2012 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

Defect. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Panamera 4S and Panamera S, 2011-2016 Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera Turbo, 2012-2016 Panamera Turbo S and Panamera S E-Hybrid, 2013-2016 Panamera GTS, 2013 Panamera Platinum Edition and Panamera 4 Platinum Edition, 2014-2016 Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive and Panamera Turbo S Executive, 2015 Panamera Diesel and 2016 Panamera 4 Edition, Panamera Edition and Panamera Turbo S Exclusive Series vehicles. Water may enter the A/C blower control unit, causing an electrical short circuit.

Risk. An electrical short increases the risk of fire.

Remedy. Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower control unit, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA7. Note: Porsche recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE PANAMERA S E-HYBRID. THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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