2012 Porsche CAYENNE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
51,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 27 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 7.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Power Train: 12; Unknown Or Other: 7; Engine: 4; Electrical System: 2; Seats: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 9; 2020: 3; 2022: 2; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10957198 · 2017-02-27 (February 27, 2017)
PORSCHE CAYENNE 2012. HAS TRANSMISSION CASING ISSUES AND THEY ARE NOT RECALLING IT! HAD TRANSMISSION CASING REPLACED WITH UNMODIFIED PART AND IN LESS THAT 25K ITS BROKEN AGAIN. WORRY ABOUT MY SAFETY ON THE ROAD AS IM TRAVELING WITH KIDS AND ELDERLY A LOT. THEY COVERED FIRST EMPLACEMENT AS THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT REFUSE TO COVER SECOND REPLACEMENT LABOR COSTS! ITS UNACCEPTABLE! PORSCHE DOES NOT HONOR THEIR QUALITY, WHEN THE PART WAS REPLACED UNMODIFIED IN 2015, THEY WERE FULLY AWARE THAT THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD AND S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10957198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203979 · 2019-04-26 (April 26, 2019)
I GOT THE CAYENNE FROM 2012 IN 01/17/2017 TREE DAYS AFTER BUYING THE SUV TRANSFER CASE WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, WHEN SHIFTING TO 3RD GEAR NOISE AND LOST OF POWER THIS AT 39,273 MILES REPAIR WAS DONE NOW ONLY 20,000 MILES LATER SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED PORSCHE DEALER TO CHECK ON WARRANTY THERE IS NONE AND THEY ALSO LET ME KNOW THAT THIS WOULD BE 3RD TIME THAT TC HAS BEEN CHANGE AND THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE 4,775.00 TO REPAIR.
Owner-reported narrative. 76,253 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10887728 · 2016-07-22 (July 22, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH DOWNHILL AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO REPEATEDLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE BRAKES TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V169000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10887728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958010 · 2017-03-02 (March 2, 2017)
CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER BOLTS FAILED... VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, INCLUDING BRAKING SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING. PORSCHE RECALLED SOME 2011S, BUT NO 2012 WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE KEPT THE FAULTY PARTS WHICH MATCH PART NUMBER WITH KNOWN DEFECT. PORSCHE WOULD NOT HONOR GOODWILL OR ANY DISCOUNT, EVEN WITH PROOF OF MATCHING NUMBERS PER THE MANUFACTURER.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11099903 · 2018-06-05 (June 5, 2018)
TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. CAUSES INTERMITTENT ROUGH STUTTERING WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL ON HIGHWAY ESPECIALLY ON INCLINE. CAR DEALER DID NOT DETECT PROBLEM WHEN PERFORMING DIAGNOSTICS. WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER SERVICE LOCATION. SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE DROVE THE CAR AND QUICKLY CONFIRMED THE CAUSE IS A TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. WE WERE TOLD OUR CAR CAN STALL AT ANYTIME WHICH IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH, WE FOUND OUT TRANSFER CASE FAILURE IS A CONSISTENT AND RECURRING ISSUE FOR PORSCHE CAYENNE'S MANUFACTURED IN 2011 TO 2017.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193919 · 2019-04-04 (April 4, 2019)
TRANSFER CASE IN THE REAR JERKING LOSS OF POWER AND NOISES IN THE GEARS 2-4
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11193919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11270126 · 2019-10-22 (October 22, 2019)
POWER DRIVERS SEAT MOVED FORE/AFT AND UP/DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON 10.22.2019 ON ITS OWN. MOVING DRIVER AWAY FROM CONTACT WITH EITHER BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL AND A UNNATURALLY LONG REACH TO STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER ENGAGED BUTTONS TO MOVE SEAT FORWARD, PULLED OFF TO SAFE LOCATION AND SHUT DOWN/RESTARTED CAR. PROBLEM CONTINUED UPON RESTART
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11217457 · 2019-06-03 (June 3, 2019)
HYBRID DEFAULT MULTIPLE TIMES IN PAST YEARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? FAULT GENERATOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11217457 at NHTSA ↗