2016 Porsche Cayenne Owner Complaints

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk. Safety hazard for airbag not deploying properly. This is a common issue reported.

NHTSA ID

11763904

Incident

Sep 10, 2026

[XXX] the salesman at cars 4 your budget sold a 2016 Porsche VIN#[XXX] ON XXX to [XXX] DOBXXX. The vehicle's odometer was tampered with by [XXX] he had the miles rolled back by a friend of his. the customer has no idea this was done to the vehicle the miles were rolled back before the vehicle went to [XXX] auto auction were the vehicle went unsold [XXX] kept the vehicle and contiuned to drive it for persoal use before financing the vehicle to Mr. [XXX] for $19,000 ON XXX. [XXX] boss [XXX] Has knowledge of this transaction and was fine with it has long a [XXX] gave him a cut of the profits from the sale. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11760414

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing the entire dashboard which costs over $10,000. This is apparently a very common issue.

NHTSA ID

11740920

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.

NHTSA ID

11739293

Incident

May 21, 2026

I noticed a hesitation when I Pressed the gas pedal, I also noticed the smell of Gasoline when I parked it in my Garage. I had my Certified mechanic look at it and he told me there was a recall on the Fuel sending unit, creating a transfer case failure, apparently the flange breaks and leaks gas. I googled it and it confirms it. I called the local dealer and they have not called me back?

NHTSA ID

11721778

Incident

Feb 26, 2026

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.

NHTSA ID

11703693

Incident

Oct 2, 2024

passenger side leather covered dashboard delaminated making air bag deployment inpossible

NHTSA ID

11695576

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.

NHTSA ID

11635383

Incident

Jan 1, 2024

Engine oil leak detected in 2021 @33,195 miles caused by broken aluminum bolts in upper part of timing cover. Repaired by dealer on a “good will” basis for what I was told would have cost me approximately $9-10,000. Oil leak reappeared in 2023 @44,657 miles (less than 12,000 since first leak) caused again by broken aluminum bolts in the lower, upper oil pan, and timing cover. Repair done this time by independent shop at a cost of $6,865.70.

NHTSA ID

11627258

Incident

Mar 26, 2021

Porsche cayenne leather dashboard shrunk and peeling out. I was told that if the car was in an accident, the airbag might not deploy correctly. This is a common issue.

NHTSA ID

11627046

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

The dashboard leather has shrunk and the staples are beginning to pull out. I have read that this may keep the dashboard airbag from property deploying in the case of an accident. This is a common issue and the dealers are recommending replacement.

NHTSA ID

11626837

Incident

Nov 22, 2024

Porsche leather dashboard shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told by a Porsche service technician that if the vehicle was in an accident, the air bag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer diagnosed it and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.

NHTSA ID

11615812

Incident

Sep 22, 2024

**Subject**: Urgent Safety Concern: Headlight Condensation and Water Damage in 2015-2018 Porsche Cayenne 958.2 Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a serious safety issue with the LED matrix headlights on my 2016 Porsche Cayenne GTS (958.2). The problem involves severe condensation buildup within the headlight assembly, leading to water damage and electrical failures. This defect has caused my headlights to fail, particularly during nighttime driving in heavy rain, which significantly reduced visibility. This failure could have resulted in a major accident, putting my life and the lives of others at risk. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The issue first became noticeable after a rainstorm, where condensation started to build up inside the headlights. Despite multiple visits to my local Porsche dealership, where they confirmed the problem and attempted repairs, the issue continues to persist. I also notified Porsche corporate directly, but neither the dealership nor Porsche offered any assistance or permanent resolution. Both have failed to take responsibility for what I believe is a widespread defect, as I have found numerous similar reports from other owners. No warning lights or messages were displayed prior to the headlight failure, which made the issue even more dangerous. Without any prior indication, I was left driving without functioning headlights at night, in poor weather conditions. Given the potential for catastrophic consequences, I strongly urge NHTSA to investigate this issue. A recall or other corrective action is necessary to prevent further risks to drivers. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NHTSA ID

11612920

Incident

Sep 5, 2024

Backup Camera Intermittent, Yes, available for inspection. Unexpected blackout of the screen. Cannot see pedestrians behind when backing out and expecting to see from the camera instead of rear view mirror. Yes, reproduced by the Dealer. Yes, by the Dealer representing the manufacturer. No warning of any kind. First appeared 9/19/23 Unknown.

NHTSA ID

11609968

Incident

Sep 19, 2023

Dear NHTSA, I am writing to express a serious safety concern regarding the dashboard of my 2016 Porsche Cayenne S. The leather on the dash has begun to shrink and is no longer fitted properly. This misalignment is causing me significant worry about the potential impact on airbag deployment in the event of an accident. Given the crucial role that the dashboard and its covering play in the proper functioning of the airbag system, this issue could compromise the airbags' deployment or effectiveness. This is not only a major safety concern but also poses a risk of the airbags failing to protect occupants as intended, potentially leading to severe consequences during a collision. I am aware that this problem is not unique to my vehicle, as several other owners of the same model have reported similar issues. The potential impact on safety is alarming, and I believe this requires immediate attention. I kindly request that you investigate this issue urgently and advise on the appropriate resolution to ensure the safety of the vehicle’s airbag system. Prompt action is essential to address this potential risk.

NHTSA ID

11608655

Incident

Aug 14, 2024

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue

NHTSA ID

11582346

Incident

Sep 10, 2020

The contact owns a 2016 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that water had leaked inside the front driver's side and passenger's side headlamps. The contact stated that the failure caused the headlights to become foggy and significantly dim, reducing the visibility of the roadway. The contact stated that he had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V656000 (Exterior Lighting) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that the dealer sealed the headlamps while there was water inside. The dealer declined to perform additional repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ID

11562147

Incident

Sep 27, 2023

Mileage

86,000 mi

While driving vehicle, noticed some slippage/clunking when turning. Took vehicle to Porsche dealer, they said transfer case needed to be replaced. Car has 12,600 original miles on it. Dealer said there was an extended warranty on the transfer case that had expired. In researching, it became obvious that there is a Porsche design problem that affected several model years for the Cayenne. As a mechanical engineer I am concerned that a transfer case failure at freeway speeds could be dangerous. Separately an auto mechanic shop opined that driving without replacing could be a safety concern. In my opinion there should have been a recall rather than a extended warranty.

NHTSA ID

11556846

Incident

Nov 26, 2023

car had a smell of gas diesel fumes inside cabin from air conditioning system. number of oil leaks over the years as well. now car at dealer for repair over 10 month. not fixed yet. number of problem with same diesel engine on line, even article i found . car was sold as CPO , it was new unregister, but they guaranteed us there will be no emission problems or leaking with this car. now warranty almost over Nov 2023 , and I will get a defective car back maybe... after warranty will expire! more importantly a car that leaks oil or diesel and smells inside the cabin from that.

NHTSA ID

11543209

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

At slow speed, under acceleration, the transfer case slips, and makes a thumping noise. Over time, the car has poor acceleration when trying to get up to speed with other cars. The dealer has confirmed that this is a problem with Porsche Cayennes. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11525322

Incident

May 1, 2023

my car had a problem in the hybrid part, before doing the diagnosis they said 3 different problems, when they gave me the diagnosis they said they didn't know what it was but that to begin with “it could be “ the components $13,000 to fix. but my car is under the 8 years or 100,000mls hybrid system warranty, so i contacted porshe headquarters and they said the car was out of warranty. so i called porche in Fremont (where they have mentioned the warranty on their website) and 3 people confirmed that the car is under warranty by VIN n. I called headquarters again and they said they needed this guarantee in writing. So when I called Fremont again 3 weeks later they said the car is not under warranty, meaning they changed the whole conversation within 3 weeks. I already confirmed it on CARFAX and I am under warranty but I never received any responses to emails or phone calls they are ignoring me because they don't want to assume the warranty. Fremont confirmed that I had 6 months or 19,000 miles until the warranty expired, and strangely 3 weeks later that warranty no longer appears in their system. in my opinion they don't know what the car has and they are trying to escape the warranty because there are few months left to finish, that's why they don't give me answers, I haven't tried all possible options and I can't find help to solve this problem, I'm stuck at home dor the last 3 months with 2 children without car. because my only car is at the porsche parked waiting for someone to take over the car's warranty. mentioned that the car had no accident, it was just parked in the garage and one morning it didn't start and had to be towed. Terrible costumer service

NHTSA ID

11525312

Incident

Apr 16, 2023

Headlight went out. Lane change assist not working

NHTSA ID

11524322

Incident

May 29, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that moisture was entering the headlights on both sides of the vehicle. Over time, the condensation in the passenger’s side headlight was burned out with a message on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The dealer gave the contact an estimate without a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was called and informed that they would provide a nominal portion of the repair cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. The contact stated that they took their vehicle to a couple dealerships and mechanics before the issue was diagnosed as a design flaw. Therefore, simply changing the headlights out would not fix the problem.

NHTSA ID

11506274

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

Mileage

65,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. On one occasion while driving, the failure occurred and nearly cause the vehicle to be rear ended by a vehicle speeding from behind. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on multiple occasions however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure before performing a software update to the accelerator pedal which appeared to correct the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11463632

Incident

Jan 10, 2022

Mileage

40,000 mi

the driver receives a warning light in the instrument panel left tail light is defective, and then right tail light defective. Some times tail light works and does not when car is in cold weather Was told that both tail lights were defective and would have to be replaced at a cost of $3400.00 . Found an after sale Porsche publication saying that it affected 2015-2018 Porsche Cayenne. Dealer told me that it is no longer covered since my warranty is not in effect anymore. However this is a safety issue not a warranty issue. Have paperwork stating that Porsche knows the tail lights are defective. Since I live in Florida they have been working fine. But as soon as the car is in colder climates this starts to happen

NHTSA ID

11455691

Incident

Jan 5, 2022