Weird Smoke and Burning Smell from Air Vents in My Macan 4 – Anyone Else?

[piter95]

Hey folks!

I’m curious if anyone else has experienced this issue with their Porsche Macan. I took delivery of a Macan 4 on October 1st and have driven over 3,500 km so far.

Recently, I’ve noticed a strange smell, like something burning, along with some smoke coming from the air vents when I’m driving at speeds of 130 km/h (80 mph) or higher, with or without the climate control on.

I’ve included a video below to show exactly what’s happening. This was the second time I got smoke during the drive, the first time was muuuch way worst. A lot of white smoke came in and I stopped.

Video Link as it's too big to post: LINK

Here’s what’s happened so far:
1. First Trip to the Dealership: Brought it in right away, and they did a quick check but said everything seemed fine.

2. Second Visit: I brought it back a couple of weeks later as the burning smell hadn’t gone away. This time, they kept the car for over a week, and today I got a call saying that even their demo car is showing the same issue.

So now I’m wondering – are we looking at a potential recall? Is this a problem with a particular component, or could it be something that gets worse over time?

Would love to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience or if you’ve managed to find a solution.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Diego]

Hi Pietro, I'm at 4500 km and I've not noticed anything like this. No smoke or burning smell...

 

[krissrock]

that's pretty serious. Smoke on a ICE vehicle...could be anything... Smoke on an EV...scary. I hope they figure it out. haven't seen any other posts like that anywhere else...

general you can tell what is leaking/burning by he smell of the smoke. I can't imagine the EV has that many fluids beside coolant. It most likely is leaking.
either coolant, or washer fluid

 

[piter95]

Hi Pietro, I'm at 4500 km and I've not noticed anything like this. No smoke or burning smell...

Ciao Diego!

Interesting! Did you have chance to have the clima ON around 25 degrees or higher, 1 of speed and driving for 40km minimum at 130KM/h (Highway driving) ?

I'm just thinking that may be the clima... At least I hope! But from the dealership apparently I'm not the only one...

 

[piter95]

that's pretty serious. Smoke on a ICE vehicle...could be anything... Smoke on an EV...scary. I hope they figure it out. haven't seen any other posts like that anywhere else...

general you can tell what is leaking/burning by he smell of the smoke. I can't imagine the EV has that many fluids beside coolant. It most likely is leaking.
either coolant, or washer fluid

Indeed it is weird and they told me "it's normal" I don't think it is normal on a €100K+... The second time they took it and there is something indeed...

Anyway, if it was my first Porsche I would never buy a Porsche again. It arrived with missing string in the trunk hat rack, the painting presents some defects (like drops of violet weird color around the whole car) the painting is Jet Black... And they are still thinking if they will do anything about it... Insane!

 

[PanameraFrank]

Porsche dealerships.. ugh. "Oh yeah the fire smell & smoke is normal."

Outrageous. Hope they get it figured out.

 

[shawn]

Set to recirculate only and see if changes? Just to eliminate exterior source. Any car fluid on the ground when you park it? If it only happens at speed then it may be water being forced into a fan compartment or into a place where it should not be, turn all fans off to eliminate climate control fans to see if is climate system fan intake , just wondering if it was raining when it happens?

in any case some smell might be normal but there is no way smoke is normal. I would not drive it until they explain the source of the smoke

 

[RunningOnSolar]

Indeed it is weird and they told me "it's normal" I don't think it is normal on a €100K+... The second time they took it and there is something indeed...

Anyway, if it was my first Porsche I would never buy a Porsche again. It arrived with missing string in the trunk hat rack, the painting presents some defects (like drops of violet weird color around the whole car) the painting is Jet Black... And they are still thinking if they will do anything about it... Insane!

Definitely take up all issues with the dealer and insist on resolution. My only issue so far has been that the charge port door did not align right when closed. My dealership fixed that. I am not dealing with any unusual smells, but would insist on addressing it if I did. Good feedback from Shawn on isolating the cause. Good luck!

 

[Senna]

My Macan 4 has accumulated 1,074 miles without encountering any similar issues.

 

[piter95]

Set to recirculate only and see if changes? Just to eliminate exterior source. Any car fluid on the ground when you park it? If it only happens at speed then it may be water being forced into a fan compartment or into a place where it should not be, turn all fans off to eliminate climate control fans to see if is climate system fan intake , just wondering if it was raining when it happens?

in any case some smell might be normal but there is no way smoke is normal. I would not drive it until they explain the source of the smoke

I didn't try to set recirculate, and it doesn't happen 100% of the time. It's a bit random, but I can definitely feel it 90% of the time I'm driving in the highway for long distances. 40kms+.

No rain at all...

 

[piter95]

Porsche dealerships.. ugh. "Oh yeah the fire smell & smoke is normal."

Outrageous. Hope they get it figured out.

Hope the same. They said they opened a ticket to the factory... I don't know what does that means and how long it will take to figure that out.

 

[shawn]

I didn't try to set recirculate, and it doesn't happen 100% of the time. It's a bit random, but I can definitely feel it 90% of the time I'm driving in the highway for long distances. 40kms+.

No rain at all...

Hum you say random? If you try recirculating and less or no smoke I would wonder if you’re driving by any place that people are operating wood stoves or other atmosphere burning. May be obvious but need to rule that out if it is your car or something outside

 

[piter95]

Hum you say random? If you try recirculating and less or no smoke I would wonder if you’re driving by any place that people are operating wood stoves or other atmosphere burning. May be obvious but need to rule that out if it is your car or something outside

I don't think it was due to external factors, it happened to me in different highways... Plus I got the confirmation that also another Macan that the same dealership has, came back with the same problem...

 

[PanameraFrank]

The same dealership? I wonder if they messed up a pre delivery item. Haven't heard of this issue anywhere else, so 2 at one dealership is odd.

Climate requires pre delivery action by the dealership so if they did it poorly you could be experiencing the results.

 

[piter95]

The same dealership? I wonder if they messed up a pre delivery item. Haven't heard of this issue anywhere else, so 2 at one dealership is odd.

Climate requires pre delivery action by the dealership so if they did it poorly you could be experiencing the results.

Well considering their incompetence... I'm not surprised that they fucked up something as pre-delivery action...
I'm so mad...