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2004 Porsche Cayenne S Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jul 3, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 48 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Porsche Cayenne S submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 3, 2016

PORSCHE HAS RECALLED THE 2011 FOR HEADLIGHT BECOMING LOOSE. I HAVE A 2004 WITH SAME PROBLEM. ANY TYPE OF VIBRATION OR BUMP IT BECOMES LOOSE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. PORSCHE IS AWARE OF DRIVESHAFT CLUNKING BECAUSE OF FAULTY BUSHINGS AND WILL NOT RECALL DRIVESHAFTS IT CLUNKS WHENN YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE TO PASSS A SEMI BUT ALSO WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP IT ALSO DOES IT TOO. PORSCHE DEALERBIN WALLINGFORD CT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE WORKSHOP CAMPAIGNS.

NHTSA ID
10882367
Incident
Apr 6, 2016
Mileage
119,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Apr 10, 2015

WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND COMING FROM UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THEN PROCEEDED ON BUT ONCE THE TRUCK GOT OVER 20MPH THE KNOCKING NOISE STARTED AGAIN . *TR

NHTSA ID
10705035
Incident
Apr 8, 2015
Mileage
134,390 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 30, 2014

THE PORSCHE CAYENNE IS NOTORIOUS FOR DRIVE / CARDAN SHAFT FAILURES. HAD BAD DRIVE SHAFT NOISES, AND SUBSEQUENT PREMATURE FAILURE, IT WAS A WORN CENTER SUPPORT DAMPENER AND A FAULTY CENTER SUPPORT BEARING. I EXPERIENCED BANGING, BUMPING, GRINDING NOISES FROM MY PORSCHE CAYENNE AND WAS UNAWARE AT THE TIME IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. I HAVE OUTLINED THE NOISES AND CAUSES BELOW: - A CLANKING OR CLUNKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING OR FROM DECELERATION TO ACCELERATION AROUND 35TO 40MPH AND WHILE CAYENNE WAS SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. AROUND 5TH AND 6TH GEAR GOING AROUND 50-60 MPH IT STOPPED. IF I KEPT THE RPM UNDER 200 IT SEEMED TO RUN OK, NO ISSUE, BUT IF I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR HARD OR GUNNED IT, IT WENT HAYWIRE. IT WAS THE RESULT OF A WORN AND DAMAGED DAMPENER OR DIAPHRAGM LOCATED ON THE CENTER SUPPORT BEARING. THIS CONDITION WILL ALLOW FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT TO TRAVEL UP AND DOWN WITH VARIATIONS IN DRIVE LINE TORQUE. THIS MOVEMENT WILL PRODUCE A LOUD CLANKING OR CLUNKING SOUND AND MAKE FOR A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS CONDITION IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON FAILURES ON THE CAYENNE DRIVE SHAFT, ALL MODELS 2003 TO 2006. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FREE FIX BY PORSCHE BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY OF THE VEHICLES AND MODEL YEARS STATED ABOVE! BUT NO, PORSCHE QUOTED ME $2,500 TO FIX IT. NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AREA, THE HARD RUBBER DAMPENER ON THE CENTER SUPPORT SHAFT OF THE POWER TRAIN, WHICH BY THE WAY IS POSSIBLE. NO, PORSCHE WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN FOR $2,500. *JS

NHTSA ID
10585738
Incident
Apr 26, 2014
Mileage
98,490 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 26, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT ONCE AND JOLTED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED EVERY TIME VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS AROUND 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE FAILURE IF THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED A HIGHER SPEED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR; HOWEVER WHEN NOTIFIED, THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE RELATED TO A FAILED DRIVE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

NHTSA ID
10463104
Incident
Jun 22, 2012
Mileage
94,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 10, 2012

COOLANT LEVEL APPEARS LOW ALL THE SUDDEN AND PIPES R LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10454751
Incident
Mar 5, 2012
Mileage
71,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 7, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURRED ALONG WITH A SIMULTANEOUS BANGING SOUND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CENTER DRIVE SHAFT BEARING WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,800. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/06/11

NHTSA ID
10395125
Incident
Apr 5, 2011
Mileage
50,800 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 31, 2011

MAIN DRIVE SHAFT CENTER BEARING FAULTY, FAILURE WITHOUT NOTICE, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN. DEALER WILL REPLACE WITH UPGRADE PART WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM MAKER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10379709
Incident
Dec 9, 2004
Mileage
32,419 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 10, 2007

CAR WAS DRIVING NORMAL. PARKED IN GARAGE AND 2 HOURS LATER TOOK BACK OUT FOR SHORT DRIVE. REACHING 25 MPH, CAR BEGIN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THAN AS ACCELERATED FURTHER STOPPED SHAKING. PULLED OVER, THAN ACCELERATED AGAIN SLOWLY, CAR BEGIN SHAKING AT APPROX 50 MPH. SLOWED AGAIN. AND CAR CONTINUED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT PORSCHE SHOP, AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS "FAILED DRIVE SHAFT CENTER BEARING". *TR

NHTSA ID
10202453
Incident
Mar 16, 2007
Mileage
60,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 7, 2006

SEVERE VIBRATION/NOISE IN MAIN REAR DRIVE SHAFT. FAILURE OF RUBBER BUSHING COMPONENT ON CENTER SUPPORT BEARING CAUSES SEVERE INSTABILITY OF DRIVE SHAFT. POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENT AT SPEED. FIRST FAILURE AT 72000 MILES. DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF FAILURE ON VEHICLES NATIONWIDE TO THE EXTENT THAT PORSCHE DOES NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM WAREHOUSE AND OTHER DEALERS ARE RELUCTANT TO TRANSFER STOCK BECAUSE OF ANTICIPATED NEED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10159285
Incident
Jun 3, 2006
Mileage
72,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Sep 2, 2005

2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE HAD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE: REAR HATCH LID ADJUSTED, DOME LIGHT COVERS REPLACED, AUDIO UNIT REPLACED, ETC...***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND BANGED AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER UPDATED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED STALLING PROBLEMS. THE REMOTE ENTRY REMOTE LOST IT'S PROGRAMMING AND HAD A POOR SIGNAL. AT TIME ALL THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THE REAR HATCH LIGHT WOUOLD NOT TURN OFF BECAUSE THE HATCH WAS MISADJUSTED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE HORN WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND A VIBRATION COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HEADLAMPS FOGGED UP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR OULD NOT FOLD IN AUTOMATICALLY. THE RADIO AND OTHER ACCESORIES WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHENT HE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE HOOD WAS HAD TO RAISE BECAUSE THE TAILGATE SHOCKS FAILED. THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT CLOSE BECAUSE IT WAS MISALIGNED. THE REAR ROOF MOLDING WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE RADIO PRODUCED NO SOUND AT TIME IN THE RADIO OR CD MODE. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD TO BE UPDATED. THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT CLOSE FLUSH WITH THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR A TOTAL OF 32 DAYS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10136709
Incident
Dec 22, 2004
Mileage
8,047 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .