Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Porsche Cayenne problems

Owners filed 36 complaints about the 2012 Porsche Cayenne with NHTSA between Feb 2012 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is power train (18).

Complaints
36
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train18
  2. Engine6
  3. Electrical system3
  4. Air bags2
  5. Seats2
  6. Fuel/propulsion system2
  7. Vehicle speed control2
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  9. Service brakes1
  10. Visibility1
  11. Equipment adaptive/mobility1
  12. 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 31, 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
20122
20131
20140
20150
20162
20176
20186
201912
20203
20210
20222
20230
20241
20250
20261

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

18 reports1 crash1 fire
“THE TRANSFER CASE IS FAULTY. IT WAS REPLACED AT 26,000 MILES AND NOW IT IS ACTING THE SAME WAY AGAIN AT 48.000 MILES. I WAS ENTERING THE HWY AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER BEFORE JUMPING INTO GEAR. THIS IS NOT SAFE CONSIDERING THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND BEHIND. DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT COULD HAVE. DEALER ADMITS THE TRANSFER CASE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH 2011-2017 CAYENNE BUT REFUSES TO TOTALLY COVER REPLACEMENT. THIS IS MY SECOND ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE AND AFTER SOME LIGHT RESEARCH HAVE COME ACROSS MANY OWNERS WITH ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1 AND 4 REPLACEMENTS. PORSCHE WILL NOT COVER THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR (APPROX. $6500). HOW CAN A COMPANY LIKE PORSCHE BE SO ARROGANT AS TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN BUT NOT MAKE RESTITUTION TO ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS,”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 22, 2020Power trainODI 11321883

Engine

6 reports
“I own a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. Transfer case broke at 33,000 miles and was replaced by the dealer, and now it broke again at 55,000 miles. Repair cost is $6,340 plus tax. It broke under the warranty period but Porsche gave me the runaround and told me they wouldn't check it until after some body damage was complete (more details below). Honestly feel like I'm getting gouged with faulty parts. Many other Porsche Cayenne owners seem to be reporting this problem on forums. (e.g. https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-958-2011-2018/1290994-transfer-case-failure-2.html) More details - 1. We asked the Porsche dealership to review the car for mechanical issues and repair bumper body damage while the transfer case was under warranty. 2. The Porsche dealer declined to review any mechanical issues until the bumper body damage repair was complete. 3. The Porsche was taken in for service to repair the body work first in late March per Porsche's guidance while the transfer case was still under warranty. 4. The body work was delayed due to Porsche's supply chain issues, and by the time it was complete it was after May 2nd which was when the warranty expired for the transfer…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2022Unknown or other, EngineODI 11473037

Electrical system

3 reports
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale from Facebook Market Place. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 125,383, but after performing an AutoCheck of the vehicle, it was discovered that the mileage was 205,154.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2026Electrical systemODI 11748836

Air bags

2 reports
“Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out around passenger side airbag. 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 it. This is a very common issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2024Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11632899

Seats

2 reports
“POWER DRIVERS SEAT MOVED FORE/AFT AND UP/DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON 10.22.2019 ON ITS OWN. MOVING DRIVER AWAY FROM CONTACT WITH EITHER BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL AND A UNNATURALLY LONG REACH TO STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER ENGAGED BUTTONS TO MOVE SEAT FORWARD, PULLED OFF TO SAFE LOCATION AND SHUT DOWN/RESTARTED CAR. PROBLEM CONTINUED UPON RESTART”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2019SeatsODI 11270126

Fuel/propulsion system

2 reports
“HYBRID DEFAULT MULTIPLE TIMES IN PAST YEARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? FAULT GENERATOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2019Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11217457
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.