2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine250.0%
- Powertrain (other)125.0%
- Transmission125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE GARAGE THE NEXT MORNING THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID SURROUNDING THE CAR BELOW. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STATED THAT I NEEDED TO CHECK COOLANT LEVEL. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE PORSCHE OF PLANO AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE WRITER THAT THE COOLANT PIPES ARE A COMMONLY KNOWN, WELL DOCUMENTED POINT OF FAILURE. HE SUGGESTED I RUN A SEARCH ON GOOGLE. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT PORSCHE USED PLASTIC MATERIALS IN THE DESIGN OF THE COOLANT PIPES WHICH ARE LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE PLASTIC BECOMES BRITTLE OVER TIME DUE TO THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN IT BECOMES BRITTLE ENOUGH IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO LOOSE ALL FLUID IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN CARS WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND OTHERS THAT ARE PARKED. PORSCHE DOES NOT SUPPLY THE SAME PARTS TO REPAIR A FAILURE. PORSCHE INSTEAD SELLS A KIT MADE OF ALUMINUM PIPING THAT IS DESIGNED NOT TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN MANUFACTURED. THE COST FOR THE KIT AND LABOR RANGES BETWEEN $2,000 - $3,000. THE ISSUE IS NOW PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT DUE TO THE NUMBER OF OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2005 PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO PURCHASED AT THE END OF DECEMBER, 2004 ON THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 50 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR AND JERKED FORWARD WITH SUCH INTENSITY, IT WAS AS IF SOMEONE HAD PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE "EMISSION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS OCCURRED. THE INCIDENT CAUSED WHIPLASH BECAUSE THE CAR JOLTED SO SUDDENLY. IF THERE HAD BEEN ANYONE DRIVING CLOSELY BEHIND ME, THEY WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO ME. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN FOR SERVICE TO A PORSCHE SERVICE CENTER AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE DME (THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMPUTER). THE SERVICE CENTER STATED THIS WAS AN AUTOMATIC FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE, THAT IT AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO 3RD GEAR IF THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SENSES A PROBLEM. IF I HAD BEEN GOING 70 MPH ON A NORMAL HIGHWAY, THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING FROM NY CITY ON NOVEMBER 20, 2018 ALL OF A SUDDEN START HEARING LOUD CLUNKING/THUMPING NOISE FROM THE UNDER OF THE CAR. IT WAS SCARY. DROVE HOME VERY SLOWLY WITH FLASHERS ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE PORSCHE DEALER IN ROCHESTER AND THEY DIAGNOSE AND QUOTE ME CLOSE TO $2000 TO REPLACE THE CARDAN DRIVE SHAFT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY AND CAR IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN RECENTLY, AND VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY HAVE DELAYS IN DOWNSHIFTING OR ACCELERATION RESULTING IN SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN PROMPT ACCELERATION IS NEEDED (FOR EXAMPLE, AVOID TRAFFIC OR VEHICLE RUNNING A TRAFFIC LIGHT). VEHICLE ALSO SHUDDERS AND KICKS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY ENGAGES IN SUCH DELAYED ENGAGEMENT SITUATIONS. DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED ISSUE DESPITE COMPLAINT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .