2012 Porsche CAYENNE S: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 6 complaints (83.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 5 |
| Engine | 1 |
Power Train: 5; Engine: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11054502 · 2017-12-13 (December 13, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11054502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11058321 · 2018-01-03 (January 3, 2018)
FAULTY TRANSFER CASE THE CAR HAD A BUMPY AND VIOLENT SHUDDER AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. FEELS LIKE MISFIRING AND THEN GRINDING AND THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS DANGEROUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC. I CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND WITH A SIMPLE EXPLANATION THEY DIAGNOSED IT OVER THE PHONE. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THESE TRANSFER CASES WERE FAILING REGULARLY AND THAT THE PARTS WERE REDESIGNED AND EVEN STOCKED IN THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT HAPPENS SO REGULARLY. WITH A BASIC SE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11058321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11157213 · 2018-12-10 (December 10, 2018)
THE PORSCHE DEALER INFORMED ME THE BUMPING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING IS THE TRANSFER CASE. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL 2012 CAYENNE CARS. THE TRANSFER CASE WILL MAKE THE BUMPING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. IT WILL EVENTUALLY SLIP TO THE DANGEROUS POINT. THIS IS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSFER CASE ONLY SLIPS AND LEAVES THE SITTING IN TRAFFIC UNABLE TO MOVE. THE REPAIR IS $5000 AND REPLACES THE TRANSFER CASE. THE NEW TRANSFER CASE CORRECTS THE DESIGN FLAW. THE FLAW WAS IN THE TRANSFER CASE VENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER TO BUILD U…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11157213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11163757 · 2018-12-27 (December 27, 2018)
TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. CARE CLUNKS/DRAGS IN LOW GEARS.
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11183067 · 2019-02-28 (February 28, 2019)
THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE OUT FOR THE 4TH TIME SINCE IF WENT OVER 50K, AT LOW SPEEDS ITS CLUNKY AND DRAGS AND BUMPY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I FOUND OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM MUTLI TIMES AS MYSELF AND THIS IS NOT CHEAP TO FIX. THE DEALER KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT HELP WITH COST
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11183067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11183519 · 2019-03-01 (March 1, 2019)
WHEN DRIVING CAR, IT FEELS ROUGH AND IS HARD TO ACCELERATE SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. THE TRANSFER CASE SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND IS COMMON AMONG THESE CARS. IT'S UNSAFE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY .
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11183519 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V065000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2012-02-21 (February 21, 2012)
PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CAYENNE, CAYENNE S, CAYENNE S HYBRID, AND CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 8, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2012 BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS MAY COME LOOSE AND DETACH FROM THE FENDER.
Consequence: A DETACHED HEADLIGHT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY AND AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: PORSCHE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP LOCKING ASSEMBLIES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V656000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2022-08-30 (August 30, 2022)
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2020 Porsche Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, and Cayman S, 2001-2004 Boxster, Boxster S, 2004 Boxster 50 JAHRE SPYDER 550 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all affected models and model years. The caps that cover the low-beam headlight horizontal adjustment screws are missing, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the headlights for sealing caps and install missing caps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.
NHTSA campaign record ↗