Porsche Class Action Lawsuit Claims Dangerous Engine Cooling Defect

A class action lawsuit alleges that a engine cooling system defect in Porsche Panamera and Cayenne vehicles puts those inside the cars at risk of severe injury.

The defect, allegedly linked to bad adhesive, could cause loss of power and total engine failure.

According to the Porsche class action, when the adhesive in the engine cooling system comes apart, liquid can pool under the vehicle and the entire car can shut down unexpectedly, putting the driver and passengers at risk.

Lead plaintiffs Santiago Padilla and Murray L. Shames have filed the Porsche class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and others who owned a 2010-2016 Porsche Panamera or a 2011-2019 Porsche Cayenne vehicle with a V8 engine.

The Porsche class action lawsuit contends that the cooling system defect in the cars exist in all affected model years listed above regardless of the driving conditions.

The plaintiffs claim that use of adhesive to affix the connection for the coolant pipes is problematic and that this manufacturing issue is the fault of the defendants.

The Porsche Cayenne class action argues that the cooling system is a crucial component of any vehicle because car engines operate at very high temperatures. Coolant pipes should expand and contract with every heat cycle of the car, alternatively cooling and heating in normal operation.

However, as alleged in the Porsche class action lawsuit, the adhesive in the affected vehicles fail. Over time, the adhesive breaks down and degrades, ultimately causing the coolant pipes to separate from the housing of the thermostat.

The plaintiffs in the Porsche Panamera class action lawsuit argue that not only is this defect an issue because of the quality and relative cost of the vehicles, but also that the issue represents significant safety risks. Sudden engine failure and total power loss could occur at any time due to the degradation of the adhesive, according to the Porsche cooling defect class action.

In addition to the dangers with engine failure, the coolant pipe might separate completely from the thermostat housing, distributing liquid under the car and all over the roadway. This slippery condition can pose accident risks for the driver of the car, the plaintiffs say.

Consumers who might be Class Members in the Porsche class action lawsuit have also had to incur the cost of expensive repairs that could have been avoided were the underlying product not allegedly defective.

According to the two drivers who filed the Porsche class action lawsuit, some consumers might have to absorb the full cost of the repairs if the defect becomes apparent after the warranty period has expired.

Furthermore, since the defect could be present in the repaired version of the vehicle, consumers might face similar risks after believing the issue to have been fully corrected.

The Porsche class action lawsuit goes on to argue that the manufacturer was aware of this defect for many years but failed to disclose it to buyers in any manner. Instead, argues the Porsche class action lawsuit, the vehicles were promoted as safe for daily use despite the risk of a total vehicle shutdown from the defective adhesive.

The plaintiffs in the Porsche class action lawsuit are represented by T. Michael Morgan of Morgan & Morgan PA, Timothy G. Blood, Paula R. Brown and Aleksandr J. Yarmolinets of Blood Hurst & O’Reardon LLP, and Ray P. Boucher and Maria L. Weitz of Ray Boucher LLP.

The Porsche Defective Engine Cooling System Class Action Lawsuit is Santiago Padilla, et al. v. Porsche Cars North America Inc., Case No. 1:18-cv-24988, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.