Atlanta – Oct. 6, 2017 – Porsche Cars North America has recalled more than 50,000 vehicles believed to be equipped with defective fuel pump filter flanges, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2003-2006 Porsche Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Titanium and Cayenne Turbo sport utility vehicles with production dates ranging from Nov. 20, 2002 to Dec. 2, 2006. The German automaker estimates 100 percent of the models referenced in the recall contain the defective features.
The Defect
Affected vehicles are likely to include fuel pump filter flanges prone to age- and oxidation-caused cracking. More specifically, the flange material used in the recalled vehicles has been shown to break down at an accelerated rate, creating tension within the fuel pump – and in some cases causing fuel seepage. This poses a serious safety hazard to operators, as escaped gasoline could come into contact with active engine components and combust. However, Porsche has not received field reports linking the defective features to any accidents or injuries.
Owners with vehicles experiencing filter flange-related fuel seepage have reported noticing the odor of gasoline.
Timeline of Events
In February 2017, the NHTSA sent to Porsche seven vehicle owner queries mentioning filter flange-related fuel leakage, which had been referenced in an earlier recall initiated in October 2016, involving the Volkswagen Group of America. Then, in June, Porsche launched a 90-day field trial at the behest of the NHTSA. The program aimed to determine if the four-bar fuel pumps used in several Porsche and Volkswagen models were the the issue’s root cause.
On Sept. 13, the Porsche Product Safety group reviewed the results of field trial and determined that four-bar fuel pumps and the filter flanges used in them were problematic. The committee called for an immediate voluntary safety recall.
The Solution
Porsche plans to direct dealers to replace the fuel flange filters in the recalled vehicles free of charge. The replacement parts are said to come equipped with protective films to block out external forces that cause surface degradation, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgment document. The car company has yet to release a notification schedule. That said, owners in need of immediate assistance can contact Porsche customer service at (800) 767-7243. Callers should use the internal recall identification code AH10. Owners can also connect with the NHTSA directly via its Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
