2012 Porsche Cayenne: owner complaints and recalls

50% of everything owners report about the 2012 Porsche Cayenne points at a single system: power train. That is 18 of 36 complaints on file.

36
Complaints
4
Recalls
1
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
0
Injuries
27.8
Severity index

Severity index 27.8 - Low. It weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints, so a vehicle attracting serious reports scores above one attracting many trivial ones (how this is calculated).

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 27.8p25 35p75 96cleanestworst
Where the 2012 Porsche Cayenne sits against the quartiles of every vehicle we track.

What actually fails

Power TrainPower Train: 18 complaints (50.0%)18 50%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 7 complaints (19.4%)7 19%EngineEngine: 6 complaints (16.7%)6 17%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 3 complaints (8.3%)3 8%Air BagsAir Bags: 2 complaints (5.6%)2 6%SeatsSeats: 2 complaints (5.6%)2 6%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 2 complaints (5.6%)2 6%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 2 complaints (5.6%)2 6%
Systems named in complaints. One complaint can name several, so shares overlap.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN1850.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER719.4%
ENGINE616.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM38.3%
AIR BAGS25.6%
SEATS25.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM25.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL25.6%

Complaints filed per year

06122012: 22013: 12016: 22017: 62018: 62019: 122020: 32022: 22024: 12026: 1 (partial year)1213161718191220222426
Complaints filed per calendar year, not model year. The hatched bar is the current year and is still incomplete.
YearComplaints
20122
20131
20162
20176
20186
201912
20203
20222
20241
2026 (year to date)1
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V16900023/03/2016SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGESPorsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
12V06500021/02/2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSPORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CAYENNE, CAYENNE S, CAYENNE S HYBRID, AND CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 8, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2012 BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS MAY COME LOOSE AND DETACH FROM THE FENDER.
12V32900012/07/2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERPORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 PANAMERA TURBO, 2012 PANAMERA TURBO S, AND 2012 CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES. THE TURBINE WHEEL OF A TURBOCHARGER MAY FRACTURE DUE TO A CASTING DEFECT. IF A FRACTURE OCCURS, VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WILL BE DECREASED AND THE TURBINE SHAFT
22V65600030/08/2022EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSPorsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2020 Porsche Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, and Cayman S, 2001-2004 Boxster, Boxster S, 2004 Boxster 50 JAHRE SPYDER 550 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all affected models and model ye
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.