RoadVitals

2015 Porsche Cayenne

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.
13
Latest May 31, 2025
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.
2
Latest Mar 23, 2016
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.
1
1 currently open
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 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 Porsche Cayenne, most frequently naming the engine, exterior lighting and powertrain (other) categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 518 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

  • Engine320.0%
  • Exterior lighting320.0%
  • Powertrain (other)320.0%
  • Fuel system213.3%
  • Electrical213.3%
  • Airbags16.7%
  • Body & structure16.7%

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

2 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

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Mar 23, 2016
88,300 units potentially affected
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
The risk: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip, installing any missing circlips, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG02.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc.Manufacturer number AG02View on NHTSA.gov

SUSPENSION

Dec 29, 2014
2 units potentially affected
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cayenne Diesel and Cayenne S vehicles manufactured November 26, 2014, to November 27, 2014. Due to a manufacturing error, the suspension alignment on the front and rear axles may not have been performed correctly and the screw connections of the camber, toe and caster may not have been tightened with the specified torque.
The risk: If the suspension alignment was incorrectly performed, vehicle handling could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will perform a front and rear suspension alignment, and check the screw connections for the proper torque, retightening as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification date. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AF04.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc.Manufacturer number AF04View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA21002OpenEngineering Analysis

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Recent owner complaints

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

Airbags
Filed May 31, 2025

Air bag light on occupant not detected code, just like Porsche Mecan campaign AMA2

NHTSA ID
11664131
Incident
May 17, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 10, 2024

June 7-8, 2024 driving in rain, the #17- 25 amp headlight fuse blew, leaving my family and me stranded without headlights in the dark on I-70 highway. When headlights quit during this drive and it became Very Very dangerous! After getting the 2015 Cayenne home, I inspected both headlights. Driver's side headlight had a lot of moisture on the inside of lens. The passenger side headlight had about 1 cup of water inside headlight. Reading about Porsche Cayenne headlights leaking online, this issue should be a recall. I am going to take to dealership have them work on unrelated recall. I will ask them to inspect Cayenne. I can not drive this vehicle during inclimate weather or at night for an emergency or otherwise. I have been really busy at work and personally to take 60 miles to dealership. I have another vehicle I have been driving.

NHTSA ID
11629837
Incident
Jun 7, 2024
Filed Jun 20, 2024

Dealership is selling vehicle without disclosing recall information or correcting.

NHTSA ID
11595610
Incident
Jun 20, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 25, 2024

When I start the vehicle I get an error message that the rear lights are not working properly, but they are functioning well. This message is random and it can show up at anytime. I have contacted Porsche about this and they said that this is due to a faulty part that can be replaced, but requires 5000 USD. This problem was there when the vehicle was under warranty, but they never pursued or investigated it.

NHTSA ID
11579292
Incident
Feb 5, 2020
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 19, 2024

Headlight not working properly.

NHTSA ID
11572810
Incident
Feb 17, 2024
Electrical
Filed Sep 7, 2021

On August 21 2021, I was out shopping. When I went out to return home, the car would not start. I could not jump start it or anything. I had it towed to the dealer. I found out from Porsche and dealership that my car was disabled by Porsche Connect. I do not have this service or pay for it. On Friday Sept 3, I was informed by Porsche customer service that it disabled my car because the original owner (in 2015) changed their phone number. So Porsche assumed stolen and shut down. I did not authorize this, I did not sign up for this service. They will not fix the car because they say it is out of warranty. Because I do not know the code to turn the car back on, they want to replace parts and say I have to get the Porsche Connect App. This is a known issue at Porsche because the dealer found a TSB on it. They are not taking responsibility for shutting down the car with out my permission. This is a safety issue depending on where I could have been.

NHTSA ID
11431928
Incident
Aug 21, 2021
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2021

After the emissions recall was performed the vehicle has an issue that when turning a corner the engine will not produce any power and will not shift down in order to get the car to accelerate. You get no response from the throttle pedal unless you depress it fully to the floor and then the car will jerk and accelerate uncontrollably. This creates an unsafe condition when trying to pull out into traffic. I have almost been in an accident multiple times because of this with oncoming cars and with cars following me as they are trying to merge also and my vehicle will not accelerate. I have driven a vehicle identical to mine that has not had the emissions recall performed and it does not have this issue.

NHTSA ID
11430182
Incident
Aug 20, 2021
Electrical
Filed Jun 14, 2021

The 2015 Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid has a charging port for charging the electric drive battery. The electric plug does not disconnect from the vehicle. Based on the OBD-II software used for diagnosis Error Code - P0D9400 Error Description - High-voltage charger - charging-plug lock fault (00A93D)

NHTSA ID
11420884
Incident
Jun 13, 2021

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026310
2025520
2024540
2023510
2022320
2021185052.2
2020234062.9
2019416059.1
2018131144.2
2017162160.7
2016382154.7
2015Viewing132141.2
2014533045.4
2013403048.6
2012274046.3
2011303044.0
2010120
2009152050.8
2008273044.5
2007000
2006413158.8
2005324258.3
2004386258.7
2003222

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.