Porsche Cayenne swept up in VW 'dieselgate' scandal

The Porsche Cayenne has joined nearly 100,000 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles involved in Australian recalls over the Volkswagen Group’s widening ‘dieselgate’ scandal.

Porsche Cars Australia has confirmed today that a total of about 2100 Cayenne models fitted with 3.0-litre V6 diesel engines Diesel vehicles built between August 22, 2014 and July 27, 2017 are affected.

PCA said a further 165 or so vehicles about to be delivered to Australian customers are also affected, and that delivery of these vehicles will therefore be delayed.

The Australian move follows the ban of Cayenne sales in Porsche’s home country of Germany, where a further 6000 vehicles have been recalled, and the recall of about 21,500 diesel Cayennes across Europe in total.

Porsche says that, in agreement with the German federal motor transport authority, Kraftfahrtbundesamt (KBA), it will update the software in the engine control unit of each vehicle, which was found to contain a ‘defeat device’ to cheat on emission testing.

It said that, subject to approval of the proposed technical software update by the relevant authorities, the recall is expected to commence in Europe in the European autumn (September to November), and that an Australian voluntary recall will follow “as soon as possible thereafter”.

“PCA will take a responsible approach towards its customers,” said PCA in a statement late this afternoon.

“It is of great importance to PCA that customer expectations regarding quality, integrity and service are met to the fullest extent.

“All affected vehicles remain safe to drive and may continue to be driven as normal. When the proposed technical software update is available, all owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by their official Porsche Centre to arrange the free software update, which should take around one hour.

“PCA will work constructively with the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development and all other relevant parties to implement the voluntary software update.

“PCA will provide further information as it becomes available.”

Porsche has previously moved to distance itself from the dieselgate saga of its parent group, while still accepting full blame for the Cayenne’s involvement.

“Porsche does not develop or manufacture diesel engines itself,” said the company in a previous press release.

“However, as a vehicle manufacturer, Porsche accepts full responsibility towards its customers. It is of great importance to Porsche that customer expectations regarding quality, integrity and service are met to the fullest extent.”

Independent testing of Volkswagen's affected diesel vehicles in the UK has found that fuel consumption tended to increase following the software fix.

The outlook for diesel is not a positive one – at least in Europe, where Volkswagen, Daimler, BMW and Opel have offered software fixes to owners of five million vehicles in a bid to head of diesel vehicle bans in a number of European countries and cities, including Stuttgart – the home town of Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz is facing its own diesel emissions crisis and Volkswagen and Audi are continuing to work through the process of their own scandals.

BMW has vehemently denied cheating on diesel technology following allegations it colluded with other manufacturers for decades.

Australian buyers have been seemingly undeterred by the diesel sagas. Contrary to most of the developed world, Australian sales of diesel passenger cars are at an all-time high, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.