Porsche Cayenne Complaints

40 consumer complaints on file.

#11759576August 25, 2026
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Over approximately the past month, the leather covering on the dashboard of my 2021 Porsche Cayenne has rapidly begun lifting, buckling, and separating across a substantial portion of the dashboard. The deformation has become increasingly pronounced in a short period of time despite normal use and careful maintenance of the vehicle. I am concerned that this may present a safety issue because the passenger airbag deploys through the dashboard area. The dashboard material is visibly distorted and separating, and I am concerned that this deformation could potentially interfere with the intended deployment path or performance of the passenger airbag in a collision. This does not appear to be normal cosmetic wear. The affected area is not routinely touched or subjected to ordinary wear, and the condition developed quickly on a relatively recent vehicle. I have also found reports from other owners of similar Porsche Cayenne model years describing comparable dashboard leather lifting, bubbling, warping, or delamination. Because of the location of the defect and the potential relationship to the passenger-airbag deployment area, I am requesting that NHTSA review this condition as a possible safety-related defect. I have contacted Porsche Cars North America regarding the issue and am seeking inspection and repair through an authorized Porsche dealer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755286August 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery completely discharged and the safety switch in the battery malfunctions and battery can not be charged again. There are many complaints seen online about the battery problems Porsche has. This strands the car and me the driver. The dealer and independent mechanics said the same. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748386July 5, 2026
SUSPENSION
While driving at highway speed, my 2022 Porsche Cayenne S experienced an air suspension / air spring strut failure requiring a dealer repair costing approximately $4,000. Porsche has a related service campaign, WND6 / No. 74-22, for replacement of the front-right air-spring strut on certain 2021-2022 Cayenne vehicles, but stated that my VIN wasn't included in this service campaign. I am reporting this because my vehicle suffered the same failure mode described in the campaign, creating handling and suspension safety concerns. This failure manifested itself while drive increasing the risk of a serious accident. At the time of the incident, the car was 4 years 5 months old and had less than 10,000 miles. The issue first manifested itself with a warning: Chassis System Fault. It then followed up a few miles later with a critical fault: Chassis System Failed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747086June 29, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
On the afternoon of June 24, 2026, at approximately 5:40 PM, I experienced a severe, sudden braking system failure that directly caused a rear-end collision. I was driving my 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid on the highway, traveling to a concert scheduled for 7:00 PM. The highway traffic was heavy and slow-moving (stop-and-go). I was cruising at a moderate speed of approximately 40 to 50 mph. The vehicle ahead of me applied its brakes and came to a gradual, normal stop. I was maintaining a very safe following distance of approximately 30 meters (around 100 feet) behind that vehicle. As I perceived the traffic stopping, I immediately attempted to apply my brakes. However, the brake pedal instantly became extremely hard, felt completely locked up like a stone, and was impossible to press down. Despite having ample distance to stop and applying all my body weight and force onto the brake pedal, there was zero brake assistance from the vehicle, and the brakes failed to engage. The onboard Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking also failed to prevent the accident. As a result, I was completely unable to reduce the speed of the car, and my vehicle rolled forward and collided into the rear of the car in front of me. This was entirely a mechanical/electronic safety system failure. The vehicle is currently available for inspection, and I am requesting a full diagnostic download of the EDR and DME data before any repairs are performed.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745194June 19, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The emergency braking system light and the adaptive control cruise control is not working in the warning. Lights are on from Dave that I’ve got it from day one January 2026.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744923June 18, 2026
STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Vehicle Information: 2021 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid (VIN: [XXX]) Description of Defect: While operating the vehicle, the steering column bolt physically backed out and detached, causing an immediate, complete loss of steering control. This exact mechanical failure mirrors NHTSA Safety Recall 21V-493 (Porsche Campaign AMB4), which addressed loose, under-torqued steering column bolts leaving the factory. My specific VIN was excluded from the narrow initial recall population, proving a factory tracking failure by the manufacturer. The authorized Porsche dealership confirmed the failure stating the bolt backed out due to "vibrations." A vital steering bolt backing out under normal road vibrations on a 2021 luxury vehicle is a severe manufacturing defect and a life-threatening public safety hazard. Injuries/Crash: No Fire: No Speed at incident: 25 mph INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742202June 4, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
1. Driving Conditions & Baseline State I was operating my new 2026 Porsche Cayenne (current mileage approx. 717 miles) at highway speeds inside a tunnel near LAX. The vehicle was functioning normally under normal driving conditions until the incident occurred suddenly and without any prior warning signs. 2. Onset of Failure & Dashboard Alerts - While maintaining speed, the vehicle suffered an immediate, simultaneous electronic and mechanical malfunction. The dashboard abruptly displayed an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) error/failure warning, along with auto start/stop failure. Immediately following this alert, the vehicle experienced a severe, sudden loss of mechanical power and propulsion. 3. Vehicle Behavior & Safety Hazard Pressing the accelerator pedal failed to yield normal engine response or acceleration. The drop in power felt as though the vehicle entered an unprompted "limp mode" or suffered a critical powertrain/software communication failure, severely limiting my ability to maintain highway speeds. Because this occurred inside a highway tunnel, the sudden deceleration presented an immediate and extreme safety hazard, nearly causing a rear-end collision with the traffic behind me. I was forced to navigate the underpowered vehicle out of the active lanes of traffic under highly dangerous conditions. After pulling over to a safe area and cycling the ignition (turning the vehicle off and back on), the mechanical power partially/fully returned, suggesting a transient or software-driven electronic control unit (ECU) fault. The historical error codes should be stored in the vehicle's modules. 4. Post-Incident State The vehicle was presented to McKenna Porsche (Norwalk, CA) the following day for diagnosis of the power loss and ACC failure. Safety Implications & Requested Action This component failure constitutes a critical safety defect. A total or partial loss of propulsion at highway speeds poses an unreasonable risk of severe injury or crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740501May 27, 2026
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:AIR HANDLER/CHAMBER, DUCTS, AND VALVES
I am filing a complaint regarding an ongoing and unresolved HVAC odor issue affecting my 2023 Porsche Cayenne S Platinum Edition. Since shortly after taking ownership, the vehicle has consistently produced a strong mildew/musty odor after sitting for several hours. The odor is most noticeable upon startup and only dissipates once the air conditioning system begins circulating. The vehicle has been in and out of the dealership multiple times for diagnosis and repair attempts, yet the issue remains unresolved. Despite the vehicle remaining under the original manufacturer warranty, the dealership has refused to replace the evaporator coil, which I believe to be the source of the issue. The persistent odor negatively impacts vehicle usability and raises concerns regarding potential mold, bacteria, or HVAC contamination within the system. I am requesting further investigation into this issue and Porsche’s handling of repeated unresolved repair attempts under warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737123May 11, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Instrument cluster anti-glare film or delamination on center and left instrument cluster. The film is wearing away in certain irregular sport and shapes. The overall wear is impacting the visibility to the center cluster under certain conditions leading to obscure visibility to important information, including vehicle speed or other warning light. It has been raised to the dealer, then to Porsche NA, but the dealer has stated they (Porsche NA) will not cover the repair, even though the vehicle is under a CPO warranty. This first started appearing this year and has gotten worse over time. No unusual cleaning, harsh chemicals or other abrasive object were used. The nature of film is slick issue is inconsistent with this and does not appear on other parts of the user interface - just the more important ones. Porsche NA initially blamed the dealership, and then later denied my claim and now escalating.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736422May 7, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On 3 separate occasions while making a left hand turn against traffic, the car has initiated emergency braking and shown the ‘collision warning’ alert on the dashboard. Each time there were no cars approaching and the car halted to a complete stop. The first two instances I had my 10 year old in the car. Tonight I was alone. It is terrifying and I know this is not a rare occurrence with Porsches. An online forum has tons of other Porsche owners saying the same thing and we are being encouraged to file a report with NHTSA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729786April 7, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
My 2025 Porsche Cayenne S was involved in a low-speed crash and experienced multiple safety failures related to the Driver Assistance Control Unit, including phantom braking and camera failure. This crash, I believe, is a direct result of the safety defect identified in Recall ASB2 (NHTSA 25V896), which causes the Driver Assistance Control Unit to fail to process image and sensor data correctly. My vehicle has exhibited a dangerous pattern of electronic and sensor instability that aligns perfectly with the technical failures described in the recall: The Collision: While reversing in a parking garage on November 25, 2025, I struck a wall because the rearview camera and parking sensors failed to provide any notification or visual feed. I now understand this was caused by the "transient signal noise" cited in the recall, which prevents the system from detecting obstacles in specific lighting environments. Phantom Braking: On two separate occasions, the vehicle abruptly "slammed" on the brakes for no apparent reason, nearly causing high-speed rear-end collisions. When reported to The Collection Porsche Service on January 23, 2026, the Service Manager admitted the system is hypersensitive to shadows. This confirms the control unit is failing to correctly interpret image data—the exact root cause of the current recall. Total Electrical Failure: On December 2, 2025, the vehicle suffered a defective alternator, causing a total shutdown in a live intersection. This resulted in a seven-week repair (completed Jan 23, 2026). Unstable voltage from a failing alternator is a primary source of the "signal noise" that causes the driver assistance systems to malfunction. I initially believed the bumper contact was a personal error. However, given the documented failure of the alternator and the subsequent recall regarding camera/sensor data processing, it is clear that the vehicle’s safety systems were compromised at the time of the incident. Porsche NA has been notified.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723260March 10, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2021 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V896000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera failed to display a clear image on the screen. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the rear vehicle detection sensor failed to alert the driver of a nearby vehicle. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722337March 5, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
At approximately 57 miles after delivery of a new 2025 Porsche Cayenne, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and related driver-assistance safety systems failed while the vehicle was traveling at approximately 67 mph. There had been no collision, impact, or abnormal event prior to the failure. Porsche’s diagnostic logs (PIWIS) confirmed the system failure occurred while the vehicle was traveling at approximately 67 mph. A physical inspection of the vehicle showed no evidence of collision, abnormal G-force event, or exterior damage that would explain the system failure. The malfunction disabled a key driver-assistance safety feature on a nearly new vehicle. The vehicle was returned to the selling dealer for repair and the manufacturer, Porsche Cars North America, was notified. Both the dealer and manufacturer indicated that the issue was not considered a defect and declined to provide further explanation as to how such a failure could occur at extremely low mileage without any external factors. Given the extremely low mileage at which this safety system failure occurred, this may indicate a defect affecting the vehicle’s driver-assistance or ADAS systems. A failure of Adaptive Cruise Control and related driver-assistance systems at highway speed raises potential safety concerns for vehicle occupants and surrounding traffic. The failure occurred at extremely low mileage with no apparent triggering event, raising concern about a potential premature failure of a safety-related driver-assistance system.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721661March 3, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2022 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that the message that the mileage could not be recorded was intermittently displayed while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the rearview camera was intermittently inoperable after shifting to reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the cameras were replaced; however, the failure recurred approximately 5 months later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be repaired because the failure could not be duplicated. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V896000 (Back Over Prevention), which the contact associated with the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718212February 16, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The attached photos show several instances where the car’s safety systems failed. These cases have been erratic, and begin and end frequently. The car is under warranty, but my dealer cannot discern what causes the problems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715977February 5, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The car was driven from Cheshire, CT to Old Tappan, NJ about 90 miles, just under two hours drive time. Combination of highway and back roads. The car was in drive in comfort mode proceeding slowly (approx 20 mph) down a street within a condo complex. As I approached the driveway I lightly braked, turned into the driveway then lightly pressed the accelerator to bring the car up the driveway apron onto the single car length driveway. At that point the car accelerated to what felt like max power. The car accelerated uncontrollably causing the car to advance in a right turn through the closed garage door striking a garaged vehicle in the right rear quarter and the right wall of the garage. Fortunately no one was hurt but this could have resulted on severe injury or death. No pre warning lights just a slight burning smell just before. This unrequested acceleration occurred twice before the crash incident leaving a traffic light from stop. Porsche has analyzed the car and find no fault. The insurance company has sent an adjuster. Damage estimated at $73,000.00.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702293December 1, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rotary volume control knob on the center console of my 2024 Porsche Cayenne Coupe detached during normal, routine interior cleaning while the vehicle was stationary. The knob lifted off the control shaft with minimal contact from a standard handheld vacuum nozzle. This indicates that the retention mechanism of the control knob is insufficient and may represent a manufacturing or design defect. A loose or detachable interior control is a safety concern because it distracts the driver from the road when attempting to adjust audio, alerts, or climate menu functions. The control knob is part of an interface that the driver must use while driving, and if it unexpectedly detaches or becomes loose, it can impair the ability to safely manage vehicle settings. The issue was reported to the Porsche dealership and Porsche Cars North America. Both declined warranty coverage and classified the problem as “customer damage,” despite the failure occurring under normal usage conditions and without misuse. A properly secured interior control knob should not detach during light interior cleaning, and this may indicate a broader quality-control issue affecting similar vehicles. There were no warning lights prior to the failure. The problem is reproducible because the knob no longer attaches securely to the shaft. I am reporting this to NHTSA because an interior control that detaches under normal use may distract drivers, impair safe operation of infotainment and climate systems, and may indicate a defect in the design or construction of the control assembly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699714November 16, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Multiple dash messages indicating failure of driver assistance systems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11692345October 9, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Porsche Cayenne. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase on 5/29/25, the mileage was 21,000. The contact had taken the vehicle to another dealer for other repairs, and the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was flagged for Odometer Fraud, and the actual mileage was 90,000. The dealer found an odometer tampering device still located on the vehicle, but deactivated the device. The contact called the State Attorney General's Office for New Jersey.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11690525September 30, 2025
AIR BAGS
I am reporting a safety defect with my 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS. The leather dashboard is delaminating and lifting away from its underlying structure. This defect is concerning because: The delamination is occurring on the drivers side but will eventually expand in the area covering the passenger-side airbag. If the airbag deploys, the raised/lifted dashboard material may interfere with or obstruct proper deployment, posing a serious risk to passenger safety. Porsche Cars North America (PNA) has been notified, but they classify this issue as “cosmetic” and refuse to repair it voluntarily under warranty or goodwill. Furthermore, The issue was not disclosed by the dealer at purchase. I have consulted two Porsche dealerships, both of which confirmed Porsche considers this a cosmetic defect not covered by the Certified Pre Owned warranty. However, given the location and potential interaction with the airbag system, I strongly believe this constitutes a safety-related defect that requires investigation. Online forums show this is a common issue across many models made by Porsche during this time but specifically SUV's. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue to determine whether the delaminating dashboards in Porsche Cayenne models create a safety hazard that requires a recall and mandatory repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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