2012 Porsche Cayenne

Routine

Owners filed 27 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train12
000
Engine4
000
Unknown or Other3
000
Seats2
000
Visibility1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Electronic Stability Control (esc)1
000
Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer1
000
Electrical System1
000
Air Bags1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights22V656000
Filed Aug 30, 2022222,858 vehiclesPorsche Cars North America, Inc.

Defect. 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."

Risk. 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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages16V169000
Filed Mar 23, 201688,300 vehiclesPorsche Cars North America, Inc.

Defect. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.

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

Remedy. 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger12V329000
Filed Jul 12, 2012270 vehiclesPorsche Cars North America, Inc.

Defect. PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 PANAMERA TURBO, 2012 PANAMERA TURBO S, AND 2012 CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES. THE TURBINE WHEEL OF A TURBOCHARGER MAY FRACTURE DUE TO A CASTING DEFECT. IF A FRACTURE OCCURS, VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WILL BE DECREASED AND THE TURBINE SHAFT MAY FRACTURE.

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

Remedy. 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.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights12V065000
Filed Feb 21, 201220,278 vehiclesPorsche Cars North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer
Filed Jul 7, 2026205,154 milesNC

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale from Facebook Market Place. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 125,383, but after performing an AutoCheck of the vehicle, it was discovered that the mileage was 205,154.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 28, 2024CA

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out around passenger side airbag. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 4, 2022CA

The transfer case on my car has been confirmed by two different mechanics that it needs to be replaced. Porsche no longer makes or sells the original transfer case and components, so the entire transfer case needs to be replaced, at a cost of approximately $5,000. Porsche extended the warranty for the transfer case for up to 10 years, but I was never notified or made aware of this extension. Because my transfer case issue was identified 6 months outside of the extended warranty, the full cost of this repair is my liability. I believe that Porsche is aware that the original transfer case has design flaws and reliability issues, and while they did extend warranty coverage, they made no effort to communicate the extension. If so, I would have had the transfer case inspected while still under warranty.

Engine
Filed Jul 9, 2022TX

I own a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. Transfer case broke at 33,000 miles and was replaced by the dealer, and now it broke again at 55,000 miles. Repair cost is $6,340 plus tax. It broke under the warranty period but Porsche gave me the runaround and told me they wouldn't check it until after some body damage was complete (more details below). Honestly feel like I'm getting gouged with faulty parts. Many other Porsche Cayenne owners seem to be reporting this problem on forums. (e.g. https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-958-2011-2018/1290994-transfer-case-failure-2.html) More details - 1. We asked the Porsche dealership to review the car for mechanical issues and repair bumper body damage while the transfer case was under warranty. 2. The Porsche dealer declined to review any mechanical issues until the bumper body damage repair was complete. 3. The Porsche was taken in for service to repair the body work first in late March per Porsche's guidance while the transfer case was still under warranty. 4. The body work was delayed due to Porsche's supply chain issues, and by the time it was complete it was after May 2nd which was when the warranty expired for the transfer case. 5. When the Porsche dealer received the car after May 2nd it identified the transfer case broke. This has been a recurring issue with a car as one transfer case broke at ~33,000 miles and was replaced at a Porsche dealership. Now the second transfer case broke at 55,000 miles (this case only lasted 22,000 miles). 6. P

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 16, 202099,700 milesTX

RECALL WORK MISHANDLED AND CAUSED PROBLEM: I WENT TO PORSCHE FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON CAMSHAFT AND THEY CAN ALSO BE PERFORMED WHILE THE CAR IS IN. NOW WHEN I WENT TO GET MY CAR BACK THEY SAID THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND WHEN THEY CHECKED THE TECH SAYS THE PARTS SEEMS TO BE ALL NEW AND IT WAS DONE AT A DIFFERENT WORK SHOP. THEY ASKED ME TO GO TO THE SHOP AND CHECK WITH THEM. BUT I TOLD THEM IT WAS DONE FEW MONTHS BACK AND I HAD NO ISSUES AT ALL AND THE CAR DIDNT HAVE ANY ISSUES WHEN I GAVE IT FOR OIL CHANGE( NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). ALSO WHEN I ENTERED THE CAR I WAS ABLE TO SMELL A THICK OIL SMELL WHICH I INFORMED BECKY THE SERVICE CONSULTANT AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE OIL SPILL WHEN THEY DID OIL CHANGE. I ASKED IF THE ISSUE MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE CAMSHAFT WORK THEY DID BUT THEY PROMPTLY SAID IT WAS NOT RELATED. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUTO SHOP ( PORSCHE CERTIFIED SHOP) TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT. THE SHOP CHECKED AND DIDNT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THEIR PARTS THEY REPLACED SINCE IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THEY WENT AHEAD REPLACED THE PART AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SIGN DIDNT GO AWAY, SO THEY PERFORMED SMOKE TEST AND FOUND OUT THE INTAKE LEAK COMING FROM A SENSOR SEAL ON THE VALVE COVER. THEY SAID THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE CAMSHAFT WORK THAT HAS CAUSED A LARGE AIR LEAK IN THE ENGINE SETTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ALSO WHEN THEY CHECKED THE COVERS THEY FOUND THAT THERE WERE 2 ALUMINIUM SCREWS THAT WERE BROKEN . WHEN THE COVER WAS REM

Engine
Filed Jun 19, 202090,000 milesCA

I HAVE A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE S HYBRID. IT IS SUFFERING FROM THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN: 17V36800. THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE CAMSHAFT IN PLACE HAVE SHEARED OFF. PORSCHE IS REFUSING ANY TYPE OF CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THE VIN IS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST, BUT IT IS IN THE YEAR OF THE RECALL AND SUFFERS FROM THE ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD TO CALL MY WIFE AND HAVE IT TOWED. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST 14K+ TO REPAIR AND THEY WOULD NEED THE VEHICLE FOR A MONTH. *TR

Power Train
Filed Apr 22, 202047,500 milesFL

THE TRANSFER CASE IS FAULTY. IT WAS REPLACED AT 26,000 MILES AND NOW IT IS ACTING THE SAME WAY AGAIN AT 48.000 MILES. I WAS ENTERING THE HWY AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER BEFORE JUMPING INTO GEAR. THIS IS NOT SAFE CONSIDERING THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND BEHIND. DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT COULD HAVE. DEALER ADMITS THE TRANSFER CASE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH 2011-2017 CAYENNE BUT REFUSES TO TOTALLY COVER REPLACEMENT. THIS IS MY SECOND ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE AND AFTER SOME LIGHT RESEARCH HAVE COME ACROSS MANY OWNERS WITH ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1 AND 4 REPLACEMENTS. PORSCHE WILL NOT COVER THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR (APPROX. $6500). HOW CAN A COMPANY LIKE PORSCHE BE SO ARROGANT AS TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN BUT NOT MAKE RESTITUTION TO ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS,

Power Train
Filed Dec 3, 2019IL

THE TRANSFER CASE IN THIS CAR IS FAILING AT 53,000 MILES CAUSING UNSAFE, JERKING ACCELERATION LEADING TO TOTAL BREAKDOWN/SHUTDOWN IF NOT CORRECTED. NUMEROUS OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEFECT AND IS NOW PROVIDING NEWLY DESIGNED REPAIR PARTS DESCRIBED AS PERMANENTLY SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND COVERED BY A 2-YEAR WARRANTY AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $5,500 RETAIL

Seats
Filed Oct 22, 2019101,000 milesMD

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

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 26, 201949,900 milesGA

DASH BOARD LEATHER IS PEELING AND SHRINKING

Power Train
Filed Jul 27, 201985,000 milesMN

CLUNKING / SURGING (ALMOST FEELS LIKE A MISFIRE) AFTER CAR WARMS UP IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. SEEMS TO BE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE. PURCHASES CAR USED 30 DAYS AGO AND THIS ISSUE STARTED TO APPEAR AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. NOW FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH CAYENNES.

Power Train
Filed Jul 26, 201947,800 milesNC

2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE WITH 47,000 MILES. NOTICED JERKING WHEN TURNING LEFT AND SOME SLIPPAGE IN TRANSMISSION. IT GOT WORSE IN THE COMING DAYS AND BECAME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO HANDLING AND POWER TRAIN SURGES. I TOOK IT TO SOUTHPOINT PORSCHE IN DURHAM, NC, THIS WEEK AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW $4,435 TRANSFER CASE. A LOCAL PORSCHE SHOP DIRECTED ME TO REVIEWS WHICH NOTE THE SAME 'KNOWN' ISSUE - DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT THAT DRAINS FLUID BY TRANSFER CASE AND GETS MOISTURE INTO THE CASE. PORSCHE HAS ISSUED CORRECTIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPAIRS BUT NO RECALL (KNOWN) OR CALLBACK TO REPAIR AT THEIR COST. TRANSMISSION CAN LOCK UP DURING DRIVING CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. I ASKED DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT PORSCHE AND REGIONAL REP AND TO SHARE MY CONCERNS AND LINKS TO FORUMS WHERE THIS ISSUE IS OUTLINED IN MANY OTHER PORSCHE CAYENNE CASES.

Power Train
Filed Jul 15, 201953,000 milesNJ

THE TRANSFER CASE IN THIS CAR IS FAILING AT 53,000 MILES CAUSING UNSAFE, JERKING ACCELERATION LEADING TO TOTAL BREAKDOWN/SHUTDOWN IF NOT CORRECTED. NUMEROUS OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEFECT AND IS NOW PROVIDING NEWLY DESIGNED REPAIR PARTS DESCRIBED AS PERMANENTLY SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND COVERED BY A 2-YEAR WARRANTY AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $5,500 RETAIL.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jun 3, 201918,000 milesFL

HYBRID DEFAULT MULTIPLE TIMES IN PAST YEARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? FAULT GENERATOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT

Power Train
Filed Apr 26, 201976,253 milesFL

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.

Power Train
Filed Apr 4, 2019NJ

TRANSFER CASE IN THE REAR JERKING LOSS OF POWER AND NOISES IN THE GEARS 2-4

Power Train
Filed Jun 5, 201854,000 milesMA

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.

Power Train
Filed Feb 2, 201869,000 milesCA

IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2011+ CAYENNE THAT HAS THE TRANSFER CASE PROBLEM. THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY DURING 1-2 GEAR AND 3-4-5 GEAR. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ON THE FREEWAY. MY CAR ONLY HAS 71K MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING

Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2017CA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (PORSCHE OF LIVERMORE, 3100 LAS POSITAS ROAD, LIVERMORE, CA 94551) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE 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

Power Train
Filed Nov 25, 201720,000 milesNY

CAR HAD A SKIPPING FEELING WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 20,000 MILES AND TRANSFER BOX HAS TO BE REPLACED. THEY CHARGED ME 4660.47 FOR THE REPLACEMENT CLAIMING THE FIVE YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CAR IS ALWAYS GARAGED AND USED DURING THE WINTER. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO PORSCHE THEY SENT ME A CHECK FOR $950.

20 of 27 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2014
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20263100Routine
20255200Routine
20245400Do not drive
20235100Routine
20223200Routine
202121500Routine
202024400Routine
201942600Routine
201813100Routine
201717200Routine
201640200Routine
201513200Routine
201453310Routine
201340300Routine
2012 — this page27400Routine
201130300Routine
20101200Routine
200915200Routine
200827300Routine
200641312Fatalities reported
200532410Routine
200438620Routine
20032200Routine

Compare every Cayenne year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 30, 2022. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.