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Certain 2021 Porsche Cayenne SUVs Recalled Over Detaching Steering Column

Not all Porsches are created equal. 27 examples of the Cayenne are called back over a problem that we rarely associate with the German manufacturer, namely a steering column that’s prone to detach while the vehicle is driven.
Porsche Cayenne 7 photos
Photo: Porsche
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On June 1st, Porsche identified a faulty screw connection on the steering column of the Cayenne, prompting an evaluation of screw data to better understand the problem. Fast forward to June 23rd, and the quality boffins have determined that the threaded connections are outside of specification.

Porsche couldn’t rule out the potential loss of steering in the event of a detached column, a condition that can easily result in bodily injuries, death, and lawsuits. Therefore, the Stuttgart-based automaker decided to recall the aforementioned 27 units to tighten the screw connection at the proper spec.

The production dates for the affected population ranges from May 23rd to June 23rd, and Porsche describes the cause for this blunder as “a process error in production.” You would expect a little more attention to detail from the makers of the 911 and the financial might of the Volkswagen Group, but still, cost-cutting occurs at every single level of the automotive industry.

Dealers and owners will be informed of the recall on August 29th according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Porsche Cars North America also told the safety watchdog that the process error has been corrected by raising awareness, further instruction of the production employees, a cable connection instead of Bluetooth for the torque controlled screwdriver, and an automatic stop of the assembly line in the event of an incorrectly tightened screw connection.

The company doesn’t mention what versions of the Cayenne are recalled, which is why owners have to check with their local dealerships for extra peace of mind. Alternatively, the NHTSA offers a vehicle safety hotline (1-888-327-4236) as well as a VIN search tool on the federal agency’s website.

In related news, Porsche has recently spruced up the Cayenne family with the coupe-only Turbo GT flagship. Rated at 631 horsepower and 626 pound-feet (849 Nm) of torque, this variant hits 60 mph (97 kph) in merely 3.1 seconds and retails from $180,800 excluding freight charge and options.
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 Download: 2021 Porsche Cayenne detaching steering column recall (PDF)

About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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