RoadVitals

2009 Porsche Cayenne Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
15
Latest Jun 16, 2026
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
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
2
Reports on file since Mar 9, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Porsche Cayenne. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–15 of 15

Electrical
Filed Jun 16, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2009 Porsche Cayenne. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to O’Reilly's for a diagnostic test, the diagnostic report listed the mileage at 209,000; however, at the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 105,000. The dealer was not notified of the discrepancy, as per the Attorney's advice.

NHTSA ID
11744537
Incident
May 30, 2026
Mileage
209,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2009 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated there was visible damage to the fuel tank flange, and there was a leak coming from the fuel tank. The contact stated that the OBD port provided a code and that the fuel was too lean, causing the RPM to fluctuate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for throttle body repair, but the failure persisted. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,000.

NHTSA ID
11722935
Incident
Dec 1, 2025
Mileage
157,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 11, 2023

Fuel leaking from fuel tank

NHTSA ID
11516582
Incident
Apr 11, 2023
Fuel system
Filed Mar 4, 2023

Very strong gas smell at driver side rear tire area.

NHTSA ID
11510169
Incident
Feb 25, 2023
Fuel system
Filed Jul 2, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE EMANATING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

NHTSA ID
11337128
Incident
Jun 18, 2020
Mileage
190,000 mi
Filed Jun 25, 2020

ABOUT COUPLE/FEW WEEKS AGO UNABLE TO OPEN DRIVER SIDE DOOR EVEN WHEN UNLOCKED IN PARK POSITION AND WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. IT IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED ON YOUTUBE. IN AN EMERGENCY & ACCIDENT DRIVER IS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY ESCAPE/GET OUT OF VEHICLE BECAUSE DOOR WON'T OPEN EVEN WITH NUMEROUS TRIES FROM INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. WE HAVE A YOUNG CHILD AND IN THE EVENT I NEED TO GET HER OUT IMMEDIATELY I AM UNABLE TO SINCE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN. MY WIFE BEEN HAVING TO CRAWL OUT/ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IN ORDER TO ENTER/EXIT CAR & GET OUR DAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT. I'M TAKING CAR TO DEALER ON 6/26/2020 FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE WE FEEL UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WITH A YOUNG CHILD. . *TR

NHTSA ID
11330861
Incident
Jun 3, 2020
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 15, 2019

I WAS DRIVING HOME ABOUT 10:44 PM ON AUGUST 14 2019 WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A EXPLOSION TO MY WINDOWS BUT I WAS AFRAID TO PULL OVER BECAUSE IT WAS A DARK ROAD SO I GOT TO THE FIRST GAS STATION AND CHECKED FOR DAMAGE WINDOWS BUT COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE DRIVERS BACK SEAT WHICH HAD I GUES SWOLLEN AND BUST OUT OR COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT.

NHTSA ID
11244315
Incident
Aug 14, 2019
Mileage
107,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 10, 2019

DRIVE SHAFT GOES OFF UNEXPECTEDLY RESULTING IN VIOLENT SHAKING OF VEHICLE AND LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION

NHTSA ID
11230616
Incident
Jul 2, 2019
Mileage
67,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 15, 2018

DRIVE SHAFT MOUNT FAILED

NHTSA ID
11140269
Incident
Oct 5, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 30, 2018

DURING NORMAL COMMUTE TO WORK DRIVING, A MESSAGE "CHECK DIM BEAM" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE BOARD. UPON ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FAULTY DIM BEAM HEADLAMP BULB, I FOUND HEADLAMP HARNESS WIRING AND ALL INTERNAL HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WIRING IS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND CONDUCTORS ARE EXPOSED AND CAUSING SHORTS AND APPARENT LAMP FAILURE. OTHER HEADLAMP LIGHTING (SIDE DIRECTIONAL LAMP) LIGHTING FLASHED ON AND OFF WHEN HARNESS WAS TOUCHED, AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FLASHED AND TURNED OFF AND ON BY THEMSELVES, PARTICULARLY THE RADIO. WHEN THE SUSPECT DIM BEAM LAMP WAS SWAPPED WITH OPPOSITE (PASSENGER SIDE, THE REPLACEMENT LAMP DID NOT WORK BUT THE SUSPECT LAMP FROM DRIVER SIDE WORKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE LAMP ASSEMBLY WAS SUSPECT. UPON OPENING THE ACCESS POINTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ASSEMBLY, THE WIRING WAS SEEN TO BE CRUMBLING AND UNSAFE. I AM WORRIED THAT A FIRE MAY START AND HAVE DISCONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID
11123534
Incident
Apr 25, 2018
Mileage
101,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10630319
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 27, 2014

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. WENT TO USE IT, OPENED DOOR TO DRIVERS SIDE, DASH READS IGNITION LOCK FAULT. WOULD NOT START, WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. TOWED TO DEALER (AFTER TOWING CO. DID EMERGENCY UNLOCK OF TRANSMISSION TO GET OUT OF GARAGE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT PORSCHE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK NOW, TOLD AT FIRST IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. REPLACED AND STILL NOT FUNCTIONING (NO START) NOW TOLD CONTROL MODULE MUST BE REPLACED AS IT GOT "WET" AND VEHICLE INTERIOR FLOOR HAD GOTTEN WET. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS GETTING WET FROM A DEFECT IN CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10628959
Incident
Aug 20, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 17, 2010

UNABLE TO LISTEN TO RADIO STATIONS ON RADIO DUE TO STATIC NOISE AND HEAVY SOUND INTERFERENCES EVEN ON LOCAL NJ FM RADIO STATIONS. THIS DEFECT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS THE USE, VALUE OR SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AS THIS IS CAUSING DRIVER FRUSTRATION AND REDUCED DRIVER FOCUS WHICH I AM AFRAID WILL LEAD TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO LISTEN OR LISTEN WITH STATIC AND HEAVY SOUND INTERFERENCES TO THE RADIO FOR NEWS, MUSIC AND RADIO TALK. THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AND TESTED BY AN INDEPENDENT AUDIO PROFESSIONAL IN WRITING AND REPORT CONCLUSION IS "RADIO STATIONS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, HEAVY INTERFERENCES. TESTED ON LOCAL NJ STATIONS 94.3FM AND 101.5FM", *TR

NHTSA ID
10326131
Incident
Jan 18, 2010
Mileage
9,960 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 2, 2009

I OWN A 2009 PORSCHE CARRERA CONVERTIBLE WITH PDK TRANSMISSION. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND CAR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL FOR A SPLIT SECOND OR TWO BEFORE ENGAGING INTO FIRST GEAR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 4,300 MILES AND THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. PORSCHE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I AM WAITING IN AN INTERSECTION WANTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THEN WHEN I FINALLY IT IS CLEAR TO TURN THE CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE ENGAGING INTO FIRST GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10263958
Incident
Mar 28, 2009
Mileage
4,466 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalTires & wheels+1 more
Filed Mar 9, 2009

THE ELECTRONICS ON THE CAR ARE SHOWING A SUSPENSION ISSUE. AND THE ELECTRONICS ON THE CAR DO NOT WORK FOR MORE THAN 5-7 MIN BEFORE SHUTDOWN AND RESTART. THIS INCLUDES RADIO, BLUETOOTH, GPS, ETC. WHEN THE ELECTRONICS START BACK UP THE RADIO IS TURNED ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10261287
Incident
Jan 8, 2009
Mileage
1,001 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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .