Porsche recalls diesel Cayennes for software fix

PORSCHE Cars Australia (PCA) has issued a recall for roughly 2100 examples of its Cayenne large SUV with the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine after the manufacturer’s German division discovered “irregularities” in the software of the engine control unit (ECU).

The recall also affects approximately 165 Cayennes pending delivery to Australian customers, meaning their arrival will be delayed.

PCA’s recall is part of a wider recall that also affects around 21,500 Cayennes in Europe, including 6000 in its native Germany.

Concerning vehicles built between August 22, 2014 and July 27 of this year, the software fix will begin for European cars in the third quarter this year, with the Australian recall to follow “as soon as possible thereafter”.

Firstly Porsche will need to gain approval for the software update from KBA, Germany’s federal motor transport authority – the body to which it first submitted reports of software irregularities, and also the body that first ordered the recalls of parent company Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre turbo-diesel-powered cars.

PCA has also said it will work with the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development and other relevant parties on the matter.

The recall draws attention back to Volkswagen’s ongoing dieselgate scandal, while Porsche was quick to point out in its global press release that it does not develop or manufacture diesel engines itself.

It still stressed that “as a vehicle manufacturer, Porsche accepts full responsibility towards its customers. It is of great importance to Porsche that customer expectations regarding quality, integrity and service are met to the fullest extent.” PCA has said that the affected vehicles still remain safe to drive and can continue to be driven as normal, and that it will contact owners of the vehicles when the time comes to implement the free software update, which takes around an hour.

Exact timing for the Australian fix will be made clear as it becomes available.

To date Volkswagen Australia has recalled around 80,000 diesel-powered vehicles, including the Golf, Jetta, and Tiguan, as well as Skoda’s Superb, Octavia and Yeti and Audi’s A3, all of which are fitted with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit.