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Free used car buyer guide / J1 / first generation / 2020-2025

Porsche Taycan common problems and best years

By BYBA Research - how we score cars

Updated 2026-06-12

BYBA Buy Score

7.7/10

Buy with checks

1 walk-away risk, 7 minor faults documented for this generation, weighted by severity and repair cost. Biggest factor: 22 kw on-board ac charger failure. Score methodology.

The first-generation Taycan is the best-driving luxury EV of its era, but used buyers must treat it like a complex Porsche with an 800V battery rather than a simple electric saloon. The expensive traps are high-voltage battery module recall campaigns APB5/ARA4/ARB6/ARB7, failed 22 kW on-board chargers, 12V lithium battery lockouts, heater failures, and the 2020-2025 front brake hose recall ARB0. The safest configuration is a 2023-2024 4S or GTS with Performance Battery Plus, completed battery/brake recalls, 11 kW AC charger, and no long dealer stays for charging or heater faults. Current owners should keep Porsche software, battery recall status and 12V support current because many Taycan failures begin as small warnings before becoming recovery-truck events.

Faults covered

8

Highest risk

22 kW on-board AC charger

Best years

2023-2024

Best buys

  • 2023-2024 Taycan 4S or GTS with Performance Battery Plus and completed APB/ARB battery campaigns
  • Cars with the standard 11 kW AC charger rather than a problematic 22 kW option
  • Well-used motorway cars with regular Porsche service and no repeated charging diagnosis

Inspect hard

  • Any 2020-2022 car for 12V lithium battery history and charging-control software updates
  • All 2020-2025 cars for ARB0 front brake hose recall completion
  • Any car advertised as recently updated: check whether battery monitoring now reports B1D9 aging codes

Avoid

  • Open HV battery recall with no confirmed Porsche remedy appointment
  • A Taycan that will not AC charge and DC charge during inspection
  • Heater-failed cars in winter markets unless Porsche is covering parts and labour

Next checks

Before you contact the seller

Check the car's history first. Then bring the right tools if it still looks worth viewing.

Primary next step

Check history, title, and recall status

The faults above matter more if the car also has accident history, finance flags, missing service records, or open safety recalls.

carVerticalPaid history report - EU/UK fitVinAuditPaid history report - US fitNHTSA recallsFree recall lookup

Viewing kit

Bring the right tools

Four cheap tools catch most of the faults on this page at a Porsche Taycan viewing.

Bluetooth OBD2 scannerRead fault-code history before trusting a clear dashboard.Paint thickness gaugeSpots resprays and hidden accident repair in seconds.Brake fluid testerHigh moisture means neglected maintenance everywhere else too.LED inspection lightEngine bay, sills, and underbody never lie under real light.

Printable workflow

Take the inspection pack

The PDF is the ordered checklist for the viewing: documents, walk-around, test drive, and scan.

Open PDF option

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Engines and trims

Which Porsche Taycan should you buy?

On most used cars, the engine and trim choice changes the risk more than the mileage does. Narrow this down before you start viewing cars.

Performance Battery 79.2 kWh gross

2020-2024 base and selected variants

ACCEPTABLE, LOWER RESALE

The smaller pack avoids some purchase cost but gives up range and peak charging headroom. It is still part of the same J1 recall and monitoring universe, so a cheap base Taycan is not automatically cheap to own.

Performance Battery Plus 93.4 kWh gross

2020-2024 most desirable 4S/Turbo/GTS builds

BEST PRE-FACELIFT PACK

This is the used-market sweet spot because it gives the Taycan the range and charge curve people expect. The inspection point is campaign status: APB5/ARA4/ARB6/ARB7 decide whether the pack is normal Porsche warranty work or a fire-risk recall car.

2025 facelift 89 kWh gross

GOOD BUT CHECK EARLY RECALLS

The facelift improved chemistry and efficiency, but 2025 cars still appear in the front brake hose recall range and early production can inherit campaign complexity. Do not pay facelift money without a clean VIN report.

2025 facelift 105 kWh gross Performance Battery Plus

BEST HARDWARE, HIGHEST EXPOSURE

The big 2025 pack is the range and charging champion. Its risk is not known degradation; it is the cost of any out-of-warranty Porsche HV diagnosis and the need to keep official software and monitoring intact.

Year notes

Year-by-year buyer advice

Use this to narrow the search before you spend time travelling to view a car.

2020

Launch year for Taycan Turbo/Turbo S and 4S. Earliest software, 12V lithium battery behaviour and charging-control complaints are concentrated here.

Buyer: Buy only if the price reflects launch-year risk and the Porsche Center history is complete. Pay special attention to 12V battery bulletins, charging software and HV battery recall status.

Owner: If your 2020 still has original 12V hardware or old charging software, schedule the update before storage season. These cars punish long parked periods.

2021

Base rear-wheel-drive model arrived in many markets, Cross Turismo launched, and software maturity improved. The model still shares the early J1 support architecture.

Buyer: A 2021 4S with clean charging history is a good buy. A low-mileage garage queen with 12V incidents is less attractive than a used car that has been driven and updated.

Owner: Keep a lithium-compatible maintainer plan if the car sits. Taycan low-voltage lockout is more than an inconvenience because it can block normal access and charging.

2022

Sport Turismo broadened the range, PCM and charging updates continued, and many cars reached the age where heater and AC charger failures began appearing in owner forums.

Buyer: Test heat and both charging modes. A car with a 22 kW charger option needs harder AC-charge proof than a standard 11 kW car.

Owner: If AC charging becomes intermittent, diagnose quickly. Continuing to blame the wallbox can leave you stranded once the charger fails fully.

2023

GTS became the enthusiast sweet spot and software was more mature, but battery module recall APB5 entered the public record for selected 2021-2024 vehicles.

Buyer: 2023 is one of the best used Taycan years if the VIN is clear. Never assume a newer car avoids battery campaigns; run the VIN.

Owner: Keep Porsche Connect and service records aligned. Battery campaign notices and software eligibility depend on the car staying in the official system.

2024

Last pre-facelift year and a major recall year: front brake hose ARB0 for 2020-2025 and expanded battery campaign work for 2020-2024.

Buyer: A late pre-facelift car can be excellent, but only after ARB0 and any APB/ARA/ARB battery action are complete. Open recall status should lower the price or stop the purchase.

Owner: Do the brake hose recall even if the pedal feels normal. The recall is about fatigue over time, not only current leakage.

2025

Facelift with larger packs, more power, faster charging and efficiency improvements. Early 2025 cars still sit inside the ARB0 brake hose recall range.

Buyer: Treat 2025 as better hardware, not zero risk. Confirm brake recall status and early software updates before paying facelift premiums.

Owner: Keep software current and document battery charging behaviour from new. A clean baseline helps if later HV monitoring flags a module.

Common problems

Faults to check before buying

What fails, what it looks like, what it costs, and the quick checks you can do at the viewing - ranked by how badly each one can hurt you.

Fault 1

High-voltage battery cell block module recall and fire-risk monitoring

LOW / $$$$

Affects

Selected 2020-2024 Taycan Y1A/Y1B/Y1C, with related monitoring campaigns.

Symptoms

Recall notice, electrical-system warning, charging limits, BMC fault after campaign software.

Typical repair cost

Free under recall; EUR 25,000-45,000+ exposure if outside support.

Codes / scan clues

B1D9*** cell module aging detected after BMC software.

Root cause: Porsche identified potential defects in LG cell block modules where internal short circuit during service life could not be ruled out.

Quick check

  • Get a Porsche Center VIN printout for APB5, ARA4, ARA5, ARB6, ARB7 and WRJ/WSH battery actions.
  • Scan the BMC for cell-module aging or isolation faults.
  • Ask whether the pack has been opened or module-replaced.

Buyer note

Do not buy first and sort recall status later. The campaign state is the purchase decision.

Owner note

After a BMC update, treat new electrical-system warnings as real. The updated monitoring is there to find weak modules.

Fault 2

22 kW on-board AC charger failure

WALK AWAY / $$$

Affects

Cars optioned with 22 kW AC charger; owner reports across 2020-2024.

Symptoms

AC charging fails, works only on DC, charging error, dealer replaces 22 kW unit with 11 kW.

Typical repair cost

EUR 2,000-5,000 outside warranty.

Codes / scan clues

On-board charger and HV charger faults.

Root cause: The optional high-output AC charger is more failure-prone than the standard 11 kW unit. Failure may be misread as wallbox or schedule trouble until tested across chargers.

Quick check

  • Charge on AC for at least 15 minutes.
  • Charge on DC and confirm the car accepts power normally.
  • Check option codes for 22 kW AC charger.

Buyer note

A Taycan that will DC charge but not AC charge is not 'nearly fixed'. Price it as an on-board charger job until Porsche proves otherwise.

Owner note

If Porsche replaces a 22 kW unit with 11 kW, keep the paperwork. It affects future buyer expectations and may be the reliable fix.

Fault 3

12V lithium battery drain and no-start lockout

LOW / $$

Affects

2020-2022 most often, but all Taycans can suffer if stored badly.

Symptoms

Dead car after sitting, cannot unlock normally, charging process leaves 12V discharged.

Typical repair cost

EUR 700-2,500 depending on market and diagnosis.

Codes / scan clues

Low-voltage battery and power-management faults.

Root cause: The Taycan uses a lithium 12V battery and power-management logic that early software did not always support cleanly during charging or storage.

Quick check

  • Ask whether Technical Information 209/20 or later power-management updates were applied.
  • Check 12V battery age and health with Porsche diagnostics.
  • Look for recovery invoices after airport/vacation storage.

Buyer note

Low mileage is not always good. A Taycan that sat unused can have more 12V history than a daily-driven car.

Owner note

Use a lithium-compatible maintainer plan or Porsche storage instructions. Do not attach a random lead-acid charger to this system.

Fault 4

Front brake hose cracking and fluid leak

LOW / $$

Affects

2020-2025 Taycan, NHTSA 24V455 / Porsche ARB0.

Symptoms

Brake fluid warning, soft pedal, fluid at front hose, recall open by VIN.

Typical repair cost

Free recall; EUR 500-1,200 if hoses/bleed are customer-pay outside recall context.

Codes / scan clues

Brake fluid level and chassis faults if leak progresses.

Root cause: Porsche states the original front hoses can fatigue because of insufficient bending radius and compression during steering/driving conditions.

Quick check

  • Run VIN for ARB0 completion.
  • Inspect both front hoses at full lock for cracking or wetness.
  • Check brake-fluid level and pedal feel after the test drive.

Buyer note

Open ARB0 is not a reason to reject a good car, but it must be completed before you rely on the car.

Owner note

Do the recall even if you never track the car. The hose issue is time and steering-angle fatigue.

Fault 5

Cabin heater / high-voltage heater failure

LOW / $$$

Affects

2020-2023 cars most discussed; all cold-climate Taycans need the check.

Symptoms

No cabin heat, poor defrost, charging errors in cold, long dealer wait for parts.

Typical repair cost

EUR 1,000-3,500 outside warranty.

Codes / scan clues

HV heater and thermal-management faults.

Root cause: The Taycan relies on electric HV heating and thermal management. Heater failure is both a comfort issue and a charging/preconditioning issue in cold climates.

Quick check

  • Start from cold and demand maximum cabin heat and windscreen clear.
  • Check whether battery preconditioning reaches DC-fast-charge temperature.
  • Ask for heater or battery-coolant work orders.

Buyer note

A no-heat Taycan is a hard negotiation in any winter market. Dealer queues for parts can matter as much as the invoice.

Owner note

Do not wait until first frost. Test heat before winter and book early if output is weak.

Fault 6

PCM, charging software and false electrical warnings

LOW / $$

Affects

All pre-facelift cars; early 2020-2021 worst.

Symptoms

Electrical system warning, charging error, PCM reboot, app scheduling confusion.

Typical repair cost

Usually software; diagnosis EUR 150-400 if out of warranty.

Codes / scan clues

Gateway, PCM, charger and BMC communication codes.

Root cause: The Taycan's 800V system depends on coordinated software between charger, BMC, PCM and mobile app. Early software could generate real lockouts and false-positive warnings.

Quick check

  • Check software campaign history.
  • Test charging without app schedules or third-party energy profiles.
  • Scan before clearing warnings.

Buyer note

A warning-free dashboard after a reset is not proof. You need a scan report and charge test.

Owner note

Keep Porsche software updates current and simplify charging schedules when diagnosing faults.

Fault 7

DC charging below expected 800V performance

LOW / $$

Affects

All years; complaints rise when owners expect 250-270 kW everywhere.

Symptoms

Fast charge capped well below expected, slow taper, charger incompatibility, battery not preconditioned.

Typical repair cost

EUR 0 if charger/temperature; EUR 1,000+ if thermal or charger hardware.

Codes / scan clues

Charger, thermal-management or BMC faults.

Root cause: Some low charge rates are normal if the charger cannot supply 800V, the pack is cold, or state of charge is too high. Repeated poor rates on suitable chargers point to car-side thermal or charging faults.

Quick check

  • Test at a known 800V-capable charger below 30 percent state of charge.
  • Confirm battery temperature/preconditioning.
  • Compare AC behaviour to DC behaviour.

Buyer note

Do not judge Taycan charging from one weak public charger. Do worry if the same car underperforms at multiple proven chargers.

Owner note

Use navigation preconditioning and keep charging software updated. Record charger ID and pack SOC when reporting poor speed.

Fault 8

PCCB/PSCB brake wear cost and corrosion surprises

LOW / $$$

Affects

High-spec 4S/Turbo/GTS/Turbo S with PSCB or PCCB.

Symptoms

Brake judder, cracked ceramic disc, corrosion lip, expensive pad/disc quote.

Typical repair cost

EUR 1,500-4,000 steel/PSCB work; EUR 8,000-15,000+ PCCB disc set.

Codes / scan clues

Usually none unless wear sensors triggered.

Root cause: Regeneration means friction brakes can sit unused, corrode and then be asked to stop a heavy fast car. Carbon-ceramic replacement cost is disproportionate for daily use.

Quick check

  • Inspect discs cold with wheels turned and torch.
  • Do several firm stops after confirming safety.
  • Check option code for PCCB before valuing the car.

Buyer note

Ceramic brakes are not a free upgrade on a used daily. Any crack or heavy wear changes the deal immediately.

Owner note

Exercise friction brakes regularly in safe conditions. Regen-only driving lets corrosion build quietly.

Inspection pack

Printable checklist for the viewing

The free page helps you decide whether the car is worth seeing. The paid guide is the ordered, printable checklist you use at the car.

Documents

  • Porsche Center VIN report for APB5, ARA4, ARA5, ARB6, ARB7, WRJ/WSH battery campaigns and ARB0 brake hoses.
  • Warranty status for HV battery, charger, heater and 12V lithium battery.
  • Charging/heater invoices and any long dealer-stay explanations.

Walk around

  • Inspect front brake hoses at full lock and check brake fluid level.
  • Check tyre wear; Taycan weight and torque punish alignment.
  • Inspect discs for corrosion, cracks or heavy lips, especially PCCB.

In the car

  • Verify no electrical-system warning at wake-up.
  • Run cabin heat and defrost from cold.
  • Check PCM responsiveness and app/charging schedule settings.

Test drive

  • Accelerate and regen smoothly, then use friction brakes firmly once safe.
  • Listen for suspension knocks from heavy chassis hardware.
  • Recheck warnings after the drive.

Scan tool

  • Use Porsche PIWIS or Porsche Center scan for BMC, charger, 12V and thermal faults.
  • Look for B1D9 cell aging codes.
  • Save the report before negotiating.

Bottom line

Buy: The sensible used Taycan is a 2023-2024 4S or GTS with Performance Battery Plus, standard 11 kW AC charging, completed recalls and a Porsche service file that reads boring. Pay for clean campaign status before paying for wheels, leather or power.

Avoid: Avoid unclear HV battery campaign status, unresolved AC charging faults, failed heat in a cold market, and 2020 launch cars sold with no Porsche diagnostic printout. A cheap Taycan can become the most expensive EV in the showroom if the recall paperwork is missing.

Quick answers

Porsche Taycan buyer questions

The short versions of what this page answers in full.

What are the most common Porsche Taycan 2020-2025 problems?

The highest-impact documented faults are: High-voltage battery cell block module recall and fire-risk monitoring; 22 kW on-board AC charger failure; 12V lithium battery drain and no-start lockout. This guide covers 8 faults in total, each with symptoms, typical repair costs, and checks you can do at a viewing.

Which Porsche Taycan years are the best to buy?

2023-2024 stand out in this generation. The sensible used Taycan is a 2023-2024 4S or GTS with Performance Battery Plus, standard 11 kW AC charging, completed recalls and a Porsche service file that reads boring. Pay for clean campaign status before paying for wheels, leather or power.

Which Porsche Taycan should I avoid?

Avoid unclear HV battery campaign status, unresolved AC charging faults, failed heat in a cold market, and 2020 launch cars sold with no Porsche diagnostic printout. A cheap Taycan can become the most expensive EV in the showroom if the recall paperwork is missing.

Is the Porsche Taycan 2020-2025 a reliable used buy?

BYBA scores it 7.7/10 (buy with checks). 1 walk-away risk, 7 minor faults documented for this generation, weighted by severity and repair cost. Biggest factor: 22 kw on-board ac charger failure.

Get updates when this guide changes

Recalls get added, repair costs shift, and new fault patterns show up in the data. Leave an email and we'll tell you when the Porsche Taycan guide gets a meaningful revision. Nothing else, no selling your address.

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