The other day, my Taycan (a Taycan 4S Cross Turismo) broke down. Two days in a row, I plugged it in for its usual home charging at night, just before the Obon holiday in August, only to find that “for some reason, it still hadn’t charged by morning.”

It was still driving normally, though, so I thought, “I’ll try a fast charger somewhere, and if it’s still acting up, I’ll call the Porsche Center.” On the morning of the third day, I got in and started the car—only to see a yellow “Electrical system fault” warning on the display.

The car wouldn’t shift into D or R. It stayed in N, completely unresponsive and unable to move.

“This is bad,” I thought. I called the Porsche Center right away and explained what had happened. They determined the car would need to be towed, but since this was during the Obon holiday period—a major holiday season in Japan—it wouldn’t be picked up until after the service center reopened.

The Cause of the Taycan Breakdown: A Faulty On-Board Charger

The inspection confirmed that the problem was with the on-board charger. The part needed to be replaced, but there were no replacement units in stock—even in Germany—so I was told the repair could take some time.

Not even in stock in Germany… (；ﾟДﾟ)!

In case you’re wondering, the on-board charger is essentially an “AC adapter” built into the car. It converts the alternating current (AC) supplied by a household outlet or AC charger into direct current (DC), which is then used to charge the battery.

I’d never realized until this breakdown that the car needs an onboard converter because it can’t charge its battery directly from an external AC power source. You learn something new! (laughs)

I’d assumed the battery itself had failed, but the actual issue was with the system that converts and manages the power.
(To be honest, I did catch myself thinking it might have been nice if the battery had needed replacing under warranty instead…)

My Taycan Was Back on the Road in Three Weeks

I was bracing myself for “a long wait,” but the repair was actually finished about three weeks after I dropped the car off. The Porsche Center provided a loaner in the meantime, so it wasn’t too inconvenient.

Still, I have to admit I wasn’t thrilled. The car had gone in for charging-system trouble the year before, too, and I found myself thinking, “I hope this doesn’t become an annual thing…” While driving the loaner, I even wondered, “Maybe I should try a different car next time,” and spent some time browsing Carsensor, a Japanese used-car marketplace.

A gas-powered car, huh… But once you get used to an EV’s silky-smooth response, comfortable ride, and absolutely ferocious acceleration, it’s hard to walk away from electric. If I stick with an EV, maybe a Taycan Turbo GT… My imagination started running wild.

Then, after three weeks apart, I got my Taycan back and took it for a drive. And… it was still fantastic!

Smooth and seamless, with rock-solid stability and sharp acceleration. “This is it—this is what a Taycan is all about!” I was reminded all over again of what makes it special.

The Taycan Turbo and Taycan GT are tempting, no doubt. They’re both incredibly appealing. But for me, right now, this Taycan 4S is just right. It’s comfortable to cruise in, more than quick enough, and feels completely natural to drive. Plus, all five of us in the family can ride together.

Being without it for three weeks helped me appreciate it all over again. I’m glad I came away feeling that this is a car I want to keep for a long time.

For the record, this is a 2023 Taycan I bought used, and the entire repair was covered at no cost. I have to say, a good warranty is a wonderful thing.

Of course, I don’t want it breaking down often—especially for issues unrelated to how it drives. But for me, this Taycan is still the right car. When it’s due for inspection next March, I plan to extend the warranty and keep enjoying it for years to come.