Problems · NHTSA complaints
2009 Porsche Cayenne problems
Owners filed 15 complaints about the 2009 Porsche Cayenne with NHTSA between Mar 2009 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is power train (6).
Complaints
15
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train6
- Electrical system4
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Seats1
- Exterior lighting1
- Equipment1
- Tires1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Other / unknown2
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 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
2
2
0
0
2
0
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 |
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
Power train
6 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.”
Electrical system
4 reports
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2009 Porsche Cayenne. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to O’Reilly's for a diagnostic test, the diagnostic report listed the mileage at 209,000; however, at the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 105,000. The dealer was not notified of the discrepancy, as per the Attorney's advice.”
Fuel system, gasoline
2 reports
“The contact owns a 2009 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated there was visible damage to the fuel tank flange, and there was a leak coming from the fuel tank. The contact stated that the OBD port provided a code and that the fuel was too lean, causing the RPM to fluctuate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for throttle body repair, but the failure persisted. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,000.”
Fuel/propulsion system
2 reports
“Fuel leaking from fuel tank”
Seats
1 report
“I WAS DRIVING HOME ABOUT 10:44 PM ON AUGUST 14 2019 WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A EXPLOSION TO MY WINDOWS BUT I WAS AFRAID TO PULL OVER BECAUSE IT WAS A DARK ROAD SO I GOT TO THE FIRST GAS STATION AND CHECKED FOR DAMAGE WINDOWS BUT COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE DRIVERS BACK SEAT WHICH HAD I GUES SWOLLEN AND BUST OUT OR COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT.”
Exterior lighting
1 report1 related recall
“DURING NORMAL COMMUTE TO WORK DRIVING, A MESSAGE "CHECK DIM BEAM" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE BOARD. UPON ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FAULTY DIM BEAM HEADLAMP BULB, I FOUND HEADLAMP HARNESS WIRING AND ALL INTERNAL HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WIRING IS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND CONDUCTORS ARE EXPOSED AND CAUSING SHORTS AND APPARENT LAMP FAILURE. OTHER HEADLAMP LIGHTING (SIDE DIRECTIONAL LAMP) LIGHTING FLASHED ON AND OFF WHEN HARNESS WAS TOUCHED, AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FLASHED AND TURNED OFF AND ON BY THEMSELVES, PARTICULARLY THE RADIO. WHEN THE SUSPECT DIM BEAM LAMP WAS SWAPPED WITH OPPOSITE (PASSENGER SIDE, THE REPLACEMENT LAMP DID NOT WORK BUT THE SUSPECT LAMP FROM DRIVER SIDE WORKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE LAMP ASSEMBLY WAS SUSPECT. UPON OPENING THE ACCESS POINTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ASSEMBLY, THE WIRING WAS SEEN TO BE CRUMBLING AND UNSAFE. I AM WORRIED THAT A FIRE MAY START AND HAVE DISCONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.