Porsche CAYENNE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
494 owner complaints analyzed
27 distinct recall campaigns
55,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 253 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 109 of 494 complaints (22.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 46 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 45 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 38 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 26 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 17 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 3.0% |
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 | 109 |
| Unknown Or Other | 89 |
| Engine | 75 |
| Electrical System | 72 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 63 |
| Air Bags | 62 |
| Exterior Lighting | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 20 |
Power Train: 109; Unknown Or Other: 89; Engine: 75; Electrical System: 72; Fuel/Propulsion System: 63; Air Bags: 62; Exterior Lighting: 29; Service Brakes: 20
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 72 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 39 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 48 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 40 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 72; 25,000 to 49,999: 39; 50,000 to 74,999: 48; 75,000 to 99,999: 40; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 21
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (72). 241 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 59 |
| 2019 | 60 |
| 2020 | 37 |
| 2021 | 25 |
| 2022 | 27 |
| 2023 | 36 |
| 2024 | 47 |
| 2025 | 40 |
| 2026 | 53 |
2004: 3; 2005: 4; 2006: 5; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 6; 2012: 12; 2013: 4; 2014: 10; 2015: 13; 2016: 18; 2017: 26; 2018: 59; 2019: 60; 2020: 37; 2021: 25; 2022: 27; 2023: 36; 2024: 47; 2025: 40; 2026: 53
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 46 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 45 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 38 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 10230582 · 2008-06-11 (June 11, 2008)
BEGINNING IN AUGUST 2007, MY CAR EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS AND EVENTUALLY HAD TO HAVE THE CONTROL UNIT REPLACED. AFTERWARDS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DIFFERENTLY, BUT I ASSUMED THAT WAS RELATED TO THE NEW CONTROL UNIT. IN EARLY 2008, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO RUN ROUGHER DURING WARM UP AND OCCASIONALLY THE RIGHT TIRE WOULD ?SKIP? AS IF TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. I ASSUMED (INCORRECTLY) THAT THIS WAS DUE TO TIRE WEAR. FINALLY, IN MAY 2008, THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. THIS WAS TWO MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD …
Owner-reported narrative. 52,764 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10787569 · 2015-11-02 (November 2, 2015)
PORSCHE LURCHES,JERKS,THUDS,INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER CAR. ENGINE,TRANSMISSION/TURBO SYSTEM FAULTY AND HAZARDOUS AS POWER LOSS OCCURS WHEN QUICK SPEED-UP WHEN PASSING POWER IS CRITICALLY NEEDED. THIS POWER FAILURE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IVY ME IN 2004.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10787569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159265 · 2006-06-07 (June 7, 2006)
BREACH OF WARRANTY CLAIMS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IGNITION FAILURE, WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS, AIRBAG ILLUMINATION WARNINGS, LOCK FAILURE, WINDOW FAILURE, ALL WITHIN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GO MORE THAN 2 OR 3 MONTHS AND 3,000 TO 4,000 MILES WITHOUT HAVING THESE PROBLEMS COME BACK DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE CAR. TWICE THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND A THIRD TIME THE KEY BECAME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN, START, ETC. THE LOCKS ALSO FAILED AND COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN GEAR TO TOW. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10159265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399023 · 2021-03-03 (March 3, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD "BOOM" NOISE AND FIRE STARTED COMING FROM THE GLOVE BOX IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. FIRE MARSHALS WERE CALLED ONTO THE SCENE TO ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, AFTER 3 HOURS THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A REPORT WAS MADE WITH THE FIRE MARSHALS. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND REMAINS ON CONTACTS PROPERTY. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115621 · 2005-03-18 (March 18, 2005)
THE CONSUMER'S 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WITH THE SLIGHTEST SNOWFALL. *NM WHEN THE CONSUMER APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND CONSEQUENTLY HE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ABS WAS ERRATIC. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11210362 · 2019-05-28 (May 28, 2019)
GOOGLE: CAYENNE WET FLOOR. ALL CAYENNE HAVE ISSUE WITH POOR WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITES. MY CAR WAS DRIVING FINE BEFORE I PARKED IT, THEN WHEN I TRY TO START IT, I GOT AN ERROR ON THE INFO DISPLAY IN RED: IGNITION LOCK FAULT, ABS BRAKE PROPORTIONING. NO CRANK FROM THE BATTERY, TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARK. SO I GOOGLED IT AND FOUND MANY OWNERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD REPORTING THIS ISSUE. THE DRAINAGE UNDER THE WINDSHIELD CAN GET BLOCKED EASILY WITH DEBRIS, AND CAUSE WATER TO OVERFLOW INSIDE THE CABIN AND OR ELECTRICAL MODULES …
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11210362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11052953 · 2017-12-07 (December 7, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE PARKED AT HOME, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S HOUSE SUSTAINED FIRE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO PORSCHE OF NORTH OLMSTED LOCATED 28400 LORAUIN RD, NORTH OLMSTEAD, OH WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V576000 (FUEL …
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11052953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11084480 · 2018-04-10 (April 10, 2018)
"PORSCHE SAFETY RECALL AH10" I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL NOVEMBER '17 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FILTER FLANGE FUEL PUMP. DURING THE TIME, I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY CHANGES WITH MY VEHICLE, BUT I STILL CALLED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT IN AND I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. WITHIN THE LAST 3 WEEKS, I HAVE SMELLED GAS IN AND AROUND MY CAR. I AM CONVINCED THIS IS DUE TO MY VEHICLE NOT BEING REPAIRED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I CONTACTED BOTH PORSCHE LOCATIONS IN MY AREA …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11084480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135627 · 2005-08-30 (August 30, 2005)
CONSUMER REQUEST FOR PORSCHE CARS OF NORTH AMERICA TO REPURCHASE HIS 2005 PORSCHE CAYENNE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLE SUCH AS ENGINE STALLING, A REPLACEMENT AIR BAG MODULE, BATTERY FAILURE, FUEL TANK SENDER CALIBRATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104509 · 2018-06-28 (June 28, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OR WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V576000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE COLLECTION DEALER AT [phone removed] (LOCATED AT 200 BIRD RD, CORAL …
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144154 · 2005-12-01 (December 1, 2005)
CIRCLE IMPORTS LONG BEACH, CA A PORSCHE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW STEERING WHEEL ON OUR 04 PORSCHE CAYENNE. IN ONE WEEK TIME ON OCT. 15, 2005 THE AIR BAG IN THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL STARTED COMING LOOSE AND WAS FALLING OFF THE WHEEL. THE REPAIR TO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN JUST A FEW DAYS HOWEVER, WHEN I QUESTIONED WHY THERE WERE NO SENSORS GIVING ME A WARNING, I WAS TOLD THAT NO SENSORS EXIST. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER TO CONTACT PORSCHE CORPORATE TO PRESENT THIS PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I EMAILED TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,190 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11497634 · 2022-12-15 (December 15, 2022)
The contact owns a 2004 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that while the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a recall repair appointment, he noticed that the steering wheel had a quarter inch of play. The U-Joint connection was severely corroded. The dealer diagnosed that the steering column and steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 266,969.
Owner-reported narrative. 266,969 miles reported. Look up ODI 11497634 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 6; 2020: 4; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 4; 2025: 2; 2026: 1