2012 PORSCHE Cayenne Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

POWER TRAIN

17 complaints

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,

Apr 22, 2020

THE TRANSFER CASE IN THIS CAR IS FAILING AT 53,000 MILES CAUSING UNSAFE, JERKING ACCELERATION LEADING TO TOTAL BREAKDOWN/SHUTDOWN IF NOT CORRECTED. NUMEROUS OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEFECT AND IS NOW PROVIDING NEWLY DESIGNED REPAIR PARTS DESCRIBED AS PERMANENTLY SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND COVERED BY A 2-YEAR WARRANTY AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $5,500 RETAIL

Dec 03, 2019

CLUNKING / SURGING (ALMOST FEELS LIKE A MISFIRE) AFTER CAR WARMS UP IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. SEEMS TO BE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE. PURCHASES CAR USED 30 DAYS AGO AND THIS ISSUE STARTED TO APPEAR AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. NOW FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH CAYENNES.

Jul 27, 2019

2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE WITH 47,000 MILES. NOTICED JERKING WHEN TURNING LEFT AND SOME SLIPPAGE IN TRANSMISSION. IT GOT WORSE IN THE COMING DAYS AND BECAME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO HANDLING AND POWER TRAIN SURGES. I TOOK IT TO SOUTHPOINT PORSCHE IN DURHAM, NC, THIS WEEK AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW $4,435 TRANSFER CASE. A LOCAL PORSCHE SHOP DIRECTED ME TO REVIEWS WHICH NOTE THE SAME 'KNOWN' ISSUE - DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT THAT DRAINS FLUID BY TRANSFER CASE AND GETS MOISTURE INTO THE CASE. PORSCHE HAS ISSUED CORRECTIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPAIRS BUT NO RECALL (KNOWN) OR CALLBACK TO REPAIR AT THEIR COST. TRANSMISSION CAN LOCK UP DURING DRIVING CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. I ASKED DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT PORSCHE AND REGIONAL REP AND TO SHARE MY CONCERNS AND LINKS TO FORUMS WHERE THIS ISSUE IS OUTLINED IN MANY OTHER PORSCHE CAYENNE CASES.

Jul 26, 2019

Jul 15, 2019

+ 12 more complaints for this component

ENGINE

4 complaints

I HAVE A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE S HYBRID. IT IS SUFFERING FROM THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN: 17V36800. THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE CAMSHAFT IN PLACE HAVE SHEARED OFF. PORSCHE IS REFUSING ANY TYPE OF CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THE VIN IS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST, BUT IT IS IN THE YEAR OF THE RECALL AND SUFFERS FROM THE ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD TO CALL MY WIFE AND HAVE IT TOWED. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST 14K+ TO REPAIR AND THEY WOULD NEED THE VEHICLE FOR A MONTH. *TR

Jun 19, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT

Dec 13, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (PORSCHE OF LIVERMORE, 3100 LAS POSITAS ROAD, LIVERMORE, CA 94551) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT

Dec 11, 2017

THE ENGINE OF MY PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO WAS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE TURNING LEFT ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY. THE OPPOSITE CAR HAD TO VEERED OFF TO AVOID COLLISION. THE CAR KEPT MOVING FORWARD UNTIL IT HIT THE CURB. *TR

Aug 03, 2012

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 complaints

The transfer case on my car has been confirmed by two different mechanics that it needs to be replaced. Porsche no longer makes or sells the original transfer case and components, so the entire transfer case needs to be replaced, at a cost of approximately $5,000. Porsche extended the warranty for the transfer case for up to 10 years, but I was never notified or made aware of this extension. Because my transfer case issue was identified 6 months outside of the extended warranty, the full cost of this repair is my liability. I believe that Porsche is aware that the original transfer case has design flaws and reliability issues, and while they did extend warranty coverage, they made no effort to communicate the extension. If so, I would have had the transfer case inspected while still under warranty.

Nov 04, 2022

RECALL WORK MISHANDLED AND CAUSED PROBLEM: I WENT TO PORSCHE FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON CAMSHAFT AND THEY CAN ALSO BE PERFORMED WHILE THE CAR IS IN. NOW WHEN I WENT TO GET MY CAR BACK THEY SAID THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND WHEN THEY CHECKED THE TECH SAYS THE PARTS SEEMS TO BE ALL NEW AND IT WAS DONE AT A DIFFERENT WORK SHOP. THEY ASKED ME TO GO TO THE SHOP AND CHECK WITH THEM. BUT I TOLD THEM IT WAS DONE FEW MONTHS BACK AND I HAD NO ISSUES AT ALL AND THE CAR DIDNT HAVE ANY ISSUES WHEN I GAVE IT FOR OIL CHANGE( NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). ALSO WHEN I ENTERED THE CAR I WAS ABLE TO SMELL A THICK OIL SMELL WHICH I INFORMED BECKY THE SERVICE CONSULTANT AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE OIL SPILL WHEN THEY DID OIL CHANGE. I ASKED IF THE ISSUE MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE CAMSHAFT WORK THEY DID BUT THEY PROMPTLY SAID IT WAS NOT RELATED. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUTO SHOP ( PORSCHE CERTIFIED SHOP) TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT. THE SHOP CHECKED AND DIDNT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THEIR PARTS THEY REPLACED SINCE IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THEY WENT AHEAD REPLACED THE PART AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SIGN DIDNT GO AWAY, SO THEY PERFORMED SMOKE TEST AND FOUND OUT THE INTAKE LEAK COMING FROM A SENSOR SEAL ON THE VALVE COVER. THEY SAID THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE CAMSHAFT WORK THAT HAS CAUSED A LARGE AIR LEAK IN THE ENGINE SETTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ALSO WHEN THEY CHECKED THE COVERS THEY FOUND THAT THERE WERE 2 ALUMINIUM SCREWS THAT WERE BROKEN . WHEN THE COVER WAS REMOVED THE ALUMIMIUM SCREWS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WERE NOT AND THE OLD ONES WERE USED WHICH LEAD TO TENSION AND THEY WERE BROKEN THE AUTO SHOP HAS PROVIDED ME WITH ALL THE DETAILS AND EVIDENCE OF THE ISSUE ALONG WITH VIDEO TO SHOWCASE.I NEED NHTSA ASSISTANCE TO HELP ME GUIDE ON THIS ISSUE CAUSED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO MY CAR WHILE WORKING ON THE RECALL.

Dec 16, 2020

DASH BOARD LEATHER IS PEELING AND SHRINKING

Aug 26, 2019

AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

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.

Dec 28, 2024

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

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 case. 5. When the Porsche dealer received the car after May 2nd it identified the transfer case broke. This has been a recurring issue with a car as one transfer case broke at ~33,000 miles and was replaced at a Porsche dealership. Now the second transfer case broke at 55,000 miles (this case only lasted 22,000 miles). 6. Porsche declined to make an exception to the warranty and recommends replacing the transfer case at a price of $6,340 plus tax which will likely last for between 22,000 - 33,000 miles based on prior data points.

Jul 09, 2022

SEATS

1 complaint

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

Oct 22, 2019

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

HYBRID DEFAULT MULTIPLE TIMES IN PAST YEARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? FAULT GENERATOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT

Jun 03, 2019

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS UNKNOWN HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE. IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER ABRUPTLY WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON A CITY STREET WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT TRAVEL MORE THAN 20 MILES ON AUTOMATIC; UNLESS IT IS SWITCHED TO MANUAL SHIFT GEAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD SUBMITTED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND CONCLUSION WAS MADE AS THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY FAILURE. HOWEVER, WITHIN THREE WEEKS AFTER REPAIR; THE HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN. THE TECHNICIAN THEN RE-DETERMINED THE CAUSE AS A) FAULTY HIGH POWER VOLTAGE LINE AND COMPRESSOR, AND B) REPLACE HIGH VOLTAGE LINE AND COMPRESSOR.

Jan 05, 2019

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

2012 CAYENNE TURBO WITH 40096 MILEAGE AS OF TODAY. THE TRANSFER BOX WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2016 AND APRIL 2018. COST AROUND $4,500 EACH TIME. TOTAL OF $9,000 REPAIR BILL.

Apr 30, 2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

GPS MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING , SERVICE TEST NO ERROR CODE BUT VISIBLE GPS MALFUNCTION ! MANUFACTURE CAN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM SUGGEST TO REPLACE THE NEW PCM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVER TO BELIEVE ON THE GPS WHILE DRIVING ON IT. IT IS DESIGN FRAUD AND CARELESS OF SERVICE WHEN THE DEVICE IS MALFUNCTION AND SYSTEM CAN'T DETECT IT. CUSTOMER HAS PICTURES AND VIDEOS SUPPORT THE CLAIM. VIDEO LINK: HTTPS://DRIVE.GOOGLE.COM/OPEN?ID=0B1W2Q8JZJUB7RGZSBHNTQ0O1S1K

Mar 13, 2017

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH DOWNHILL AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO REPEATEDLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE BRAKES TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V169000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

Jul 22, 2016

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 (NA) PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG APPEARED TO HAVE DEPLOYED (PROPERLY) UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

Jul 14, 2016

VISIBILITY

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL GLARE FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50.

Sep 03, 2013

SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

1 complaint

I RECENTLY PURCHASED PORSCHE CAYENNE S 2012 AND I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE SUV BUT THE COMFORT ENTRY FEATURE DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND DEALER ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T OFFER ANY SOLUTION. IT WORKS SOME TIME AND IT DOESN'T OTHER TIMES. WHEN YOU SET YOUR POSITION AND SAVE THE POSITION WHEN YOU UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE SAME KEY IT SUPPOSED SAVE ALL YOUR PREFERENCES LIKE SEAT,SIDE MIRRORS AND OTHERS BUT IT DOESN'T WORK MOSTLY...! I CHECKED IN FORUMS AND MOST OF THEM DO COMPLAIN OR THEY JUST GOT USED TO IT. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION WE PAID CLOSE TO $5000.00 TO THIS FEATURE AS AN OPTION. I REQUEST YOU TO INVESTIGATE ON THIS ISSUE AND IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM PLEASE ASK THE PORSCHE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR

Feb 27, 2012

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4.6/5.0

49 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2012 PORSCHE Cayenne have?

The 2012 PORSCHE Cayenne currently has 35 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2012 PORSCHE Cayenne?

The most common problems reported for the 2012 PORSCHE Cayenne are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2012 PORSCHE Cayenne problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2012 PORSCHE Cayenne comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.