Owners have filed 16 complaints
about the 2015 Porsche Cayenne with NHTSA between 2015 and 2025.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 15 of 18 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 21
Against the median year of the Porsche Cayenne. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
63% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2015 compares with every other Porsche Cayenne
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2015 Porsche Cayenne
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Lights
318.8%
Transmission & Drivetrain
318.8%
Median failure at 39,300 miles
Engine & Cooling
318.8%
Median failure at 19,650 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
212.5%
Median failure at 8,000 miles
Electrical System
212.5%
Other & Unspecified
16.3%
Body & Structure
16.3%
Median failure at 921 miles
Airbags
16.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
450.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
112.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
225.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
112.5%
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.
Oct 2015peak 3May 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2015 Porsche Cayenne
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
Recalls on the 2015 Porsche Cayenne
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 202630115,515 units in Canada
Other
Issue: On certain vehicles, the immobilizer system may not meet certain requirements of Canadian regulations. Safety Risk: This small error does not affect safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. Porsche has made changes to ensure that all new vehicles meet Canadian regulations.
Recall 202248758,856 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain vehicles, covers were not installed over the horizontal headlamp adjusters. As a result, the headlamps may be adjusted horizontally. Canadian regulations do not allow for horizontal headlamp adjustment unless the vehicle is equipped with a built-in aiming device. Safety Risk: Headlamps that are not properly adjusted could cause reduced visibility or glare for oncoming drivers, and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Porsche will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to install caps over the headlamp adjustment screws.
Recall 201919233,832 units in Canada
Label
Issue: Certain wheels were made without a marking that is required by Canadian regulations. Safety Risk: This small error does not affect safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. The company has made changes to include the required marking on all new parts.
Recall 201613110,370 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.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Topeka, KS
AIR BAGS
Air bag light on occupant not detected code, just like Porsche Mecan campaign AMA2
NHTSA complaint #11664131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Topeka, KS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
June 7-8, 2024 driving in rain, the #17- 25 amp headlight fuse blew, leaving my family and me stranded without headlights in the dark on I-70 highway. When headlights quit during this drive and it became Very Very dangerous! After getting the 2015 Cayenne home, I inspected both headlights. Driver's side headlight had a lot of moisture on the inside of lens. The passenger side headlight had about 1 cup of water inside headlight. Reading about Porsche Cayenne headlights leaking online, this issue should be a recall. I am going to take to dealership have them work on unrelated recall. I will ask them to inspect Cayenne. I can not drive this vehicle during inclimate weather or at night for an emergency or otherwise. I have been really busy at work and personally to take 60 miles to dealership. I have another vehicle I have been driving.
NHTSA complaint #11629837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tigard, OR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Dealership is selling vehicle without disclosing recall information or correcting.
NHTSA complaint #11595610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, MA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
When I start the vehicle I get an error message that the rear lights are not working properly, but they are functioning well. This message is random and it can show up at anytime. I have contacted Porsche about this and they said that this is due to a faulty part that can be replaced, but requires 5000 USD. This problem was there when the vehicle was under warranty, but they never pursued or investigated it.
NHTSA complaint #11579292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corpus Christi, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Headlight not working properly.
NHTSA complaint #11572810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Chester, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On August 21 2021, I was out shopping. When I went out to return home, the car would not start. I could not jump start it or anything. I had it towed to the dealer. I found out from Porsche and dealership that my car was disabled by Porsche Connect. I do not have this service or pay for it. On Friday Sept 3, I was informed by Porsche customer service that it disabled my car because the original owner (in 2015) changed their phone number. So Porsche assumed stolen and shut down. I did not authorize this, I did not sign up for this service. They will not fix the car because they say it is out of warranty. Because I do not know the code to turn the car back on, they want to replace parts and say I have to get the Porsche Connect App. This is a known issue at Porsche because the dealer found a TSB on it. They are not taking responsibility for shutting down the car with out my permission. This is a safety issue depending on where I could have been.
NHTSA complaint #11431928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Buena Park, CA
ENGINE
After the emissions recall was performed the vehicle has an issue that when turning a corner the engine will not produce any power and will not shift down in order to get the car to accelerate. You get no response from the throttle pedal unless you depress it fully to the floor and then the car will jerk and accelerate uncontrollably. This creates an unsafe condition when trying to pull out into traffic. I have almost been in an accident multiple times because of this with oncoming cars and with cars following me as they are trying to merge also and my vehicle will not accelerate. I have driven a vehicle identical to mine that has not had the emissions recall performed and it does not have this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11430182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The 2015 Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid has a charging port for charging the electric drive battery. The electric plug does not disconnect from the vehicle. Based on the OBD-II software used for diagnosis Error Code - P0D9400 Error Description - High-voltage charger - charging-plug lock fault (00A93D)
NHTSA complaint #11420884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,800 milesGolden Valley, MN
POWER TRAIN
MY PORSCHE CAYENNE DIESEL HAS HAD THE PORSCHE DIESEL EMISSIONS SETTLEMENT PROGRAM "FIX" COMPLETED. SINCE THE "FIX" THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. WHEN MERGING, TURNING A SLOW SPEED CORNER OR ROLLING THROUGH A YIELD SIGN THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG/DELAY FROM THE TIME THE THROTTLE INPUT HAPPENS AND A RESPONSE FROM THE MOTOR. THIS DELAY HAS BEEN AS LONG AS 2 SECONDS LEADING TO NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES. PORSCHE HAS INSISTED THE VEHICLE IS FINE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ON MAR 16, 2018, AT 04:28 PM, "(XXXX)(PCNA, CR_EXT)" <(XXXX)@PORSCHE.US> WROTE: GOOD AFTERNOON MR. (X), I AM SORRY TO LEARN OF YOUR DISSATISFACTION WITH YOUR VEHICLE. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EPA/CARB APPROVED EMISSIONS MODIFICATION, THE SHIFTING BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN ADJUSTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENHANCED AUTOMATIC ENGINE BRAKING FEATURE HAS BEEN REMOVED. WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE THE REDUCTION IN MPG NOTED BELOW, ARE YOU TOWING AT THAT TIME? BEST REGARDS, [XXX] CUSTOMER COMMITMENT SENIOR SPECIALIST US CENTRAL REGION AND CANADA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC
NHTSA complaint #11162255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,000 milesBloomington, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP FROM RE-CALL REPAIRS, OUR CAR SHUT OFF ON US IN THE BUSY 5:00 PM AUSTIN TRAFFIC. IT WAS SCARY & DANGEROUS. PORSCHE EMPLOYEES STEVE & AMY HELPED US WITH TOWING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE FOR MY HUSBAND & I TO TRAVEL BACK TO VICTORIA COUNTY WHILE OUR CAR GET SERVICED. I REACHED OUT TO ARIELLE VAUGHN, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER, BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG OR WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OUR CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11151396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1 milesRoscoe, IL
POWER TRAIN
PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA AS PART OF THE EPA/CARB SETTLEMENT MODIFIED THE 2015 CAYENNE IN A MANNER TO COMPLY WITH THE ORIGINAL EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. THE MODIFICATION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED PERFORMANCE I SUCH A WAY THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOW DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. WHEN MERGING ONTO HIGHWAYS OR ATTEMPTING TO OVERTAKE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF RESPONSE TO THROTTLE INPUT LEADING TO NEAR MISSES BY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE MODIFICATIONS HAVE HAD TIME TO ADAPT OVER TIME. PORSCHE HAS CONTINUED TO DENY AN ISSUE AND STATES THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AFTER THE MODIFICATION. THIS SUMS UP OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE, IT IS TO THE POINT THAT IT IS UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE
NHTSA complaint #11105297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1 milesRoscoe, IL
ENGINE
PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA AS PART OF THE EPA/CARB SETTLEMENT MODIFIED THE 2015 CAYENNE IN A MANNER TO COMPLY WITH THE ORIGINAL EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. THE MODIFICATION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED PERFORMANCE I SUCH A WAY THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOW DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. WHEN MERGING ONTO HIGHWAYS OR ATTEMPTING TO OVERTAKE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF RESPONSE TO THROTTLE INPUT LEADING TO NEAR MISSES BY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE MODIFICATIONS HAVE HAD TIME TO ADAPT OVER TIME. PORSCHE HAS CONTINUED TO DENY AN ISSUE AND STATES THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AFTER THE MODIFICATION. THIS SUMS UP OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE, IT IS TO THE POINT THAT IT IS UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE
NHTSA complaint #11105297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1 milesRoscoe, IL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA AS PART OF THE EPA/CARB SETTLEMENT MODIFIED THE 2015 CAYENNE IN A MANNER TO COMPLY WITH THE ORIGINAL EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. THE MODIFICATION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED PERFORMANCE I SUCH A WAY THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOW DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. WHEN MERGING ONTO HIGHWAYS OR ATTEMPTING TO OVERTAKE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF RESPONSE TO THROTTLE INPUT LEADING TO NEAR MISSES BY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE MODIFICATIONS HAVE HAD TIME TO ADAPT OVER TIME. PORSCHE HAS CONTINUED TO DENY AN ISSUE AND STATES THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AFTER THE MODIFICATION. THIS SUMS UP OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE, IT IS TO THE POINT THAT IT IS UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE
NHTSA complaint #11105297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,300 milesGolden Valley, MN
POWER TRAIN
PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA AS PART OF THE EPA/CARB SETTLEMENT MODIFIED THE 2015 CAYENNE IN A MANNER TO COMPLY WITH THE ORIGINAL EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. THE MODIFICATION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED PERFORMANCE I SUCH A WAY THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOW DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. WHEN MERGING ONTO HIGHWAYS OR ATTEMPTING TO OVERTAKE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF RESPONSE TO THROTTLE INPUT LEADING TO NEAR MISSES BY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE MODIFICATIONS HAVE HAD TIME TO ADAPT OVER TIME. PORSCHE HAS CONTINUED TO DENY AN ISSUE AND STATES THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AFTER THE MODIFICATION.
NHTSA complaint #11100161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,300 milesGolden Valley, MN
ENGINE
PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA AS PART OF THE EPA/CARB SETTLEMENT MODIFIED THE 2015 CAYENNE IN A MANNER TO COMPLY WITH THE ORIGINAL EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. THE MODIFICATION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED PERFORMANCE I SUCH A WAY THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOW DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. WHEN MERGING ONTO HIGHWAYS OR ATTEMPTING TO OVERTAKE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF RESPONSE TO THROTTLE INPUT LEADING TO NEAR MISSES BY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE MODIFICATIONS HAVE HAD TIME TO ADAPT OVER TIME. PORSCHE HAS CONTINUED TO DENY AN ISSUE AND STATES THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AFTER THE MODIFICATION.
NHTSA complaint #11100161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 921 milesPlainfield, NH
STRUCTURE:BODY
BOUGHT 2015 PORSCHE CAYENNE DIESEL SUV FROM PORSCHE OF NASHUA (NH) ON 10-8-2015. ON 10-19-2015 AT ODOMETER READING 921 MILES, TAILGATE OPENED WHILE DRIVING, SPILLING CONTENTS ONTO ROADWAY, OTHERS RAN OVER CONTENTS INCLUDING DIESEL FUEL COLD TEMPERATURE TREATMENT + FILLED 20 LB. CAPACITY PROPANE TANK, CHAINSAW. VERMONT STATE POLICE CASE 15B203588 INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT. LOCATION WAS DERBY, VT AT INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 5 & COMMERCE WAY (PRIVATE ROAD). MANY CARS RAN OVER THE CONTENTS, EYEWITNESSES INCLUDED A MOTEL MANAGER WHO TOOK A CELL PHONE PHOTO OF A LATE MODEL CHEV. IMPALA WITH VT PLATES WHICH HAD CAPTURED A WRAPPED CHAINSAW WHICH WAS JAMMED AND DRAGGED UNDER CHEVROLET'S ENGINE AND FRONT BUMPER REGION. THE LP TANK FILLED WITH PROPANE WAS TAKEN BY A MOTORIST. LATER THAT EVENING, AFTER DARK, THE TAILGATE OPENED AGAIN, SPILLING CONTENTS ONTO LINDSAY AVENUE AND DARLING HILL RD. IN DERBY VERMONT. A US BORDER PATROL SUV CAME UPON THE SCENE AND CALLED VT STATE POLICE. THE BORDER PATROL DRIVER TRAVELLED DOWN LINDSAY RD. TO SEE THE EXTENT OF THE ITEMS AND RETURNED REPORTING ITEMS WERE ON THE ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE TO WHERE IT TURNS ONTO ORRWOOD DRIVE. PHONE CALLS TO PORSCHE SELLING DEALER & PORSCHE OF AMERICA RESULTED IN DENIALS THAT ANY OTHER MALFUNCTIONS OF THIS NATURE TOOK PLACE WITH OTHER 2015 PORSCHE CAYENNE OWNERS. THERE WERE OTHER ELECTRICAL FAULTS THAT WERE ALSO TAKING PLACE THAT DAY INCLUDING FALSE WARNING OF DEFLATED TIRE, A WARNING THAT THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE, AND NUMEROUS NAVIGATION FUNCTIONALITY FAULTS EXISTED. WHEN RETIRING FOR THE EVENING, 6-8 DASHBOARD LIGHTS DID NOT TURN OFF, WHICH WAS NOT NORMAL, DESPITE THE KEY BEING OFF AND OUT, AND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TURNED OFF. THEY LATER SELF-EXTINGUISHED WITHIN 5 MINUTES. DEALER INVITED ME TO DRIVE 4 HOURS SOUTH TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR EXAMINAATION AND POSSIBLE CORRECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10785738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.