Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Porsche Cayenne problems

Owners filed 101 complaints about the 2004 Porsche Cayenne with NHTSA between Dec 2003 and Aug 2023. The most-cited component is power train (24).

Complaints
101
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train24
  2. Engine17
  3. Fuel/propulsion system15
  4. Electrical system14
  5. Engine and engine cooling12
  6. Vehicle speed control7
  7. Tires7
  8. Air bags6
  9. Suspension6
  10. Exterior lighting5
  11. Fuel system, gasoline4
  12. Latches/locks/linkages4
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  14. Steering3

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 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20031
200411
20059
20063
20073
20083
20094
20103
20117
201210
20134
20144
20153
20163
20175
201816
20193
20201
20213
20223
20232

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

24 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2004 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V656000 (Exterior Lighting), 19V446000 (Power Train), and 17V576000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the fuel gauge failed to read accurately. The headlamp wiring had been deteriorating causing the headlights to malfunction. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000. Parts distributions disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2022Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Exterior lightingODI 11491915

Engine

17 reports
“1) COOLANT PIPE PROBLEMS,PORSCHE NEVER FIX THEM ,HAD PAY TO GET THEM FIX.(2) FILTER FLANGE FUEL PUMP LEAKAGE,PROBLEMS PORSCHE SAID UNFORTUNATELY, AT THIS TIME PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.HAD IT REPAIR MY OWEN MONEY, DID NOT WANT TO CHANCE A RISK OF FIRE.(3) TRANSMISSION MODULE PROBLEMS DID NOT SHIFT RIGHT,HAD TO BUY NEW ONE.TO MANY PROBLEMS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 10, 2018Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11084484

Fuel/propulsion system

15 reports1 fire
“There is a significant smell of gasoline inside the cabin of the vehicle. There was a recall on the same make, model, and year for fuel pump filter flange leaks, which are indicative of a strong smell of gas inside the car. This can potentially cause the car to start on fire. The dealer stated due to the VIN, the vehicle was not covered under the existing recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 11, 2022Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11493210

Electrical system

14 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD "BOOM" NOISE AND FIRE STARTED COMING FROM THE GLOVE BOX IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. FIRE MARSHALS WERE CALLED ONTO THE SCENE TO ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, AFTER 3 HOURS THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A REPORT WAS MADE WITH THE FIRE MARSHALS. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND REMAINS ON CONTACTS PROPERTY. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V069000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THEY DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM A PORSHE DEALER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD TO DO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2021Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11399023

Engine and engine cooling

12 reports
“PORSCHE KNOWINGLY MANUFACTURED CAYENNE MODEL VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC COOLANT TUBES THAT DEGRADE AND FRACTURE CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE. PORSCHE HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND FAILED TO MAKE CONSUMERS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FAILURE DESPITE THE RISK TO THE OWNERS SAFETY AND POCKETBOOK. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10446282

Vehicle speed control

7 reports
“THE PORSCHE CAYENNE IS NOTORIOUS FOR DRIVE / CARDAN SHAFT FAILURES. HAD BAD DRIVE SHAFT NOISES, AND SUBSEQUENT PREMATURE FAILURE, IT WAS A WORN CENTER SUPPORT DAMPENER AND A FAULTY CENTER SUPPORT BEARING. I EXPERIENCED BANGING, BUMPING, GRINDING NOISES FROM MY PORSCHE CAYENNE AND WAS UNAWARE AT THE TIME IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. I HAVE OUTLINED THE NOISES AND CAUSES BELOW: - A CLANKING OR CLUNKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING OR FROM DECELERATION TO ACCELERATION AROUND 35TO 40MPH AND WHILE CAYENNE WAS SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. AROUND 5TH AND 6TH GEAR GOING AROUND 50-60 MPH IT STOPPED. IF I KEPT THE RPM UNDER 200 IT SEEMED TO RUN OK, NO ISSUE, BUT IF I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR HARD OR GUNNED IT, IT WENT HAYWIRE. IT WAS THE RESULT OF A WORN AND DAMAGED DAMPENER OR DIAPHRAGM LOCATED ON THE CENTER SUPPORT BEARING. THIS CONDITION WILL ALLOW FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT TO TRAVEL UP AND DOWN WITH VARIATIONS IN DRIVE LINE TORQUE. THIS MOVEMENT WILL PRODUCE A LOUD CLANKING OR CLUNKING SOUND AND MAKE FOR A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS CONDITION IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON FAILURES ON THE CAYENNE DRIVE SHAFT, ALL MODELS 2003 TO 2006. THIS SHOULD BE A…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2014Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10585738
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.