2013 PORSCHE Cayenne Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

POWER TRAIN

14 complaints

The Drive train consists of an engine, transmission, transfercase, driveshafts and differentials. The Transfercase has failed prior to the normal life cycle. Porsche recognizes this problem on this series of SUV and extends the warranty for 10 years and unlimited mileage. Porsche announced this extension in June 2024. However this does not cover the early models in this series 2011-2013 with the same drivetrain and transfercase. So in effect this failure of the transfer case is not covered on 2014 - 2011 Porsche Cayenne's models with the same transfercase because Porsche delayed the notification to customers. Even though the SUV may have low mileage, they will not warranty or cover my failure.

Sep 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise while shifting from first to second gear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,300.

Nov 10, 2022

GRINDING & CLUNKING NOISE FROM DRIVE TRAIN AT LOW ENGINE SPEEDS. TOOK IT TO PORSCHE DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER, 2020. THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD IT IS OK TO DRIVE. THE NOISE IS GETTING WORSE FROM INITIAL WHINING TO GRINDING & CLUNKING NOISE. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CAYENNE & MACAN MODELS OF PORSCHE. PORSCHE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE ON THERE WEBSITE WITH WARRANTY EXTENSION. WHEN I CALL THE PORSCHE CUSTOMER SUPPORT. THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. I THINK IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEED TO BE ADDRESS BY PORSCHE

Apr 29, 2021

CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. IT HESITATES AND DRIVES LIKE THE CAR IS BEING HELD BACK. ACCELERATION IS NOT SMOOTH. ROUGH AND SHUDDER AND HERKY JERKY. IT HAS A FAULTY TRANSFER CASE WHICH IS WELL KNOWN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

Nov 24, 2020

MULTIPLE TRANSFER CASE FAILURES. FIRST AT 50K MILES (SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS, FOLLOWED BY A SEVERE JOLT AS THE GEAR FINALLY CHANGED)'TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE ($7000K LATER). SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER AT 55K MILES (SEVERE JOLT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR)'TRANSFER CASE REPLACED UNDER PARTS WARRANTY. THIRD FAILURE HAPPENED ANOTHER 6 MONTHS LATER AT 60K MILES (SEVERE JOLT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR). THIS LAST FAILURE'YET TO BE FIXED'HAS HAPPENED WHILE I AM ON A ROAD TRIP, AND IT RISKS ME BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THIS ISSUE IS RAMPANT AMONG 958S. PORSCHE REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS ISSUE. IT'S REPORTED RAMPANTLY ON FORUMS, WITH MANY OWNERS REPORTING MULTIPLE SUCCESSIVE FAILURES LIKE I HAVE EXPERIENCED.

May 25, 2020

+ 9 more complaints for this component

AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

5 complaints

The factory leather dashboard has detached/ungluded in places both on the driver and passenger side. Now the dashboard cover in the passenger area does not properly line up and has bubbled up on top of the passenger air bag door. There is a high possibility that this defect will prevent the passenger air bag from properly functioning or not function at all during an accident. Several Cayenne owners have reported this problem to Porsche USA however they will only replace at the owner's request and owners expense which is in the thousands of dollars. Porsche USA said that this is not a recall item therefore they will not pay for the repair.

Sep 02, 2025

Porsche dashboard leather has shrunk and now doesn’t properly cover airbag which is a major safety hazard. Porsche said they would not cover cost to replace which they quoted $9k. There are tons of reports of this happening to other Porsche cayenne owners and need to be addressed via recall

Apr 01, 2025

Leather dashboard cover is separating from the dashboard with staples being pulled up. I am concerned the airbag in the dash may deploy improperly and/or dangerously.

Jan 17, 2025

Porsche Cayenne dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. The airbag in the dashboard may not deploy properly in the event when there is an accident. Porsche dealer recommended the dashboard to be replaced. Many vehicles have this issue after warranty is out

Oct 08, 2024

The optional Leather Dashboard is peeling away from the base of the windshield. The cutout in the leather that aligns with the passenger airbag is now out of alignment and there is concern if the airbag will deploy properly in an accident.

Jul 29, 2024

SEAT BELTS

4 complaints

Just purchased this vehicle from an independent dealer. Each time I test drove the vehicle, I put my seat belt on and after a few seconds of driving the driver's seat belt would come unlatched. Sales person told me that perhaps I wasn't latching it (false latch). After purchase, it has unlatched during my first day of driving it. I see that there are other customers complaining of the same issue on the NHTSA website.

Aug 19, 2024

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHES, EVEN WHEN IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PROPERLY LATCHED AND I PULL ON IT TO CONFIRM THAT IT IS LATCHED. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS IS HAPPENING CONSTANTLY, BUT I WILL FILL IN TODAY'S DATE BELOW. *TR

Jun 29, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SECURE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE INTO THE RECEIVER, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Mar 03, 2020

AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR WAS NOT PRESENT IN SEAT BELT FOR REAR CENTER SEAT. FMVSS208 REQUIRES A SEAT BELT LOCKING FEATURE BE PRESENT TO INSTALL A CHILD'S CAR SEAT. OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES THAT ALL REAR SEATING POSITIONS + FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAVE AN ALR - BUT IN THIS VEHICLE THE OUTBOARD REAR SEATS + FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD IT, BUT THE CENTER SEAT DID NOT. SEE VIDEO HERE - HTTPS://PHOTOS.APP.GOO.GL/TJRNQDZN1XZCAKKG7 THE ABSENCE OF THE ALR WAS VERIFIED BY A NATIONALLY CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR.

Jun 03, 2019

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

3 complaints

Engine light came on and vehicle decelerated while making a turn in traffic. Based on the owners manual and code test, it comes up as a DPF issue. We could have been seriously injured had the oncoming traffic been closer to us or had someone attempted to follow me on the turn. When the car lost power, I could not accelerate to complete my turn. The problem has been duplicated by my husband who has some mechanical expertise, but the next step would be to take it to a dealer. It is available for inspection, but it is not safe to drive. The check engine light and the glow plug lamp came on at the same time. It happened once before on the interstate coming across I-80 on the interstate. In the middle of nowhere with no cell phone service, we were able to pull over, shut off and restart the engine which cleared the code for the rest of the trip. Then it didn’t do this again for nearly two months.

Jan 29, 2024

FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION,ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON,THE VEHICLE THEN HESITATED AND JERKS WHEN I DRIVE IT IN MOTION.

Oct 17, 2019

VEHCILE IS SHOWING FAULTY FUEL GAUGE AND SUSPENSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

Sep 27, 2019

ENGINE

3 complaints

AT 52361 MILEAGE, FOUND OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FRONT ENGINE COVER IS LEAKING AND WILL NEED TO BE RESEALED. ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AND ALIGNMENT WILL BE NECESSARY DUE TO DISRUPTION OF SUB FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS.

Apr 19, 2019

THE PORSCHE CAYENNE DIESEL IS DESIGNED TO NOT RESTART WHEN THE ADBLUE EXHAUST CHEMICAL IS TOO LOW. THIS SEEMS REASONABLE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS ALSO DESIGNED TO NOT RESTART WHEN THE ADBLUE REACHES A LOW POINT, EVEN WHEN IT IS REFILLED TO FULL CAPACITY. ACCORDING TO PORSCHE THE VEHICLE MUST BE BROUGHT TO AN CERTIFIED PORSCHE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS TO BE RESET, SO THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN. AGAIN, THIS OCCURS EVEN WHEN THE ADBLUE IF REFILLED TO FULL CAPACITY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND/OR EXPENSIVE SITUATION SHOULD THE ADBLUE REACH THIS LOW POINT AND THE VEHICLE IS A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE FROM A CERTIFIED PORSCHE DEALERSHIP.

Aug 03, 2017

I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 2013 CAYENNE S THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED (PE13-009) BY THE NHTSA IN THE PORSCHE 911. WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE COOLANT HOSE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE HOUSING CAUSING THE CAR TO RAPIDLY OVERHEAT WITHOUT WARNING. EXCESSIVE SMOKE FORCED MY WIFE TO PULL OVER AND TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN AN UNSAFE AREA OF THE HIGHWAY. A PORSCHE SERVICE FACILITY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE COMPONENT AT A COST OF $5,343.56. THE VEHICLE WAS 4.5 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR. IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND FOUND A RESPONSE FROM PORSCHE RELATING TO PE13-009 DATED 9/17/2013 (ATTACHED). IN PORSCHE'S RESPONSE TO QUESTION 10, THEY CLAIM THAT THE ADHESIVE APPLICATION WAS AUTOMATED AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER MODIFICATIONS OR CHANGES PLANNED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY SUBSEQUENTLY BEGAN THREADING THE PART IN QUESTION INSTEAD OF SIMPLY USING ADHESIVES. IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION 13C PORSCHE LISTED ONLY 2011 TO 2014 CAYENNE MODELS THAT USE A SIMILAR COOLANT PIPE CONNECTION METHOD (ADHESIVE) HOWEVER IT APPEARS THE CAYENNE GOING BACK AS FAR AS 2007 HAS A SIMILAR CONNECTION BASED ON INTERNET COMPLAINTS. IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION 14A PORSCHE LISTS RACETRACK USE AND LOW OR NON APPROVED COOLANT AS CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. IN MY SITUATION THE CAR IS USED MORE AS A MINIVAN THAN A RACE CAR. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AT ALL RECOMMENDED INTERVALS AND ONLY AT PORSCHE SERVICE LOCATIONS. FINALLY I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE CAYENNE AND PANAMERA ARE BOTH FRONT ENGINE VEHICLES AS COMPARED TO THE 911 THAT WAS INITIALLY INVESTIGATED RAISING NEW CONCERNS ABOUT THE LOSS OF TRACTION FROM THE LEAKAGE LOCATION. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE ISSUE BE RE-EXAMINED BASED ON THE ABOVE AND GIVEN THERE ARE FAR GREATER NUMBERS OF CAYENNES ON THE ROAD THAN THE 911. *TR

Dec 30, 2016

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 complaints

THE DISPLAY UNIT WHICH FUNCTION THE NAVIGATION AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING AND IT KEEPS REBOOTING. AFTER DO FURTHER RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS. WITHOUT THE NAVIGATION WE ARE FORCED TO USE OUR PHONES WHICH IS A HAZARD.

Jul 16, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, THE FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED AS FULL AND REMAINED ON THE SAME LEVEL AFTER DRIVING 90 MILES OR MORE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL WOULD DROP DRASTICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V506000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

Mar 18, 2015

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2013 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V656000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the headlamps illumination had started to become dull. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 154,123. Parts distribution disconnect.

Nov 17, 2022

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

1 complaint

PURCHASED A 2013 CAYENNE PORSCHE GTS WITH 67K MILES ON IT. NOTICED A KIND OF THUMPING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING, USUALLY APPEARING AT 3K RPMS. VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAULT AND THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT IT WAS, ENGINE TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW ALLOWING WATER INTO THE TRANSFER CASE THAT PORSCHE IS AWARE OF AND YET TO ADDRESS. ON SOME OCCASIONS PORSCHE WILL PAY FOR THE $5K REPAIR BUT THE PART IS STILL REPLACED WITH A TRANSFER CASE WITH THE SAME FLAW. TRANSFER CASE FAILURE CAN LEAD TO A SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY IF SOMEONE IS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HIGHLY RECOMMEND ADDRESSING THIS WITH A RECALL FOR 2013 AND 2014 CAYENNES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER DUE TO TRANSFER CASE FAILURE, NEATLY RESULTING IN A HIGHWAY COLLISION.

Oct 20, 2019

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY AFTER ACCELERATION BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. VEHICLE STUMBLES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT FROM A STANDSTILL, KNOWN ISSUE IN THE PORSCHE COMMUNITY, MY ISSUE FIRST STARTED AT 68K MILES, GOT THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED, NOW SAME ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE AGAIN AT 79K MILES, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, MY WIFE, AND 2 KIDS AT THE AGE OF 8 YEARS OLD AND 7 MONTHS OLDS WAS ALLMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WITH AN TRACTOR TRAILER DUE TO THIS TRANSFER CASE, SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, PORSCHE MANUFACTURER HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM.

Sep 13, 2019

STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND CATCHES. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON A HIGHWAY OR SHOULD YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. MY VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND CURRENTLY ONLY HAS 23,600 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHILE TURNING, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, WHILE IN REVERSE, AND WHILE ON A CITY STREET. I TOOK THE CAR TO PORSCHE AND THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSFER CASE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED ON 100S OF PORSCHES.

Apr 24, 2019

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

THERE IS COMMON PROBLEM! THE ENGINE CHAIN RATTLING SOUND WHEN ENGINE STARTS VEHICLE DEVELOPED PROBLEM AFTER SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE JERKS AND DOES NOT GO SMOOTHLY ON LOW RMP 1500. THE SECOND HAND ON THE CLOCK FALLS DOWN.

Sep 11, 2018

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

THE DOOR PANEL BECOME LOOSE AT THE EDGE OF THE GLASS. SEARCHING THROUGH INTERNET IT SEEM IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG LATE PORSCHE MODELS. IT SEEMS THE ADHESIVE DOES NOT HOLD WELL SPECIALLY IN HIGH TEMPERATURES.

Dec 14, 2017

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD SHIFTED AND NEEDED TO BE UNBOLTED AND SHIFTED BACK INTO THE PROPER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/07/16*LJ *TR

Aug 09, 2016

⭐

4.9/5.0

68 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2013 PORSCHE Cayenne have?

The 2013 PORSCHE Cayenne currently has 38 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 2013 PORSCHE Cayenne?

The most common problems reported for the 2013 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 2013 PORSCHE Cayenne problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2013 PORSCHE Cayenne comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.