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2016 Porsche Macan S
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
29 owner complaints · 5 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Buy-rated alternatives from this era
Other 2014–2018 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict — worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2016 Porsche Macan S.
Why caution?
5 recall campaigns (5 safety-critical). Confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.
Airbags problems dominate (45% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#281 of 473Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 Porsche Macan S ranks #281, scoring higher than 16% of them. See the 2016 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file for this model year, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Porsche Macan S, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (13)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
45%13 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer sa…”
Engine
14%4 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“THE EMERGENCY INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE I WAS OPERATING MY CAR. IT SAYS THE CAR IS TOO HOT. PULL OVER TO COOL DOWN' WHILE DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY. NO PRIOR INDICATION BEFOR…”
Steering
14%4 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“The steering felt loose as if the car can loose control”
Electrical system
7%2 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“TRAVELING ON ROADWAY, WARNING ON DASH "ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE", UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE, RAN OFF ROADWAY, TOTALED CAR. PORSCHE SAYS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM.”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 29 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 1 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (5)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Seat Belts · 23V443000
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Macan S, 2017-2020 Macan, 2017 Panamera Turbo, 2018 and 2020 Macan Turbo and Panamera 4, 2018 Macan Sport Edition, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, and 2019 Panamera 4 Sport Turismo vehicles. The screw that attaches the lower seat belt anchor to the seat frame on the outboard rear seats may not have been tightened properly.
Risk: An improperly tightened seat belt anchor can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace and tighten the lower rear outboard seat belt anchor screws, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2023. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is APA9.
Air Bags · 21V131000
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Macan, Macan Turbo Kits, Macan GTS, 2015-2018 Macan S, and Macan Turbo vehicles. The front passenger seat occupancy sensor mat may degrade and fail to detect a passenger in the front seat.
Risk: The air bag will not deploy during a crash if a front passenger is undetected, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensor mat and seat cushion, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMA2.
Fuel System, Gasoline · 17V289000
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Macan S and Macan Turbo vehicles, and 2017 Macan, Macan Turbo with the Performance Package, and Macan GTS vehicles. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flanges, replacing any that are cracked. Flanges that aren't cracked will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH06.
Air Bags · 17V133000
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Macan S and Macan Turbo and 2017 Macan GTS vehicles. The passenger occupant detection sensor mat may fail in the front passenger seat, deactivating the front passenger air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensor mat and seat cushion, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH02.
Fuel System, Gasoline · 15V717000
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Macan S vehicles manufactured March 27, 2014, to October 27, 2015, and 2015-2016 Macan Turbo vehicles manufactured March 5, 2014, to October 27, 2015. The affected vehicles have a low pressure fuel line in the engine compartment that may leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will install an improved low pressure fuel line, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Porsche mailed an interim notification to owners on November 9, 2015 and will mail a second notice when parts are available. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AF06.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Porsche before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Porsche Macan S. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Porsche MACAN S beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Macan S model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Porsche Macan S against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.