Almost 100,000 Porsche owners in Louisiana and around the country will soon be receiving recall notices in the mail. The German carmaker recently announced that 99,665 Cayenne SUVs produced between 2003 and 2010 and Panamera sedans built between 2010 and 2016 have transmission bushings that will likely need to be replaced. The recall is scheduled to begin on Aug. 11 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The transmissions of the vehicles being recalled feature plastic bushings that connect their main transmission units to the gear selector lever. If the plastic wears down over time, the bushing could detach. This could lead to a situation where the gear selector indicates that a vehicle is in one gear while it is really in a different gear. The recall has been ordered because a detached bushing could cause a rollaway accident. Porsche says that audible chimes or warning lights would not warn drivers about the danger. Media reports about the recall do not mention any accidents caused by the problem.
Dealers will remedy the problem by replacing the bushing with a part made of more robust plastic that will resist wear. Owners will not be charged for the work. Porsche believes that all of the recalled vehicles will require new bushings. The carmaker advises Panamera and Cayenne owners to use their parking brakes until the work is completed.
Auto manufacturers generally order recalls soon after learning about a potentially dangerous situation because failing to do so could lead to product liability litigation. The makers of consumer products owe their customers a duty of care to do all that they reasonably can to prevent injuries and accidents, and personal injury attorneys with experience in this area might pursue civil remedies on behalf of those who suffer injury, loss or damage when this duty is not met.