Attention 2010/2011 Turbo and S Owners – Camshaft Controller Failure (US Safety Recall)

[732WKX]

[blockquote]Up-Date from DVSA

Dear Mr Gordon McLeod

Please accept this Email as confirmation that the Review stage of your Defect Report is now complete.
The Manufacturer has now been contacted and has been given 28 days[/b] in which to respond.
We will endeavour to update you with the progress of the Case, and inform you of any outcomes.
For further information and relevant publications, please visit www.gov.uk/dvsa

I in return have reitorated that this is a very serious issue to health and that Porsche know of the problem to the extent all engine components at fault have been heavly revised dute to previous parts not being fit for purpose.


[/blockquote]

 

[Paul Mitchell]

Hi Gordon
I've had the same reply yesterday from DVSA and I also reiterated the issue as being very dangerous.
Have Porsche confirmed to you that they have upgraded the part now? I wasn't aware of this yet.
Paul

 

[too_good]

Gents - FYI, the below US NHTSA Safety Recall Report from 2017 is relevant here. To quote:

"Due to a screw connection assembly problem, the existing threaded fasteners on the camshaft controllers can become strained to such an extent that they could fail. For this reason, the correct function of the camshaft controllers cannot be assured over the service life of the vehicle.

Improved camshaft controller fastenings were introduced into production on September 14, 2011."

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCLRPT-17V368-6172.PDF

Have not read this report for a while - it still beggars belief that there has been inaction in the UK (and Europe seemingly) given the following:

"On May 31, 2017, the product safety committee of Porsche AG came to the conclusion that, based on the review of all available field data, a safety related defect could not be excluded. It was therefore decided to conduct a voluntary recall of all potentially affected vehicles in the US and Canada."

Best wishes,
Ben

 

[732WKX]

Well
Things might be moving in the right direction finally, after my email from DVSA i returned with a reply that was indignant to put it mildly,
and it appears Paul had the same thought, this afternoon an email arrived from VSB which is the serious part of DVSA a real live human
just when i thought the whole system was automated and just went through the motions so as to not upset Porsche!!
We have a chap called Kevin on our case who is finally taking this dangerous problem seriously, so fingers crossed for a recall in the UK.

 

[too_good]

Thank you for the update Gordon. Is it a Kevin Z****n by any chance???

For awareness and as far as I could tell, he/the DVSA/VSB basically assumed a middle man role - KZ acknowledged my report in the first instance (on 29 Nov 2017), forwarded it to Porsche GB and then relayed the manufacturer's response 3 months later (on 1 March 2018). The March email opened by saying "The DVSA and the manufacturer have now completed the investigation into the above [27703 - Porsche Cayenne Variocam camshaft controller bolts may fail]."

As a reminder, in the final response I received, Porsche:
1. "Confirmed to the DVSA that your vehicle is built after the affected vehicles"
2. Confirmed the car would "be in a driveable condition in the event of this issue"
3. "Confirm they have had no reports of sudden failures to the engine causing dangerous situations"
4. "Concludes there is insufficient evidence of a wider problem to warrant action"

I would argue that the experience of you and Paul (and numerous other unfortunate UK owners) confutes this position somewhat!

The DVSA did not appear to challenge Porsche's position originally despite the documentation/'evidence' I submitted which arguably calls it in to question (US cars built in the same period being affected, NHTSA recall notice, etc.). Indeed, regardless of whether it is the same Kevin on the case, I strongly suggest it is worthwhile you drawing his attention to the report I filed on 29 November 2018 (Reference: VSD27703). If nothing else, this militates against the concluding statement they made when closing my case: "a search of DVSA's defects databases has revealed no similar reports."

Anyway, look forward to the next update.

Best,
Ben

 

[732WKX]

Hi, Ben, you are correct it is the same person in question.
I have his phone No. so will call him and ask whether he or DVSA have teeth in this matter or if they just suckup to the big car manufactures!
1 thing I did point out to Kevin was the fact the engine management shut the engine down as soon as it spotted a problem basically self-preservation
as with most modern devices.
My old 05 cayenne probably would have spluttered to the side of the road on one bank this one is a totally different kettle of fish! the 958 you only have to look at it in a strange manner and
it will through an error light that won't clear until you take it to a dealer and part with some money.
I am starting to think the Maserati even though it's temperamental ( All Italian cars are the same) it is doing better than the Porsche, I didn't think I would ever say that,
Maybe a rethink on the next car.

 

[Paul Mitchell]

I am now fully committed to a Class Action Suit against Porsche GB and the DVSA.
In order to do this I need you guys to let me know you are prepared to be included. I have a willing lawyer who confirms we have a case and I see no point in doing this on my own.
Who is in?

 

[condor]

Hi Guys .. I took delivery of my Cayenne Turbo in July 2010 .. it was one of the first 2011 models in the UK. I'd ordered it some months before to my exact specification. So I find it a little daunting to read "Improved camshaft controller fastenings were introduced into production on September 14, 2011."

I would be interested in knowing a little more about a Class Action Suit. Why would this be against the DVSA ?

Jeremy

 

[Paul Mitchell]

The class action suit would be against Porsche GB and I would include the DVSA if they collude with Porsche GB against us as claimants by not investigating the claims fully and fobbing us off.

 

[too_good]

Was going to say it perhaps makes sense to see how the DVSA deals with your cases. Would expect a duty of care and corresponding investigative due diligence from them, not least as there are now prior reports on their system and they have received 2 defect reports in the last fee days.

How would the funding work for the litigation please Paul? Conditional fee or damages-based perhaps to minimise/eliminate upfront legal costs?

We of course have a mix of scenarios as I see it:

You and Gordon - engine failure arising from defective bolts, dangerous situation/risk to life and other road users; faced with ££££s in repair bills

Me - proactive repair undertaken at a cost of £2k+ given safety risk

Jeremy (condor) - no engine failure yet fortunately, but car among those affected. Covered by Porsche extended warranty.

Interested to hear what this means for suit purposes - we share the same issue of a defective original engine component, but differing situations in terms of ‘damages‘ as it stands.

Best,
Ben

 

[732WKX]

Hi Guys
I Will give Kevin (VSB) a chance to do the right thing by all of us he has all the facts, I also at some point this week will speak to him personally and try to ascertain whether he is serious or not about this case.
Slightly different note a very good friend picks up cars (Repo man of sorts) he takes them to black bush auctions, he also picks up cars from Porsche GB usually trade-ins, well one of his colleagues was taking a Cayenne diesel
up the motorway and guess what outside lane engine stopped, fortunately, he and the vehicle survived blocking the lane until Porsche collected it for examination!!!
I have asked for an update when he knows more.

Has anyone posted this issue on Piston heads site my mate seemed to think its a good idea if not already done also Watch Dog might be interested?
Regards Gordon.

 

[Paul Mitchell]

I posted it on Watchdog site over a week ago but haven’t had a response yet

 

[732WKX]

Well, I made a few attempts to speak to Kevin at VSB this last week with no luck so ended up emailing him requesting an immediate update on what is happening with my case, still waiting for Porsche UK and AG
to get back regarding my case! it appears to have gone a bit cold maybe there hoping I have gone away.

Warrantywise are still working on getting the Cayenne fixed (Painfully slow usual story with insurance company's trying to wriggle out of there responsibilities) one interesting thing speaking to there claim receptionists regarding the 4.8 (2010-2012) problem they were well versed with the camshaft issues and that a recall was needed before someone gets seriously hurt especially now diesel's are also having the same problems with the cheap bolts.
When I get a chance I'm going to try and find out how many cases WW have had related to our problem (workload depending) it may well help our case if it has to go to court.

 

[732WKX]

Can anyone that has had an engine rebuild due to cam bolts failing tell me how many hours it took in labor from start to finish.
I am still battling with Warranywise no surprise there!

 

[Paul Mitchell]

Contact Porsche customer care as I think you’ll find they have finally taken heed of the US recall.

 

[732WKX]

Thank you, Paul,
I will check it out tomorrow, thought it a bit odd Porsche and VSB have gone very quiet.

 

[condor]

This sounds very encouraging .. when you say, ‘Customer Care’ .. at the dealer or Porsche UK ?

 

[Paul Mitchell]

This sounds very encouraging .. when you say, ‘Customer Care’ .. at the dealer or Porsche UK ?

Porsche GB main customer care number. Even if the vehicle is out of warranty they will log a complaint on the camshaft adjust issue.

 

[732WKX]

Finally got warrantywise to see the errors of there ways it has been an uphill battle I can see why people slate them, perseverance is the only answer.
So now the rebuild can start parts ordered i think the garage will be glad to see the back of it blocking one of there ramps since the end of January.

I have also made sure Porsche GB and AG are aware of the issues my vehicle has had via there customer care portal, plus asked the DVSA why they haven't as yet got back to me regarding the camshaft failure the answer from them and Porsche should have come through within 28 days of my original complaint!

 

[robertfearnley]

Good evening all. Been reading some of this thread and very interesting based on whats just happened to me:-

I have a Panamera 4 currently at the OPC with a completely ruined engine. At least the OPC are telling me it needs a new engine at a cost over £15k. The cause of my issue.....broken camshaft bolts!! My biggest issue here is the repair is more than half the value of the car. Its a 2010 model and only covered 47k miles with full main dealer service history. Absolutely gutted Its taken almost 2 months to get the OPC to look at it and submit it to Porsche Goodwill. They have refused to cover it or pay any part of it I am at a loss what to do now

on a safety point the engine failed at about 20 mph coming off a roundabout and I lost everything and a dashboard full of warning lights. I was forced to a stop literally just directly off the roundabout and had to wait 3 hours to be recovered by the AA.

Neil