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2003 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
1
Latest Feb 10, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
8
Latest Jun 12, 2019
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, most frequently naming the engine category. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 433 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

8 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Jun 12, 2019
99,665 units potentially affected
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, 2004-2010 Cayenne, 2006 Cayenne Turbo S, 2010-2016 Panamera S, Panamera 4 S, Panamera Turbo, 2011-2016 Panamera, Panamera 4, 2012-2013 Panamera Turbo S, 2013-2016 Panamera 4 GTS, 2014-2016 Panamera 4 S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive, Panamera Turbo S G1 II, Panamera Turbo S Executive, 2013 Panamera 4 Platinum Edition, Panamera Platinum Edition, 2016 Panamera 4 Edition, Panamera Edition, Panamera Turbo S Executive Luxury Sports vehicles. The bushing that attaches the gear selector lever to the gearbox may degrade over time, causing the bushing to detach. This condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
The risk: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. Owners are instructed to use the parking brake until their vehicle is repaired. The recall began August 9, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB1.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc.Manufacturer number AKB1View on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Sep 20, 2017
50,145 units potentially affected
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo vehicles, 2004-2006 Cayenne vehicles, and 2006 Cayenne S "Titanium" Edition vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel filter flanges with new filter flanges that have a protective film, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH10.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc.Manufacturer number AH10View on NHTSA.gov

SEAT BELTS

Dec 15, 2004
31,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." ALL THREE REAR SEAT POSITIONS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER POSITION ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT HAVE A LOCKING FEATURE WHICH CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR FROM AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) MODE TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) MODE FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLATION. THE BELT MAY DEACTIVATE THE ALR MODE WITH CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINTS.
The risk: WHEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE CHILD RESTRAINTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY INSTALL A CLIP IN EITHER OF THE AFFECTED REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS AND PROVIDE AN OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT. THE CLIPS WILL PREVENT UNWARRANTED CONVERSION FROM ALR TO ELR MODE WITH CHILD SEAT INSTALLATION. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 17, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.
PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.Manufacturer number A506View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA06005ClosedEngineering Analysis

SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION

Opened Mar 15, 2006
Closed Mar 12, 2007

PORSCHE IS INITIATING A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION ACTION TO ADDRESS A CONDITION RELATED TO A FAULTY OR LOOSE CONNECTOR IN THE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM.PORSCHE'S TESTING HAS SHOWN THAT THE FAULTY CONNECTOR WILL NOT PREVENT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.THE FAULTY CONNECTOR WILL CAUSE THE CIRCUIT RESISTANCE TO EXCEED THE THRESHOLD FOR ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT.PORSCHE HAS REPORTED A LARGE NUMBER OF WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND MANY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SERVICED TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION AS DESCRIBED IN THE CAYENNE TECHNICAL INFORMATION BULLETIN: GROUP 6, #11/04 AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED.PORSCHE WILL PERFORM THIS SERVICE TO ALL REMAINING UNCORRECTED VEHICLES UNDER A NEW PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN STARTING AT THE END OF APRIL 2007.ALL OWNERS OF A SUBJECT VEHICLE BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2004 WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PORSCHE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO RECEIVE THE FREE MODIFICATION.VEHICLES BUILT AFTER NOVEMBER 2004 DO NOT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT CONNECTOR.IN ADDITION, PORSCHE REPORTS THAT A SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BUILT IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2003, MAY CONTAIN AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED SIDE AIRBAG MODULE.THIS MAY ALSO PRODUCEILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT THAT WOULD BECOME EVIDENT SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO SERVICE.WARRANTY DATA INDICATES THAT THESE MODULES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED AND NO LONGER PRESENT A RISK.PORSCHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REPORT OF NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIRBAG.THE ACTION TAKEN BY PORSCHE IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
PE05060ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION

Opened Nov 10, 2005
Closed Mar 15, 2006

DURING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PHASE, ODI IDENTIFIED 76 OWNER COMPLAINTS AND 6,582 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION FROM EITHER A FAULTY SIDE-IMPACT AIRBAG MODULE OR WIRING HARNESS.TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO ALLEGATION OF CRASH, INJURY OR DEATH REPORTED.PORSCHE REPORTS THAT A BAD BATCH OF MODULES WAS PRODUCED DURING MID-NOVEMBER TO MID-DECEMBER, 2003.HOWEVER, PORSCHE?S WARRANTY DATA INDICATES THAT MOST OF THE MODULES REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WERE ON VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE AND AFTER THIS PERIOD INDICATING THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE MORE WIDESPREAD.PORSCHE REPORTS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MALFUNCTION IS DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTOR LEADING TO THE AIRBAG MODULE AS A RESULT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND MECHANICAL STRESS.IN JUNE AND NOVEMBER OF 2004, PORSCHE ADDED A PROTECTIVE COAT OF LUBRICANT GEL TO THE CONNECTOR AND REROUTED THE HARNESS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON ALL FUTURE PRODUCTION.PORSCHE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL CAMPAIGN, BUT IT HAS CIRCULATED TO ITS DEALERS TWO SERVICE BULLETINS, BOTH IN SEPTEMBER 2004 TO ADDRESS THE ABOVE ISSUES.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-005) AND WILL INCLUDE MY 2006 VEHICLES.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2014

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE CHECK/ADD COOLANT ALARM/ICON APPEARED IN THE DASH DISPLAY. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN, CHECKED THE RADIATOR COOLANT RESERVOIR TANK AND FOUND LITTLE TO NO COOLANT IN SIDE THE RESERVOIR TANK. SUBSEQUENTLY AS I CLOSED THE HOOD I HAPPENED TO SEE A FRESH TRAIL OF COOLANT FROM WHERE I HAD BACKED INTO THE PARKING SPOT. LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND THE COOLANT WAS STEADILY LEAKING OUT FROM THE REAR, CENTER LEFT BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE SPLASH/COVER. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE REPAIR FACILITY, THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE SUFFERED A COOLANT PIPE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563767
Incident
Feb 5, 2014
Mileage
108,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSTR 2642

Porsche Tester Software Update Information Software Version: 44.300.000

SPTL 2607a

VAS 621001A Matrix Headlamp Aimer – Automatic Shipment / Maha Installation

SPTL 2607

VAS 621001A Matrix Headlamp Aimer – Automatic Shipment / Maha Installation

13/26

ENGINE

Allocation of Approved Engine Oils MY 2027 (13/26)

TSTR 2641

PiUS Update Information Software Version: 3.2

TSTR 2641

PiUS Update Information Software Version: 3.2

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Porsche Cayenne Turbo by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023000
2020010
2019010
2018000
2015010
2014010
2013010
2012220
2011113049.9
2010010
2009010
2008710
2007000
2006131
2005432
2004158253.0
2003Viewing182

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.