How Long Will a Porsche Taycan Last? (14 Important Facts)

The Porsche Taycan is a sporty luxury EV that first went on sale in late 2019.

As you would expect from any Porsche, the Taycan is fast, luxurious, refined and has excellent build quality. 

Porsche has also given the Taycan the driving dynamics of a traditional sports car, making it what is arguably the best handling EV on the market today.

In this article we’ll take a closer look at the average lifespan of the Porsche Taycan.

Here is the short answer to how long the Porsche Taycan lasts:

The Porsche Taycan should be able to last 300,000 – 400,000 miles with relatively little maintenance. In normal driving conditions, you can easily get 10 – 15 years of service out of the Taycan before needing to replace the battery.

How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Porsche Taycan?

Porsche is known for the excellent build quality and reliability of their vehicles. Aside from their iconic sports cars like the 911, their passenger vehicles like the Cayenne and Panamera typically have no problem going past 200,000 miles and lasting over 20 years — as long as they’re properly maintained.

The Taycan should last even longer than Porsches that use Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) because its EV powertrain is much simpler and requires significantly less maintenance. 

Similar to all other EVs, the Porsche Taycan’s expected lifespan is largely determined by the longevity of its battery.

Battery degradation occurs naturally over time and as the number of charge cycles increases. One charge cycle is the equivalent of using up 100% of the battery’s maximum capacity.

With the Porsche Taycan’s advertised 225 miles of range, it should be able to easily do 300,000 – 400,000 miles on its original battery over 1,500 charge cycles.

This is a conservative estimate since some EV batteries can do more than 4,000 charge cycles in lab conditions and the real-world range of the Taycan can go up to 280 miles. 

Porsche also designed the Taycan’s battery to be easily serviceable so that defective modules can be swapped out without having to replace the entire battery pack, which usually costs around $20,000.

Aside from the Taycan’s 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, its battery is also covered by an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty. In some states like California, it gets a longer 10-year/150,000-mile battery warranty.

Common Problems of the Porsche Taycan

We’ve looked at various Internet forums to find out what issues owners are experiencing with their Porsche Taycan. 

Software and Infotainment Issues

The most common complaints Taycan owners have with their vehicles are the random software bugs which can include:

• False alarm triggers
• Driver safety aid malfunctions
• Apple CarPlay takes a long time to connect
• Randomly losing settings
• Infotainment system restarting

Early model years of the Porsche Taycan are more prone to experiencing these software glitches. 

The 2022 model year received upgraded infotainment hardware, also known as Porsche Communication Management or PCM, which seem to have resolved many of the software issues.

Some Taycan owners that have taken their vehicles in for service due to these random issues eventually needed a new Porsche Connect module which is the component that connects the car to the Internet. 

Others were able to fix their software problems by disconnecting the 12-volt battery for a couple of minutes which reset the car’s computer systems.

Shifting Into Park or Neutral

Several Taycan owners have reported that their car automatically shifts from Drive into either Neutral or Park after waiting at a stop light or basically being stationary for a long time.

The recommended fix for this ‘ghost shifting’ issue is to reset the car’s computers by tapping and holding two fingers on the top right corner of the center touchscreen until the screen goes blank. After a few seconds, it will ask if you want to reboot the system.

Others have also reported that a software update at the dealer was able to resolve their shifting issues.

Electrical System Error

One of the more serious issues that have been reported by Taycan owners is the dreaded ‘Electrical System Error’ warning message which basically results in sudden loss of power.

It happens very rarely, but enough people on various forums have complained about it, and it can be very scary when it does happen.

This could be related to the recall that Porsche issued for 2020 and 2021 model years of the Taycan for a software issue that resulted in a sudden loss of power. But a couple of people driving the 2022 Taycan have also encountered the problem.

In most cases, the problem fixes itself after turning off the vehicle, locking the doors and leaving it alone for a couple of minutes.

Sometimes, it takes several power cycles to fix the issue. Others have also reported the error eventually goes away after waiting for more than an hour

This problem can be difficult to diagnose because it happens so infrequently and it can’t be easily replicated when you take it to the dealer.

A couple of owners have reported back that they needed to get their high-voltage battery replaced after encountering this error message. 

What is High Mileage for a Porsche Taycan?

Although the Porsche Taycan has a pretty long lifespan, a model with 100,000 miles should be considered a high mileage vehicle.

The Taycan only comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. At 100,000 miles, the EV battery warranty will also be very close to expiring.

EVs like the Taycan require much less maintenance than their ICE-powered counterparts but they still use a lot of regular car parts for things like the suspension, brakes, steering and HVAC. 

Although Porsches can last a long time, out of warranty repairs can be very expensive, especially in a vehicle that uses a lot of electronics and computers like the Taycan.

If you’re planning on buying a high-mileage Taycan, get a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) to make sure the car is still in good condition.

An even better option is getting a lightly used Taycan that comes with a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) warranty from the dealer. This way, you won’t have to worry about any expensive repairs for quite some time.

When buying a used Porsche Taycan, always consider the following:

• Assess the battery’s health: Used EVs won’t have the same battery capacity or range as brand new ones — unless the battery pack was just recently replaced. The dealership should be able to give you a detailed report on the battery’s health.
• Maintenance history. Check that the car was properly serviced and that the owner can provide evidence of this.
• Battery Warranty: Double-check the battery warranty, you should be able to verify this with Porsche’s customer service department using the vehicle’s VIN number.
• Inspect the interior: this can often give a good idea how well the owner really cared for their vehicle.

How Long Does the Porsche Taycan Last Compared to Other Electric Vehicles?

In this section we’ll compare the Porsche Taycan to other high-end luxury EVs.

Porsche Taycan vs. Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S was first released in 2012 but it’s had several updates since then.

It’s still considered one of the best luxury EV sedans today because of its industry-leading performance, range and software.

Despite complaints about its build quality, many owners have proven that the Model S can last 300,000 – 500,000 miles.

• Kelley Blue Book’s consumer rating index gave the Model S a reliability rating of 4.6/5 while the Taycan got 5/5 though it has significantly less reviews.
• Edmunds consumer reviews gave the Model S an overall rating of 3.1/5 which is much  lower than the Taycan’s score of 5/5.
• RepairPal doesn’t have a reliability rating for Tesla, but Porsche only got 2/5 because it’s more expensive to maintain compared to other brands.
• JD Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study placed Porsche in 7th place overall out of 32 other brands making it the 2nd most dependable premium brand next to Lexus. It doesn’t include Tesla in the rankings.
• The Model S has a slightly larger battery and a much more efficient drivetrain which gives it significantly more range than the Taycan.

The Model S beats the Taycan when it comes to straight-line acceleration but the Porsche is more satisfying to drive in the corners.

The Model S is a more practical sedan and has almost twice the range of the Taycan. The Taycan does come in a wagon version called the Taycan Turismo if you want more storage space. 

The Tesla’s larger battery and more efficient motors means it will go through less charge cycles to travel the same distance as the Taycan so it has a slight edge when it comes to longevity. But this is offset by the Porsche’s superior build quality which helps it hold up better over time.

Related: How Long Do Tesla Model S Last?

Porsche Taycan vs. Audi e-Tron GT

The Audi e-Tron GT was released in 2021 just one year later than the Taycan.

It shares the same platform and many components with the Taycan and they both have similar range.

Given the similarities between the two models, the Audi e-Tron GT should last just as long as the Porsche Taycan at 300,000 – 400,000 miles. 

• Kelley Blue Book’s consumer rating index gave the e-Tron GT a reliability rating of 4.9/5 which is almost the same as the Taycan’s score of 5/5.
• Edmunds consumer reviews gave both vehicles the same overall rating of 5/5.
• RepairPal gave Audi a higher brand reliability rating of 3/5 compared to the Porsche’s rating of 2/5.
• JD Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study placed Audi in 25th place overall while Porsche got 7th place.
• The e-Tron GT and Taycan have similar battery specs but the Audi has slightly better range.

The Audi and Porsche are very similar vehicles with similar performance figures. 

The e-Tron GT is more traditional and has many of the same qualities you would expect from an Audi while the Porsche Taycan is sportier and more futuristic. 

Reliability and longevity between the two should also be basically the same, but the Audi tends to be a better value with all the standard features it comes with. You can equip the Porsche with the same features but adding options to a Porsche can get expensive really fast.

Related: How Long Will an Audi e-tron Last?

Porsche Taycan vs. Mercedes Benz EQS

The EQS is the flagship model of Mercedes Benz’s EQ line of electric vehicles.

It’s not as sporty as the Taycan but it’s got more range and is more luxury-focused.

The Mercedes Benz EQS has an expected lifespan of 300,000 – 500,000 miles which is slightly longer than the Taycan’s due to its superior range.

• Kelley Blue Book’s consumer rating index gave the Mercedes Benz EQS and Porsche Taycan the same reliability rating of 5/5.
• Edmunds consumer reviews gave the EQS an overall rating of 4.4/5 which is slightly lower than the Taycan’s 5/5.
• RepairPal gave Mercedes Benz a higher brand reliability rating of 3/5 compared to the Porsche’s rating of 2/5.
• JD Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study placed Mercedes Benz in 18th place overall while Porsche got 7th place.
• The EQS has a much larger battery than the Taycan which also gives it significantly more range.

The EQS is a luxury vehicle through and through. If you want to match the performance of the Taycan, the EQS also has an AMG version.

The EQS also has a more impressive tech package and is more comfortable than the Taycan.

Both Mercedes Benz and Porsche have great track records for building cars that last a long time. But the EQS has a significant edge when it comes to battery capacity which gives it significantly better range and a much longer average lifespan.

Comparison Chart

Is the Porsche Taycan Reliable?

Every vehicle Porsche makes has outstanding build quality and refinement, which makes them one of the most respected car brands in the world.

Although the Taycan is Porsche’s first EV, they’ve spent a significant amount of time and money developing it, so majore issues should be few and far between, especially in the first few years of ownership.

Looking at forums like TaycanEVForum, TaycanForum and RennList, most of the complaints are about minor software glitches and connectivity issues. 

Some early model years of the Taycan had issues suddenly losing power, but these were eventually resolved by a software update.

The Taycan should also be significantly more reliable than non-electric Porsches because it won’t suffer from potential engine and transmission failures which are very expensive to repair.

In general, Taycan owners seem to be quite happy with their vehicles.

• Kelley Blue Book’s consumer rating index gave the Taycan a 5/5 for reliability based on 4 reviews.
• 6 out of 9 owners gave the Taycan a 5/5 rating on Edmunds consumer reviews. 
• JD Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study placed Porsche in 7th place making it the 2nd most dependable luxury brand just after Lexus.

Porsche Reliability Compared to Other Car Brands

According to Consumer Reports, porsche ranks at a respectable 13th position out of 28 car manufacturers for reliability.

The Best and Worst Years of the Porsche Taycan

The Porsche Taycan first went on sale in late 2019 as a 2020 model, so there aren’t too many differences between model years yet.

Worst Model Year

The 2020 Porsche Taycan is the first model year so it’s more likely to suffer from early production and build quality issues.

Later model years also saw the introduction of the Turismo Cross wagon which offers a bit more practicality.

Newer model years also get minor improvements and more trim levels to choose from.

Best Model Year

The 2022 Porsche Taycan is the best model year so far. It has had far less complaints logged on the NHTSA website and started featuring Android Auto on top of Apple CarPlay.

2022 also saw the introduction of a GTS model which sits between the base model and the Turbo models.

What About Recalls for the Porsche Taycan?

The Porsche Taycan has had 18 recalls spread across the 3 different model years so far. 

The most critical recall was a software update for the 2020 and 2021 Taycans which resolved issues with sudden loss of power. Otherwise, the other recalls were for relatively minor issues.

You can check if your Porsche Taycan has been subjected to a recall campaign by entering your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the Porsche recall site or the NHTSA recall database.

It is important to note that recalls are manufacturing faults repaired at no charge to the consumer.

Here is the total number of recall campaigns for every model year of the Porsche Taycan so far:

• 2022 Porsche Taycan: 1
• 2021 Porsche Taycan: 7
• 2020 Porsche Taycan: 10

Porsche Taycan Model Year List

Deliveries of the 2020 Taycan began in late 2019. In 2021, the Taycan Cross Turismo wagon was added to the lineup.

First Generation (2020 – present):

• 2020 Porsche Taycan
• 2021 Porsche Taycan
• 2022 Porsche Taycan

Is the Porsche Taycan Expensive to Maintain?

Maintenance costs for the Porsche Taycan won’t be very expensive throughout the duration of its 4-year/50,000-mile warranty period.

In most cases, you’ll only need to take your Taycan in for service every 2 years or every 20,000 miles, whichever comes first.

These service intervals generally consist of a general inspection and a routine brake fluid and cabin filter replacement.

Once it’s out of warranty, the Taycan should be much cheaper to own over the long term compared to an ICE-powered Porsche because its EV drivetrain has less moving parts and requires less maintenance overall. 

However, a lot of the Taycan’s non-EV components like the brakes and suspension will still be quite expensive to replace once they’re completely worn out.

Porsche dealerships charge much higher than regular non-luxury brands for parts and labor.

Although you may be able to take your Taycan to an independent shop who specializes in Porsches and European cars for basic repairs and maintenance, more complicated electronic and computer issues will still need to be done at a Porsche dealership.

How Long Do the Brakes Last?

Porsche recommends changing the Taycan’s brake pads every 6 years or every 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

It’s also likely that you can get around 100,000 miles out of the Taycan’s original brake pads because it uses regenerative braking to help slow down the vehicle and charge at the battery at the same time, so you don’t need to step on the brakes as much.

Base model Taycans come with steel brake rotors which are cheaper to replace but are more prone to corrosion.  

The optional upgraded brakes in the form of either Porsche Surface Coated Brake (PCSB) and Porsche Ceramic Coated Brake (PCCB) are significantly more expensive but also are lighter and perform much better than the standard brakes.

How Long Do the Tires Last?

The Porsche Taycan will typically need new tires every 20,000 miles.

Tire life largely depends on your driving habits and the type of tires you’re using.

The Taycan’s motors produce a lot of instantaneous torque which wears down the tires much faster compared to an ICE vehicle. Its batteries also make the vehicle heavier overall, which puts more wear and tear on the tires.

The Taycan uses different tire sizes for the front and rear so you can’t rotate them every couple thousand miles. You’ll just need to monitor which set of tires need replacing every so often.

Tire tips:

• Check your tire pressure every few weeks to make sure they’re not over or under inflated.
• Check your wheel alignment every 6 months to make sure your tires are wearing evenly

How Long Do the Transmissions Last?

The Taycan’s rear electric motors use a 2-speed transmission to provide quick acceleration, higher top speeds, and better electric mileage.

It’s the first and only EV in the market, aside from the Audi e-Tron GT, to use anything other than a single speed transmission.

In Normal mode, it stays in second gear to increase the car’s range. In Sport mode, it stays in first gear for a very long time and only shifts into second gear at higher speeds.

Although the Taycan’s 2-speed transmission is slightly more complicated than the single-speed transmissions found in other EVs, it doesn’t actually need to shift very often, so it should be able to last over 500,000 miles.  

Porsche is also known for its very reliable PDK dual-clutch transmissions which typically have no problem lasting over 200,000 miles, unlike other dual-clutch gearboxes from other manufacturers.

How Long Will the Porsche Taycan’s Motors Last?

The Porsche Taycans’s electric motors should be able to outlast the vehicle itself which means it can easily go over 500,000 miles.

Although the Taycan is Porsche’s first EV, the company has been working with electric motors for quite some time now. Aside from their range of hybrid passenger vehicles, they also use high-performance electric motors in their Le Mans winning race cars. 

The Taycan’s electric motors are significantly more reliable and require almost no maintenance compared to a gas or diesel engine. They’re also liquid cooled which helps prolong their lifespan even if you’re constantly pushing them to their limits.

In most cases, the Taycan will go through several battery changes before the electric motors start showing signs of failure.

How Long Do the Spark Plugs Last?

The Porsche Taycan doesn’t require any spark plugs because it’s completely electric and doesn’t use an internal combustion engine.

How Long Do Porsche Taycan Batteries Last?

The Porsche Taycan’s batteries should be able to last at least 300,000 miles or at least 10 to 15 years before needing any kind of repairs.

You shouldn’t have to worry about battery issues for quite some time because the Taycan comes standard with an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.

The Taycan’s battery is also unique because its battery modules can be individually replaced at a much lower cost. All other EVs require swapping out the entire battery pack, which typically costs around $10,000 to $20,000, even if only a couple of cells are defective.

This significantly increases the average useful lifespan of the Taycan and lowers the ownership costs of older high mileage examples.

It’s worth mentioning that battery degradation occurs naturally over time even if you hardly ever use the vehicle. If you let your Taycan sit unused and neglected for several years, it will still lose a lot of its original battery capacity.

The rate of battery degradation also increases as the number of charge cycles go up with normal use and whenever they’re exposed to excessive heat.   

To further prevent battery degradation and prolong the battery’s longevity, the Taycan’s battery uses active liquid cooling and modern battery management solutions. 

Porsche limits the Taycan’s usable battery capacity to around 90% of its total capacity. This not only slightly decreases the number of charge cycles over time, but also keeps the battery cooler by preventing it from overcharging. 

If you want to prolong the life of your Porsche Taycan, here are some battery care tips:

• Avoid using or storing the vehicle in extremely hot temperatures 
• Don’t let the vehicle sit unused for long periods of time 
• When storing the Taycan for long periods, slow charge it to avoid draining the battery 
• Avoid regularly draining the battery to 0% or charging it to 100% 
• Charging up to 80% is recommended
• Only use DC fast chargers when it’s absolutely necessary

What is the Range of the Porsche Taycan?

The Porsche Taycan’s EPA-estimated range is only 225 miles, which is quite low compared to other EVs in the segment. However, in the real world and in ideal conditions, people have been able to get as much as 280 miles out of a single charge.

EV batteries perform optimally when the outside temperature is around 70° Fahrenheit or 21° Celsius. In colder climates, you’ll get significantly less range especially when you turn up the heat. 

Extremely hot weather won’t really affect the car’s available range, but it does increase the chances of battery degradation which will reduce your battery capacity and range over time.

You’ll also get more range if you’re just driving conservatively around the city in Range or Normal mode compared to driving at higher speeds in Sport mode. 

How Long Does the Porsche Taycan Electric Take to Charge?

The Porsche Taycan is able to charge from 5% to 80% in roughly 25 minutes when plugged into a 350kW DC Fast Charger.

Its electrical system runs at 800 volts which allows it to have much higher charging rates compared to other EVs. It can also easily match the charging speed of Tesla’s Supercharger network.  

Charging to a full 100% will take longer because the charging rate slows down after 80% to protect the battery from heating up too much.

What About Insurance Costs?

According to Insuraviz, the average insurance cost for a Porsche Taycan is around $2,346 per year or about $196 per month.

Insurance costs can vary from person to person, so be sure to shop around to find the best possible deal for your Taycan.

Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Porsche Taycan

• Practice smooth and safe driving habits.
• Use regenerative braking to extend range and battery life.
• Charging every couple of days is better than charging every day to keep it topped up.
• Keep up to date with factory-recommended maintenance.
• Use quality parts and fluids.
• Keep on top of repairs to prevent them from developing into larger problems.
• Regularly wash your Taycan to remove dirt and grime to protect the paint and undercarriage from rust.
• Keep your Taycan stored in a garage to protect it from extreme heat.
• Read the owner’s manual to learn the location of important components, what your Porsche Taycan needs and in what quantities, and to understand the symbols and dashboard warning lights.

Sources

https://www.caranddriver.com/porsche/taycan

https://www.caranddriver.com/porsche/taycan-cross-turismo

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a37607755/2021-porsche-taycan-range-tested/

https://www.kbb.com/porsche/taycan/

https://www.edmunds.com/porsche/taycan/

https://repairpal.com/reliability/porsche

https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-vehicle-dependability-study

https://insideevs.com/news/545878/2022-porsche-taycans-epa-ratings/

https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/products/taycan/powertrain-18555.html