Problems · NHTSA complaints
2020 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E- Hybrid problems
Owners filed 24 complaints about the 2020 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E- Hybrid with NHTSA between Mar 2021 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is engine (7).
Complaints
24
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine7
- Electrical system5
- Service brakes5
- Power train4
- Air bags3
- Back over prevention2
- Seat belts2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Forward collision avoidance1
- Visibility/wiper1
- Other / unknown7
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
3
1
3
3
11
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 11 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
7 reports
“This engine EA839 is the same engine installed in Audi’s and which has a massive engine replacement going on now. It seems that the above engine has what is called piston slap or rocker arm failure which requires a complete engine replacement. The manufacturer knows of this problem and as of yet has not issued a recall leaving the customer with a 20,000 repair cost.”
Electrical system
5 reports1 crash1 related recall
“Nearly 25% of the total time I have owned this Certified Pre-Owned vehicle (146 out of 564 days), it has been non-functional and in the shop — roughly 1 out of every 4 days of ownership. I am a [XXX} with a [XXX] child, and I purchased this vehicle as a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Porsche — expecting the manufacturer's rigorous inspection and warranty to ensure reliability and safety. Instead, the first breakdown occurred within just 1 month of purchase, and the vehicle has since failed six separate times over 18 months (Feb 2025–Aug 2026), totaling 60+ days out of service, despite extensive component replacement: [XXX] (≈1 month after CPO purchase) – Battery failure; car would not start; towed at 2–3 AM. [XXX] – No-start; fuel tank drained/refueled ("improper additive"). [XXX] – Low fuel pump replaced. [XXX] – High fuel pump, all 6 fuel injectors, DME system replaced. [XXX] – Recurring no-start; repurchase denied May 7, 2025; Porsche later claimed root cause found (mechanical part) and replaced it. Aug 1, 2026–ongoing – Check engine light returned; misfire on cylinder 4 and coolant leak into vacuum system found. Dealer replaced coolant pump/vacuum components,…”
Service brakes
5 reports
“Vehicle: 2020 Porsche Cayenne VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 41,918 Complaint: My 2020 Porsche Cayenne exhibits a significant and repeatable lurching and abnormal braking pattern each time the vehicle decelerates to a stop. The behavior is consistent and pronounced enough to cause me physical motion sickness on every drive. I brought the vehicle to Porsche Bellevue (Bellevue, WA) for diagnosis. The service manager personally rode in the vehicle with me, experienced the lurching behavior firsthand, and acknowledged feeling it. He then stated the vehicle could not be repaired because this is simply how the car behaves — no repair order was written and no fix was attempted. I am filing this complaint because: (1) the behavior involves abnormal braking and deceleration which I believe constitutes a safety concern, (2) the authorized dealership confirmed the issue exists but refused to document or repair it, and (3) I am concerned other owners of this vehicle may be experiencing the same issue without recourse. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether this is a known issue across the 2020 Porsche Cayenne platform and whether it meets the threshold for a safety investigation or recall.”
Power train
4 reports
“Everytime when vehicle coming to a stop car lurches forward few feets. It just happens when car downshifts from second to first gear transmission pushes you forward few feets, You just need to be very carefull because it can push you into another vehicle or pedastrian. Porsche is aware of it and have a software update in Europe only but not in USA”
Air bags
3 reports
“Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and is bubbling on the entire top where the Airbag sits. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing the entire dashboard! This is a very common issue with Porsche, and a safety concern which seems due to the fact that Porsche did not use the correct adhesive on all most of cars build in the last 10 years. The dashboard is not withstanding normal sun light and this causes a safety issue.”
Back over prevention
2 reports
“The contact owns a 2020 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V896000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that the rear-view camera became inoperable while reversing and then turned on. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to trade the vehicle due to the open recall. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the software update was not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.