FaultScore

2004 Porsche Cayenne S engine problems

17 of the 74 complaints about the 2004 Porsche Cayenne S are about the engine — 23% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 67,000 miles.

C

17

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine AND Engine Cooling 6 35.3%
Engine 6 35.3%
Cooling System 3 17.6%
Engine 2 11.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Montgomery, AL

ENGINE

2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE FIRE DAMAGES. *AS

NHTSA complaint #11131251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Long Beach, CA

ENGINE

PORSCHE ANNOUNCED THEIR "CAMPAIGN" (RECALL) ON NOVEMBER 14, 2017. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL PORSCHE DEALERS SINCE THAT TIME, AND THE PARTS FOR THIS RECALL ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ONE DEALER SAYS IT COULD BE "ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS" BEFORE THE PART IS AVAILABLE. THE AH10 CAMPAIGN SAYS THAT THIS SITUATION CAN CAUSE A FIRE! IS THIS WHAT PORSCHE IS WAITING FOR? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THEM TO PRODUCE THE PARTS NECESSARY TO PREVENT SIGNIFICANT INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #11058019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Caseyville, IL

ENGINE

CAR WAS BOUGHT AS CERTIFIED PORSCHE IN MAR 2011 WITH 66K MILES; CURRENT MILES 165K MILES; DRIVEN APPROX. FOR 100K MILES IN 6 YEARS. ENGINE CLICKING NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE "F" CYN. WALLS ARE SCORED AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. CHECKED ON-LINE FOR THIS CONDITION WITH OTHER V-8 PORSCHE OWNERS TO FIND THAT IT'S VERY COMMON. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN ISSUE AND SAFETY WISE ( NO POWER, MISS FIRING AND STALLING). A $100K NEW SHOULD NOT HAVE A V-8 ENGINE THAT HAS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT IS WORTH LESS AT SUCH LOW MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10991803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 152,000 miles Antioch, CA

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING WITH BOTH OF MY CHILDREN IN THE RAIN MY ENTIRE CAR LOCKED AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPES STOPPED MY WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN AND MY DOORS LOCKED ON AND OFF MY ALARM SYSTEM STARTED TO GO OFF UNCONTROLLABLY EVEN WHILE DRIVING PORSCHE ISN'T BEING OF ANY HELP GIVING ME RUN AROUNDS ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE PROCESS OF THE INCIDENT

NHTSA complaint #10852514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles Palatine, IL

ENGINE

COOLANT LINE/PLASTIC COOLANT HOSE FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND MY LOW COOLANT LIGHT APPEARED. WITHIN SECONDS, THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING AND THE TEMP. GAGE RAPIDLY BEGAN TO RISE. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TO AVOID POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. I TOWED THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INDICATED ITS A DESIGN DEFECT FROM PORSCHE AND THE PLASTIC TUBES ARE NOW REPLACED BY OREM ALUMINUM TUBES. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE DESIGN FLAW BY PORSCHE WAS CONCEALED. THE CAYENNE S IS IN THE SHOP AND I'M HOPING THAT ONLY THE HOSES NEED REPLACEMENT AND NOTHING ELSE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. A HUGE DENT IN THE WALLET AS THIS IS A COSTLY FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10511344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Washington, DC

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED ALL THE ANTIFREEZE LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN . THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE PLASTIC PIPES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10499305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,416 miles Daly City, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PORSCHE KNOWINGLY MANUFACTURED CAYENNE MODEL VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC COOLANT TUBES THAT DEGRADE AND FRACTURE CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE. PORSCHE HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND FAILED TO MAKE CONSUMERS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FAILURE DESPITE THE RISK TO THE OWNERS SAFETY AND POCKETBOOK.

NHTSA complaint #10446282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,500 miles Hillsdale, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, AN OVERHEATING INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE ENGINE COOLANT WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. WHILE ADDING THE COOLANT, THE TECHNICIANS NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT THROUGH ITS PLASTIC TUBING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE PLASTIC TUBING FOR THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS BEING REPLACED WITH ALUMINUM TUBING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,500.

NHTSA complaint #10413499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Gaithersburg, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLANT PIPE START TO FAIL FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2004-2006. THE MATERIAL FOR COOLANT PIPE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT RESULTED IN A DISINTEGRATION OF PIPE OVERTIME DUE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES. PORSCHE TECHNICIANS IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE AND PORSCHE ENGINEERS ALSO IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE. THEY CAME UP WITH A REPLACEMENT PART WHICH IS MADE OF ALUMINUM TO MITIGATE DAMAGES TO THE ENGINE DUE TO SUDDEN FAILURE OF COOLANT PIPE. IF THE PIPE BUSTED, IT WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FAIL DURING OPERATION AND MAY RESULT IN A HAZARDOUS INCIDENT CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND POSSIBLY INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND ITS PASSENGER. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT PORSCHE TO RECALL THIS PRODUCT AND REPLACE IT FOR ALL DEFECT TO PREVENT FURTHER INCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW SO THE COST TO REPAIR, REPLACE OR TO UPGRADE CANNOT BE THE OWNER RESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #10401458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,419 miles Laguna Woods, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WATER PUMP FAILURE. ORIGINAL PART HAS PLASTIC IMPELLER AND HIGH FAILURE RATE DEALER WII REPLACE WITH UPGRADED PART BUT NO REEMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10379711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,492 miles Laguna Woods, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ORIGINAL ENGINE COOLING TUBES DEFECTIVE, PLASTIC COMPOSITION.CAN FAIL WITHOUT INDICATION CAUSING OVERHEATED ENGINE AT ANY TIME. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE UPGRADED TO METAL. NO RECALL AND MAKER WILL NOT REEMBURSE DAMAGE OR REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10379708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,000 miles Abingdon, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE PORSCHE CAYENNE (AND OTHER PORSCHE MODELS) HAVE A COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE'S "LOW COOLANT LEVEL" LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL AND FOUND IT TO BE SEVERELY LOW. THE PORSCHE DEALER SERVICE (AND ON-LINE FORUMS) REPORT THAT PORSCHE CAYENNE ENGINES ARE ENCOUNTERING A COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO AFFECT ALL CAYENNE S, CAYENNE TURBO AND CAYENNE TURBO S ENGINES BUILT FROM 2003 TO 2006 (MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 MODEL). THE COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM IS LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COOLANT PIPES LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE PORSCHE DEALER, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE PLASTIC MATERIAL USED BY PORSCHE (WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN CHANGED TO A METAL MATERIAL) AND THE PLASTIC FITTINGS. THE LACK OF COOLANT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, OR EVEN BLOW AN ENGINE, WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, PORSCHE SERVICE SAYS THAT THE COOLANT PIPES MUST BE REPLACED, WHICH IS A VERY LABOR AND PARTS INTENSIVE SERVICE COSTING WELL OVER $1,000.

NHTSA complaint #10367939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,059 miles Westport, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

**UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION** CAYENNE S ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 60 MPH, I ENCOUNTERED TRAFFIC AHEAD AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, HOWEVER THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING. I TRIED LIFTING THE PEDAL WITH MY FOOT, NO LUCK, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR SLOWED, HOWEVER, WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE CAYENNE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT BEEN ACTIVATED AND WAS OFF. I KEPT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND RELEASING IT AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES AND FINALLY THE CAYENNE STOPPED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, ONLY TO LOSE ANY CONTROL TO ACCELERATE. I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED THE CAR. TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED - I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE, HOWEVER ACCELERATION WAS VERY SLOW AND GEAR INDICATOR ON THE DASH CLUSTER DISPLAYED A BLACK 'D' IN AN ORANGE SQUARE. THIS IS A SYMBOL THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE CAR SHIFTED THROUGH GEARS NORMALLY. THE RAPID UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION REPEATED ITSELF AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT, SLOWING AND STOPPING THE CAR THANKSTO MASSIVE 14" FRONT BRAKES WITH 6 PISTON CALIPERS AND 13"+ REAR BRAKES WITH 4 PISTON CALIPERS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED. GEAR SELECTION INDICATOR APPEARED NORMAL AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF, HOWEVER ACCELERATION WAS STILL VERYSLOW. DROVE HOME WITH THE RAPID ACCELERATION REPEATING ITSELF AGAIN AND THEN STOPPING AFTER A FEW MILES. THE ONLY REASON THIS DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH IS THE MASSIVE BRAKING POWER OF THE CAYENNE AND ASTUTE DRIVING. I RAN DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE WHEN I MADE IT HOME AND THERE WAS AN "ACCELERATOR MODULE" FAILURE REPORTED. THE TAIL LIGHTS, ALARM, CENTRAL LOCKING, AND THE ABILITY TO OPEN THE TAILGATE AT ALL HAVE ALSO FAILED - "REAR LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE" FAILURE. SO WHILE DRIVING, MY TAIL LIGHTS FAILED, CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE IN A SAFE NORMAL MANNER. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE PROMPTLY ADDRESSED!

NHTSA complaint #10303704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Poway, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE PERFORMS AS IF IT WILL STALL WHILE ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER ACTUALLY STALLED, BUT HESITATES DURING ACCELERATION. THE HESITATION OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN VEHICLE IS MAKING TURNS. THIS IS A RECURRING INCIDENT WHICH OCCURS DAILY.

NHTSA complaint #10163129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,200 miles Indian Wells, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PORSCHE-04 CAYENNE ON OCCASIONS STALLS ON TURNING AND TOUCHING BRAKE AND TWICE ON THE FREEWAY GOING STRAIGHT BUT BRAKING AND PUSHING ON THROTTLE NO POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #10143572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,000 miles Miami, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT: THE AIR BAG AND THE CHECK LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT SERVICE THE CAR UNTIL 10/17/2005. CALLED PORSCHE CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY SAID THEY COULD HELP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND HE DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA complaint #10137463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,047 miles SAN Francisco, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE HAD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE: REAR HATCH LID ADJUSTED, DOME LIGHT COVERS REPLACED, AUDIO UNIT REPLACED, ETC...***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND BANGED AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER UPDATED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED STALLING PROBLEMS. THE REMOTE ENTRY REMOTE LOST IT'S PROGRAMMING AND HAD A POOR SIGNAL. AT TIME ALL THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THE REAR HATCH LIGHT WOUOLD NOT TURN OFF BECAUSE THE HATCH WAS MISADJUSTED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE HORN WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND A VIBRATION COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HEADLAMPS FOGGED UP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR OULD NOT FOLD IN AUTOMATICALLY. THE RADIO AND OTHER ACCESORIES WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHENT HE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE HOOD WAS HAD TO RAISE BECAUSE THE TAILGATE SHOCKS FAILED. THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT CLOSE BECAUSE IT WAS MISALIGNED. THE REAR ROOF MOLDING WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE RADIO PRODUCED NO SOUND AT TIME IN THE RADIO OR CD MODE. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD TO BE UPDATED. THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT CLOSE FLUSH WITH THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR A TOTAL OF 32 DAYS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.

NHTSA complaint #10136709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Porsche Cayenne S problems

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