FaultScore

FaultScore report

2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo problems

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo with NHTSA between 2016 and 2024. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

11

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

90,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

0%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

How 2011 compares with every other Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 9 81.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 92,978 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 18.2%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 28.6%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 4 57.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 14.3%

NHTSA crash tests

The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.

Configuration Overall Front Side Rollover
2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV AWD

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Nov 2016 peak 1 Aug 2024

Recalls on the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 2017296 1,823 units in Canada

Engine

On certain vehicles, the fasteners of the camshaft adjusters could fail due to an assembly problem. If this occurs, this could cause abnormal engine noises, vibrations, illumination of the check engine light and could cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the fastening screws of the camshaft adjusters and if necessary, replace the camshaft adjuster assemblies.

Recall 2016131 10,370 units in Canada

Brakes

On certain vehicles, a circlip at the brake pedal hinge may not have been installed at the time of assembly. This could allow the pivot pin to move out of position, which would allow the pedal to wobble, and could fracture the brake pedal pivot through continued use. A fractured hinge would allow the pedal to separate from its pivot, which could lead to impaired brake function and increase stopping distances, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect and add a circlip as necessary.

Recall 2012070 1,840 units in Canada

Lights And Instruments

On certain vehicles, the headlamp assemblies may not have been secured correctly during vehicle assembly. As a result, the headlamps could loosen and detach from the vehicle, which could compromise the driver's ability to see the road and its users. In addition, the errant headlamp module could strike a vehicle, a stationary object, or a bystander. These issues could result in property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the headlamp locking components.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Sarasota, FL Crash

ENGINE

2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED NO FAULT CODES APPEARED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DRIFTED INTO A CURB BENDING AND DAMAGING THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA complaint #11029822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 131,046 miles Grass Valley, CA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. Additionally, while driving, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist, and the brake pedal was firm while depressed. The vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. The traction control, check engine, oil pressure, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the passenger's side camshaft controller and bolts had failed. The dealer determined that both the driver's and passenger's side camshaft controllers and bolts needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the camshaft adjusters and bolts under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V368000 (Engine) associated with the VIN; however, the contact was not satisfied with the remedy for the recall. The contact stated that the dealer failed to recover all the failed bolts inside the engine. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 131,046.

NHTSA complaint #11610533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pacific Grove, CA

POWER TRAIN

AT TIME OF PURCHASE, 11/5/18 MY WIFE GLENDA AND I TOOK IT INTO PORSCHE WOODLAND HILLS WHO PERFORMED CAMPAIGN AHO8 OR VERIFIED THAT THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE - REPLACING THE FAULTY FASTENING SCREWS IN CAMSHAFT CONTROLLER. ATTACHED INVOICE #C56285 DATED 11/5/18 SAYS "RECALL COMPLETED - NO CORRECTION NEEDED" UNDER CONCERN #24 (MIDDLE OF PAGE).

NHTSA complaint #11234137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Manhattan Beach, CA

POWER TRAIN

TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. THERE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY PORSCHE OF AN ASSOCIATED DEFECT OF THE TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AND A RELATED WORKSHOP BULLETIN (WB) WHEN REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE. PORSCHE MECHANICS ARE INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE A "VENT HOSE" FOR THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS NEWLY REVISED DESIGN PART NUMBER FOR THE REVISED VENT IS 958-301-047-10. THE REASON: THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR CAYENNE 958 PORSCHE TRANSFER CASES HAD THE HOSE ENDING ON THE LOWER (CLOSER TO THE GROUND) SIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THE NEW HOSE ENDS ON THE UPPER (FURTHER FROM THE GROUND) SIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. PORSCHE DETERMINED THAT MOISTURE WAS GETTING SUCKED INTO THE CASES AND CAUSING FLUID CONTAMINATION. SINCE THE TRANSFER CASE USES A "MULTIPLATE WET CLUTCH", MOISTURE COULD PREMATURELY CORRODE OR ALLOW RUST TO FORM, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CLUTCH TO BIND AND WORK ERRATICALLY. THESE ARE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY MULTIPLE OWNERS OF 958 CAYENNES DISCUSSED IN PORSCHE FORUMS (E.G. RENNTECH.ORG, RENNSLIST.COM, ETC.). THIS REVISED VENT DEVELOPED BY PORSCHE TO REPLACE THE EXISTING DESIGN, SHOULD BE COVERED BY PORSCHE. MOREOVER, OWNERS OF 958 CAYENNES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURES OF THE TRANSFER CASE AND SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE NEWLY DESIGNED HOSE, SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE FULL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT TRANSFER CASE AND THE HOSE. THERE ARE NOW HUNDREDS OF CAYENNE OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. MOREOVER, THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE DOES NOT CALL FOR ANY PREVENTATIVE FLUID CHANGES OF THE TRANSMISSION OIL. THIS SHOULD BE REVISED AND RECOMMENDED SERVICING SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED (E.G., EVERY 10,000 MILES). THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER CASE COULD CAUSE VEHICLES TO LURCH OR REACT IN AN ERRATIC OR UNSAFE CAPACITY ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF OPERATION, INCLUDING HIGHWAY SPEED DRIVING. SUCH AN ERRATIC EVENT COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC HARM TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, OR BYSTANDERS.

NHTSA complaint #11141928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX

ENGINE

2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CAMSHAFT CONTROLLER SAFETY RECALL. CONSUMER HAD REPAIR DONE PRIOR TO RECALL AND IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *LD

NHTSA complaint #11111598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarasota, FL Crash

ENGINE

2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED NO FAULT CODES APPEARED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DRIFTED INTO A CURB BENDING AND DAMAGING THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA complaint #11029822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,961 miles Scarborough, ME

ENGINE

11/10/2016 WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR RUNNING VERY ROUGH, TROUBLE STARTING. DEALER VERIFIED AND FOUND NUMEROUS FAULTS. REMOVED LEFT VALVE COVER AND FOUND SCREWS FOR CAM ADJUSTER BROKEN. REMOVED BANK 2 CAM ADJUSTER & VALVE COVER REMOVED OIL PAN TO RETRIEVE BROKEN PIECES OF SCREWS FROM ACTUATOR. REPLACED BOTH BANK 1&2 CAM ADJUSTERS. RESET CAM ADJUSTER TIMING.-DURING TEST DRIVE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH & CHECK ENG. LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSIS.-DEFECTIVE CYLINDER 2 IGNITION COIL. 6/15/2017 DEALER NOTIFIED THAT ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS LIT UP AND VEHICLE RUNNING VERY ROUGH. PROBLEM: SCORING ON CYLINDER 2. REMOVED ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. REPLACED ENGINE BLOCK , REINSTALLED COMPONENTS. REINSTALLED ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALIGNED, CALIBRATED. 7/31/2017 RECEIVED PORSCHE RECALL AH08- REPLACING FASTENING SCREWS FOR CAMSHAFT CONTROLLER. CALLED DEALER SERVICE MGR. AND ASKED IF ENGINE PROBLEMS COULD BE RELATED TO CAMSHAFT FASTENING SCREW FAILURE, SINCE CAR EXHIBITED EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES AS NOTED IN THE RECALL LETTER. TOLD ABSOLUTELY NOT ! 8/18/2017 RETURNED CAR TO CUSTOMER AND CHARGED CUSTOMER $4000. CUSTOMER STARTED CAR, ENGINE FAILED IMMEDIATELY. DEALER RETURNED CAR TO SHOP. 9/14/2017 - CAR IS STILL AT DEALER'S WAITING FOR NEW ENGINE !

NHTSA complaint #11023444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,500 miles Shelton, CT

ENGINE

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR DRAMATICALLY LOST POWER AND STALLED, LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO AN EXIT AND MANAGED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME THAT HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID HITTING ME. I GOT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EXIT RAMP AND THE CAR WAS BARELY RUNNING. WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK TO THE DEALER (WHICH WAS ONLY 1/4 MILE AWAY) THE PROBLEM WAS THE CAMSHAFT ADJUST BOLTS ON BANK #1 SHEARED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART AND PROBLEM WITH ALL PORSCHE V8 ENGINES FROM 2011-2012.

NHTSA complaint #10992355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,957 miles South EL Monte, CA

ENGINE

PORSCHE HAS A KNOW DEFECT IN THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER SCREW FAILURE PORSCHE AS ALREADY LEAD A CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS ISSUE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE GLOBE AND THIS FAILURE CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO HAVE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE THAT PORSCHE NOW WANTS $35,199.00 TO FIX/REPAIR. REFERENCES: HTTP://EUROPE.AUTONEWS.COM/ARTICLE/20150209/ANE/150209861/PORSCHE-WILL-RECALL-SOME-PANAMERA-CAYENNE-MODELS-IN-CHINA-ON-CAMSHAFT- HTTPS://WWW.6SPEEDONLINE.COM/FORUMS/CAYENNE-958/319690-SNAPPED-CAMSHAFT-ADJUSTER-BOLT-ENGINE-BRAKE-HYDRAULICS-FAILURE.HTML

NHTSA complaint #10971679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hollywood, CA

ENGINE

LATE 2010 TO EARLY 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE VEHICLES WITH V8 ENGINES HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH BOLTS THAT HOLD THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS. THE WEAK BOLTS IN QUESTION ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES WHERE THEY SHEER OFF, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. IF THIS FAILURE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT SPEED, A LOSS OF POWER BRAKING AND STEERING WILL OCCUR AS A RESULT. PORSCHE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS FORCED TO RECALL ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES IN CHINA BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, BUT HAS SO FAR AVOIDED RECALLING THE AFFECTED VEHICLES IN THE US. THE NECESSARY REPAIRS INVOLVE REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE BOLTS WITH STEEL ONES. PORSCHE NO LONGER USES THE DEFECTIVE BOLTS IN THEIR V8 ENGINES BUILT AFTER 2012. I BELIEVE PORSCHE WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS DEFECT PROPERLY IN US CARS UNLESS AN INVESTIGATION IS LAUNCHED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL. REPAIR COSTS PER VEHICLE ARE ESTIMATED AT $3500, COMPARED TO $30,000 FOR THE COST OF A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS WEBSITES WITH USERS EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM AND LIMITED REMEDIES. HERE ARE JUST A COUPLE: HTTP://TINYURL.COM/Z929BFN HTTP://TINYURL.COM/JOU52BS MY VEHICLE HAS THE DEFECTIVE BOLTS IN QUESTION BUT PORSCHE HAS SAID THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND FEEL MY CAR IS NOT AT ISSUE. I FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE MY ENGINE EXPERIENCES THIS FAILURE. MY ONLY OPTIONS ARE TO EITHER MAKE THE REPAIRS AT MY COST, HOPING TO ONE DAY BE REIMBURSED, OR TO SELL THE VEHICLE. I AM HOPING BY FILING THIS INCIDENT INFORMATION, PORSCHE CAN BE PERSUADED TO CORRECT THEIR DEFECT IN THE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES SOLD IN THE US. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10956246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Chesterfield, MO

ENGINE

CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER BOLTS STARTING TO BECOME LOOSE AND BACK OUT, WHICH IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON THOSE CARS, CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN UNPREDICTABLE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING, AND POTENTIALLY ACCIDENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH VERY HEAVY AND VERY FAST CAR LIKE THIS ONE. DEALER QUOTED $4000 TO FIX WITH NEW BOLTS AND ADJUSTERS. ATTACHED ARE PICTURES TAKEN WITH A BORESCOPE FROM MY ENGINE. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR THIS. ALSO ATTACHED IS QUOTE FROM DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10948598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,500 miles Asheville, NC

ENGINE

MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE -RELATED TO DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN VOLUNTARY WORKSHOP CAMPAIGN WC-22-IN THE ALUMINUM CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER BOLTS WHICH HAVE A TENDENCY TO SHEER OFF, WHICH PREVENT THE CAMSHAFTS FROM RUNNING. IF THIS OCCURS IN THE CAMSHAFT THAT OPERATES THE VACUUM PUMP, THE POWER BRAKING WILL ALSO FAIL, WHICH WILL RESULT IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BRAKE THE CAR WITHOUT THE VACUUM POWDERED BRAKES. THE BOLTS THEMSELVES MAY ALSO DROP INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL. IN MY CASE VEHICLE HAD DEALER ROUTINE SERVICE CHECK 3-4 DAYS EARLIER- EVERYTHING "PERFECT". ON DAY OF FAILURE STOPPED FOR GAS AND AFTER RESTART HEARD A NEW "TICKING" AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED DEALER WHO INSTRUCTED ME TO COME OVER. I DROVE ABOUT 3-4 MILES TO DEALER NEW PSM FAILURE AND ANOTHER I DID NOT GET WHEN CAR LOST POWER AND SEEMED TO BRAKE POORLY.. ROLLED INTO DEALER AND STILL THERE- ENGINE PULLED --MAY BE COMPLETE LOSS. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED TODAY THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE AS WC-22

NHTSA complaint #10926441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.