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What 26 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Porsche Macan Turbo

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (26)Airbags (12)Engine (4)Steering (3)Brakes (2)Driver assistance (2)Seats (2)Speed control (2)Visibility & wipers (2)Body & structure (1)Lights (1)

2 of 26 complaints match · Seats · clear filters

Feb 18, 2022AirbagsSeats

I need to replace or dismiss this so i can list my car on turo.

NHTSA ODI 11452771

May 16, 2018AirbagsSeats

WHEN AN ADULT SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ON TOP OF A NORMAL BED PILLOW NEEDED BECAUSE OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS, THE AIRBAG PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR THAT SEAT OCCUPANT TURNS OFF. I NOW HAVE TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT SINCE I AM UNPROTECTED AS A RESULT OF FRONT AIRBAG DEACTIVATION DUE TO PILLOW USE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I AM A 65 YEARS OLD MAN, WEIGH 200 POUNDS AND AM 6 FEET TALL. I HAVE OWNED AT LEAST 7 PORSCHES OVER MY LIFETIME AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS IS A PROBLEM. BY THE WAY, IT IS NOT A PROBLEM IN THE LATEST 911. THE BACK SEATS ARE OBVIOUSLY LESS COMFORTABLE. WE SPENT EXTRA MONEY TO BUY THE MOST COMFORTABLE FRONT SEATS AVAILABLE FROM PORSCHE BUT NOW REALIZE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS USELESS AND UNSAFE FOR ANY ADULT NEEDING A PILLOW FOR SITTING. WE WILL NOT BUY A MACAN AGAIN. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER MECHANICS (VIA ACTUAL DEMONSTRATION) WHO WERE, FRANKLY, FLABBERGASTED AT THIS FINDING OF WHICH THEY AND THE SALES AND SERVICE PEOPLE WERE ALLEGEDLY UNAWARE. THEY COULD OFFER NO WORKAROUND. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT KIND OF ROAD IS BEING DRIVEN ON OR WHAT BRAKING MIGHT BE HAPPENING OR NOT. I BELIEVE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SEAT SENSORS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ARE NOT DESIGNED SAFELY TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF A CUSHION OR PILLOW BY AN ADULT AND STILL HAVE AIRBAG PROTECTION TURNED ON. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONFIGURATION AND COULD HARM THE UNINFORMED OR UNAWARE. PORSCHE OWNERS DO TEND TO BE OLDER AND MIGHT HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES REQUIRING SUCH THINGS AS A PILLOW FOR SITTING MORE COMFORTABLY. I FIRST NOTICED/UNDERSTOOD THIS PROBLEM APRIL, 2018, AND HAD THE DEALER BRING AROUND NEW 2018 MACAN TO TEST FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT ALSO HAD THE SAME RESPONSE OF TURNING OFF THE AIRBAG WHEN A PILLOW WAS USED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11094143

Working with the data? Download all 26 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Porsche Macan Turbo verdict →