Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo problems
Owners filed 36 complaints about the 2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo with NHTSA between Dec 2004 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (10).
Complaints
36
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Fuel/propulsion system10
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Power train6
- Air bags4
- Electrical system3
- Engine2
- Suspension1
- Forward collision avoidance1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Seats1
- Structure1
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 Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
3
1
2
0
1
0
4
1
2
0
0
0
1
10
3
1
0
3
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
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
Fuel/propulsion system
10 reports1 fire
“We purchased the 2005 Porsche Cayenne from my brother-in-law in August of 2022. He had owned the vehicle for at least a year before I purchased it from him. Shortly after the purchase, I noticed the engine light came on. On 09/12/22 a strong smell of fuel was emitting from the vehicle in a Walmart parking lot in Denton, Texas at approximately 1030pm. I noticed a large puddle of gasoline on the ground under the vehicle and it was steady stream of fuel while the vehicle was running. The vehicle was completely unsafe to drive for fear of ignition and fire. Due to the time and location, I had the vehicle towed to my mechanic approximately 3 miles away for diagnosis and/or repair. The closest Porsche dealership was approximately 25 miles away and the tow bill would have been excessive. Mechanic identified the problem as a cracked fuel filter flange/housing that sat on top of the fuel pump. The cracked fuel housing was replaced and the total for parts and labor was $462.48. No leaking fuel since repair. A few weeks later my brother-in -law contacted me and advised he had just received a recall (OCTOBER 2022) in the mail from Porsche for the exact part I had repaired…”
Engine and engine cooling
8 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. HE ALSO HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE IGNITION COIL AND CYLINDER NUMBER 5 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Fuel system, gasoline
6 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2005 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the vehicle. There was an abnormal fuel odor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V576000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact replaced the fuel filter and repaired the vehicle. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that parts were on back order. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 157,290.”
Power train
6 reports1 related recall
“The transmission has quite a bit of slop or play when placing it in park. I do not believe it could be parked safely in a residential driveway. Tranny knocks a little in low gears.”
Air bags
4 reports1 crash
“I NOTICED A RECALL ON YOUR SITE FOR MY VIN # BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN REACHED BY PORSCHE TO FIX. I'M UNSURE IF THIS HAS BEEN THE CULPRIT OF MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH.”
Electrical system
3 reports1 fire
“GOOGLE: CAYENNE WET FLOOR. ALL CAYENNE HAVE ISSUE WITH POOR WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITES. MY CAR WAS DRIVING FINE BEFORE I PARKED IT, THEN WHEN I TRY TO START IT, I GOT AN ERROR ON THE INFO DISPLAY IN RED: IGNITION LOCK FAULT, ABS BRAKE PROPORTIONING. NO CRANK FROM THE BATTERY, TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARK. SO I GOOGLED IT AND FOUND MANY OWNERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD REPORTING THIS ISSUE. THE DRAINAGE UNDER THE WINDSHIELD CAN GET BLOCKED EASILY WITH DEBRIS, AND CAUSE WATER TO OVERFLOW INSIDE THE CABIN AND OR ELECTRICAL MODULES LOCATED IN THE WINDSHIELD COWL AREA. ON THE DRIVER SIDE AS PER VIDEO, I REMOVED THE RUBBER CARPET AND FORCED LIFTED THE PERMANENT CARPET, AND FOUND POOL OF WATER UNDERNEATH, ON THE METAL FLOOR WAS A BUNCH OF WIRES CONNECTING TO THE CAR BATTERY UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT WERE ALL UNDER WATER. I STARTED EMPTYING BUT MORE WATER KEPT COMING, FOAMS, RUBBERS WERE ALL SOAKED. ACCORDING TO THE FORUMS AFTER REMOVING ALL WATER, I NEEDED TO LOCATE 3 SET OF WIRES AMONGST THE BUNCH, THESE 3 ARE JOINED BY TWISTING AND WRAPPED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE/GAUGE FROM THE FACTORY. THESE WIRES SINCE EXPOSED ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION. 1 SET OF WIRE…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.