Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Porsche Cayenne problems

Owners filed 42 complaints about the 2005 Porsche Cayenne with NHTSA between Dec 2004 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (11).

Complaints
42
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel/propulsion system11
  2. Engine and engine cooling10
  3. Fuel system, gasoline6
  4. Power train4
  5. Electrical system4
  6. Air bags4
  7. Vehicle speed control3
  8. Engine2
  9. Structure2
  10. Suspension1
  11. Forward collision avoidance1
  12. Latches/locks/linkages1
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  14. Tires1

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 28, 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
20041
20053
20061
20073
20082
20090
20100
20116
20121
20131
20141
20150
20161
20171
201811
20193
20201
20210
20223
20230
20242
20251

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

Fuel/propulsion system

11 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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2022Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11497792

Engine and engine cooling

10 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR PIPE WAS FRACTURED, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ORIGINAL HOSE LINES WERE REPLACED WITH METAL LINES DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,800.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10426461

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2025Fuel system, gasolineODI 11695787

Power train

4 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2024Suspension, Power train, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11601645

Electrical system

4 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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2019Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11210362

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2018Air bags, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11157001
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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