claims

Plaintiff Miodrag Kukrika, a resident of Pennsylvania, purchased a 2020 Taycan 4S for $120,000. He claims that limitations caused by the defect have impacted the vehicle’s performance and safety. The lawsuit alleges that the defect leaves owners with vehicles that do not meet the expectations set by Porsche’s advertising.

According to the lawsuit, Porsche has known about the alleged defect since 2020, following an incident in which a Taycan parked in a Florida garage caught fire. Subsequent reports have detailed other incidents involving battery malfunctions, leading to partial recalls.

The filing accuses Porsche of failing to resolve the underlying defect, instead instructing owners to limit charging capacity to 80%. This limitation, according to plaintiffs, reduces the driving range and forces more frequent charging, inconveniencing owners who purchased vehicles advertised with higher capabilities.

“Rather than identifying a repair or replacement of all the defective batteries, the recalls instruct Taycan owners to limit charging to 80% capacity,” the lawsuit states. Owners reportedly feel that the fixes offered to date do not adequately address the defect's root cause.

Battery Defect Poses Safety and Performance Risks, Lawsuit Alleges

Drivers have reported instances where their vehicles lost power unexpectedly, creating hazards during operation. Additionally, the filing highlights the risk of fires due to battery malfunctions, posing potential dangers to property and individuals.

To address these concerns, Porsche has proposed a software update designed to monitor battery performance and alert drivers to potential issues. However, the update is not expected to be available until 2025, leaving many Taycan owners without an immediate remedy.

“Porsche has left its customers with two terrible choices: an owner can decide to stop driving their Taycan for which they paid over $100,000, or they can continue driving the Taycan at the risk of losing power while driving on a highway or, even worse, experiencing a fire,” the complaint asserts.

Porsche Faces Other Legal Challenges

The Taycan battery defect is not the only legal issue Porsche has faced recently.

In 2019, Porsche paid $600 million in fines linked to the diesel emissions controversy involving parent company Volkswagen.

Separately, the company recently settled class action claims related to defective sunroof drainage systems in models from 2014 to 2023. Plaintiffs alleged that the flaw led to water damage and costly repairs, which Porsche reportedly failed to address adequately.

In the Porsche Taycan EV battery defect class action lawsuit, Kukrika is seeking damages, compensation for diminished vehicle value, and remedies to eliminate the defect, on behalf of a nationwide class of consumers who bought or leased the affected Taycan models.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Kukrika v. Porsche Cars N.A., Inc.
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-05492
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Rosemary M. Rivas, David Stein, and Rosanne L. Mah (Gibbs Law Group LLP)
• Michael A. Caplan, T. Brandon Waddell, and Ashley C. Brown (Caplan Cobb LLC)

Do you own a Porsche Taycan EV? Share your experience with the battery performance in the comments below.