What breaks most · 2003 to 2020 model years
Porsche Cayenne S problems by year
Owners have filed 105 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Porsche Cayenne S across model years 2003 to 2020. Three years stand out: 2004 for powertrain and transmission complaints, 2011 for engine complaints and 2006 for engine and cooling complaints. The quietest years are 2007, 2003 and 2008.
- Years to check closely: 2004, 2011, 2006
- Fewest complaints: 2007, 2003, 2008
- Complaints on file
- 1052003 to 2020, all trims
- Worst year
- 200448 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 61 fires · 3 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 76kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 32Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 9 | Fuel system (2) | |
| 48 | 2 | 9 | Powertrain and transmission (14) | |
| 10 | 1 | 4 | Engine and cooling (3) | |
| 13 | 1 | 3 | Engine and cooling (4) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Tires (1) | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | Engine (4) | |
| 17 | 0 | 3 | Engine (12) | |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | Powertrain and transmission (5) | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | Powertrain and transmission (1) |
What fails on the 2004 Porsche Cayenne S
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 29% |
14 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 23% |
11 | 0 | Shop engine and cooling parts for the 2004 Porsche Cayenne S |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 15% |
7 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2004 Porsche Cayenne S |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 15% |
7 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2004 Porsche Cayenne S |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 13% |
6 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2004 Porsche Cayenne S |
| Tires | 8% |
4 | 1 | — |
| Latches and locksDoor latches and actuators | 8% |
4 | 0 | Shop latches and locks parts for the 2004 Porsche Cayenne S |
| Brakes (hydraulic)Brake pads, rotors and calipers | 6% |
3 | 2 | Shop brakes (hydraulic) parts for the 2004 Porsche Cayenne S |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
While driving i heard a loud knocking noise and coming from under the center console and my truck started to shake. I came to a complete stop then proceeded on but once the truck got over 20mph the knocking noise started again .
-
The camshaft actuator bolts break and causing internal damage to the engine, the vehicle lose power suddenly and difficult to engage the brake pedal.
-
The coolant pipes failed on a recent road trip due to the pipes cracking. I lost all of my coolant and overheated my engine. This seems to be a common theme amongst 2004-2006 cayenne models as there is currently a class action lawsuit pending.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Porsche Cayenne S years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2004, 2011, 2006 carry the most filings on the Porsche Cayenne S. The 2004 alone has 48 complaints, led by powertrain and transmission.
What is the most common Porsche Cayenne S problem?
On the 2004 model year, the most-reported component is powertrain and transmission with 14 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Porsche Cayenne S problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Porsche Cayenne S complaints that include mileage is about 76,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.