2016 Porsche Cayenne 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 2016 Porsche Cayenne, 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
- Airbags1023.8%
- Powertrain (other)716.7%
- Exterior lighting614.3%
- Fuel system511.9%
- Engine511.9%
- Electrical37.1%
- Driver assistance24.8%
- Body & structure12.4%
- Steering12.4%
- Tires & wheels12.4%
- Visibility12.4%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
**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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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?
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
OUR TURN SIGNAL SOUND IS SO LOW THAT WE DO NOT REALIZE THAT THE SIGNAL HAS REMAINED ON SINCE OUR LAST TURN. IT HAS CAUSED ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO STOP UNNECESSARILY AND FOLLOWING TRAFFIC TO PASS INSIDE ASSUMING WE WERE TURNING LEFT. BOTH SITUATIONS HAVE CAUSED NEAR ACCIDENTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Headlight went out. Lane change assist not working
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
-DRIVER SIDE WIND NOISE: DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT FAILED AND NOW THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WIND NOISE IS SO LOUD THAT I CAN NOT HEAR APPROACHING EMERGENCY VEHICLE -WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT COMPLETELY ATTACHED TO THE WINDSHIELD LEAVING STREAKS (LOSE CONTACT). I CAN SEE THE BOTTOM HALF WHEN IT RAINS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTO START STOP FUNCTION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE CAR IS STILL MOVING SLOWLY. YOU LOSE ABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE WHILE MOVING (ALBEIT SLOWLY) WHEN THE AUTO START/STOP FUNCTION ENGAGES. THIS FUNCTION SHOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED, NOT MOVING SLOWLY. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
GOOD YEAR TIRE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
-DRIVER SIDE WIND NOISE: DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT FAILED AND NOW THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WIND NOISE IS SO LOUD THAT I CAN NOT HEAR APPROACHING EMERGENCY VEHICLE -WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT COMPLETELY ATTACHED TO THE WINDSHIELD LEAVING STREAKS (LOSE CONTACT). I CAN SEE THE BOTTOM HALF WHEN IT RAINS.
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 .