The Porsche Macan Electric Is Being Recalled Because Its Headlights Are Too Bright

Porsche is recalling certain Macan Electric models in the United States. The issue lies with the headlamps, which may be too bright. A visit to a Porsche service center will be necessary to fix the problem.

The electric Porsche Macan has been on sale in the United States for two months, and now there’s already a recall with its name on it. Thankfully, there’s no need for spare parts and it’s not the kind of recall that deals with flapping body panels.

However, despite this being a software-related problem, owners will still need to go to a Porsche service center to get it sorted out. That’s because the headlights are too bright and the headlight control unit software will need to be reprogrammed to comply with federal regulation. And that can't be done via an over-the-air update.

As per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the upper beams on certain Macan Electric models aren’t calibrated properly and may shine too bright, which could reduce visibility for incoming drivers and thus increase the risk of a crash. Due to a software data set error, the affected vehicles were programmed from the factory after the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) specs, whereas U.S.-spec vehicles need to conform to the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS).

In total, 2,941 Porsche Macan Electric built between March 15, 2024, and November 4, 2024, are affected by the recall. Cars assembled after November 18 were shipped with the correct headlight software that complies with FMVSS No. 108.

The fix for the affected EVs is free of charge. Porsche will notify dealers on December 11, while owners will be notified on January 24, 2025. 

The Porsche Macan Electric is sold alongside the gas-powered model in the United States. In Europe, however, the combustion-powered version has been retired due to new cybersecurity regulations and not because of tightening emissions regulations.

Stateside, the most affordable Macan Electric starts at $75,300, but in traditional Porsche fashion, one could double the price tag relatively easily by going down the (very) long options list.