Major recall on hundreds of electric cars over fears batteries could explode

11 October 2023 , 13:33

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One of the Porsche Taycans was seen on fire in China recently (Image: AsiaWire)

Owners of an electric sports car have been warned they have been recalled over fears they could explode into flames.

A recall has been made on more than 230 of the Porsche Taycan electric vehicles after two recent battery fires in Australia. It is for models from 2023 and 2022 amid warnings an issue may mean moisture could enter its high-voltage battery pack.

The firm said in its recall notice: “Due to a manufacturing issue, there is a possibility of insufficient sealing between the high voltage battery casing and battery cover. This could lead to moisture entering the high voltage battery.”

More than 230 have been recalled in Australia (HANDOUT MOTOR PR)

Last month footage caught the moment firefighters attempted to extinguish a car, believed to be an electric Porsche Taycan, alight in the middle of the street in China. Various clips appeared to show the blaze engulfing the lux sedan, reportedly before it spread to its rear wheels. Firefighters are seen dousing the burning car with fire extinguishers while other people in the nearby area are forced to stand and wait for the danger to be over.

Witnesses at the scene said they were running errands nearby when they suddenly heard a loud noise, followed by thick smoke billowing from the street. They ran over and saw the silver Porsche ferociously burning before firefighters managed to extinguish it in 20 minutes. Fortunately, there were no casualties and a preliminary investigation revealed the fire was caused by a short circuit in the vehicle's engine

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At the time Audi and Porsche recalled 6,676 electric vehicles due to a potential fire risk and planned to get dealers to inspect each car and then replace the entire battery if needed. According to Porsche, it first became aware of this issue back in 2022 due to reports of "reduced insulation values" in some Taycan batteries. Now, it’s recalling 4,777 Taycans, all from the 2023 model year and in every body style. Carmakers say that they suspect that only three percent of the 6,676 vehicles in total (approximately 200 cars) have an actual problem. The two companies told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: "Under certain circumstances, there is a possibility over time liquid can intrude into the high voltage battery."

They add this problem can increase the risk of a battery fire and that it's caused by a sealant-related issue. It can initially trigger a yellow warning icon on the dashboard and a red warning icon appears if the problem isn't fixed.

Antony Clements-Thrower