Porsche Cayenne

Where it stands out against its peers

• Power train: more complaints than 90% of 2014 cars — 32% of its 53 complaints, where an ordinary 2014 car has 14%.
• Unknown or other: more complaints than 92% of 2014 cars — 21% of its 53 complaints, where an ordinary 2014 car has 12%.
• Exterior lighting: more complaints than 93% of 2014 cars — 9% of its 53 complaints, where an ordinary 2014 car has 4%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

62% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 12V065000

  A DETACHED HEADLIGHT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY AND AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH.

  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.

• 12V329000

  IF THE SHAFT FRACTURES, OIL MAY BE DRAWN INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, RESULTING IN SMOKE AND THE INCREASED RISK OF A FIRE.

  PORSCHE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TURBINE WHEELS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.

• 13V506000

  The fuel display inaccuracies may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software free of charge. The recall began on December 5, 2013. Owners may contact Porsche at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's recall number is AD03.

• 14V824000

  If the suspension alignment was incorrectly performed, vehicle handling could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will perform a front and rear suspension alignment, and check the screw connections for the proper torque, retightening as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification date. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AF04.

• 16V169000

  If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip, installing any missing circlips, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG02.

• 18V751000

  If the seat belt buckle breaks in the event of a crash, the occupant will not be properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury.

  Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger rear seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ09.

• 18V844000

  If the ski bag detaches during a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

  Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ski bags, free of charge. The recall began January 10, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ12.

• 19V111000

  A rearview camera display that does not function as designed can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the car, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will update the related software, free of charge. The recall began April 19, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA0.

10 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.

• Srs warning light illumination

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2006, closed March 2007.

• Srs warning light illumination

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2005, closed March 2006.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Porsche filed 213 bulletins about the 2026 Cayenne.

• Electrical system: 70
• Engine: 51
• Structure: 13
• Power train: 7
• Wheels: 7
• Fuel/propulsion system: 5
• Forward collision avoidance: 4
• Suspension: 3
• Visibility/wiper: 3
• Seat belts: 2
• Other: 48

• Noises After a Cold Start of the Engine Due to Camshaft Actuator (SY 49/26) · August 2026
• Air-Conditioning System Malfunction - Temporarily Faulty Blow-Out Temperature/No Air Flow: Re-Programming Air-Conditioning Control Unit (06/26) · August 2026
• Sports Tailpipe, Single-Flow – Silver (0P3)/Dark Bronze (0P6) · August 2026
• Belt Lock Warning on Driver Side Permanently Active / No Fault Memory Entries: Delete Airbag Control Unit Fault Memory (SY 74/25) · August 2026
• Allocation of Approved Engine Oils MY 2027 (13/26) · August 2026
• Mode Switch on Multi-Function Steering Wheel is Not Working Intermittently / Permanently - Check Electric Plug Connection for Mode Switch (16/26) · August 2026
• Reversing Camera Display Flickers or the Malfunction Indicator Light(MIL) is Active when Driving Off in Purely Electric Mode (SY 11/26) · August 2026
• Sports Exhaust System - Silver (0P8)/Dark Bronze (0P9) · August 2026

205 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.