RoadVitals

2011 Porsche Panamera 4

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.
2
Latest Jun 3, 2019
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.
4
Latest Aug 30, 2022
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.
0
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.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Porsche Panamera 4, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and powertrain (other) categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 369 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

  • Brakes133.3%
  • Driver assistance133.3%
  • Powertrain (other)133.3%

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

4 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

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Aug 30, 2022
222,858 units potentially affected
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2020 Porsche Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, and Cayman S, 2001-2004 Boxster, Boxster S, 2004 Boxster 50 JAHRE SPYDER 550 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all affected models and model years. The caps that cover the low-beam headlight horizontal adjustment screws are missing, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect the headlights for sealing caps and install missing caps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc.Manufacturer number ANB4View on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Jun 12, 2019
99,665 units potentially affected
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, 2004-2010 Cayenne, 2006 Cayenne Turbo S, 2010-2016 Panamera S, Panamera 4 S, Panamera Turbo, 2011-2016 Panamera, Panamera 4, 2012-2013 Panamera Turbo S, 2013-2016 Panamera 4 GTS, 2014-2016 Panamera 4 S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive, Panamera Turbo S G1 II, Panamera Turbo S Executive, 2013 Panamera 4 Platinum Edition, Panamera Platinum Edition, 2016 Panamera 4 Edition, Panamera Edition, Panamera Turbo S Executive Luxury Sports vehicles. The bushing that attaches the gear selector lever to the gearbox may degrade over time, causing the bushing to detach. This condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
The risk: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. Owners are instructed to use the parking brake until their vehicle is repaired. The recall began August 9, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB1.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc.Manufacturer number AKB1View on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Apr 24, 2019
33,206 units potentially affected
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Panamera 4S and Panamera S, 2011-2016 Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera Turbo, 2012-2016 Panamera Turbo S and Panamera S E-Hybrid, 2013-2016 Panamera GTS, 2013 Panamera Platinum Edition and Panamera 4 Platinum Edition, 2014-2016 Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive and Panamera Turbo S Executive, 2015 Panamera Diesel and 2016 Panamera 4 Edition, Panamera Edition and Panamera Turbo S Exclusive Series vehicles. Water may enter the A/C blower control unit, causing an electrical short circuit.
The risk: An electrical short increases the risk of fire.
The remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower control unit, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA7. Note: Porsche recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc.Manufacturer number AKA7View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 3, 2019
Crash reported2 injuries reported

ON 05/24/19 WE WERE DRIVING SLOWLY IN A PAVED HOTEL PARKING LOT. WE ENTERED A PARKING SPACE AT LOW PARKING SPEED. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH EXTREMELY HIGH TORQUE & UNCONTROLLED VELOCITY, JUMPED THE CURB, FLEW OVER A HILL, SCRAPED ACROSS A LARGE BOULDER ON THE HILLTOP, AND CONTINUED UNCONTROLLABLY SPEEDING. THE ACCELERATION PROPELLED THE CAR THROUGH VERY ROUGH NATURAL DESERT TERRAIN DENSELY FILLED WITH BUSHES, LARGE CACTUS, BOULDERS AND RUTS. BRAKING HAD LITTLE OR NO EFFECT UNTIL WE SPED ABOUT HALF A FOOTBALL FIELD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY BROUGHT TO A STOP - JUST BEFORE A TREE AHEAD OF US. PICTURES OF THE HOTEL ROAD, PARKING LOT, THE BERM AHEAD OF THE PARKING SPACE THE CAR ACCELERATED OVER, AND THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND DESERT ARE SHOWN IN EXHIBIT A. WE SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, AND WERE FORTUNATE TO WALK AWAY AND OUT OF THE DESERT ALIVE. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND OUR CHUBB INSURER DECLARED THE VEHICLE 'TOTALED' FROM THE DAMAGE IT SUSTAINED. EXACT VEHICLE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT IS UNKNOWN. WE HAVE A COMPANY THAT HAS INNOVATED, DESIGNED, TESTED AND COMMERCIALIZED ENGINE CONTROLS FOR DECADES. WE BELIEVE THE ACCELERATION WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY A FAULTY CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE. BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE, SUCH INCIDENTS, AND THE RELATED POTENTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE AND INJURY OR DEATH OF OTHERS IN THE FUTURE CAN BE PREVENTED IF PROPER CONTROLS AND EMERGENCY FEATURES ARE IN PLACE. WE TALKED WITH THE MANAGER OF THE COLORADO SPRINGS PORSCHE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT. HE INDICATED HE WOULD GET BACK TO US, BUT TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO FURTHER FOLLOW UP BY PORSCHE. WE HAVE NOW SUBMITTED AN OFFICIAL CLAIM TO PORSCHE PER THE PROTOCOL REQUIRED IN THE CAR OWNER MANUAL. OTHER ALMOST IDENTICAL INCIDENTS POSTED ON INTERNET ARE COPIED IN EXHIBIT B. *JS

NHTSA ID
11217635
Incident
May 24, 2019
Mileage
60,000 mi
Filed Mar 16, 2018

2011 PANAMERA CAMSHAFT RECALL. 5/24/2017 EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. MILEAGE ~80K. DEALER STATES CAMSHAFT BOLTS SHEARED BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIR 50/50. NO KNOWN RECALLS WERE STATED AT TIME OF REPAIR. AROUND MAY 31, 2017 PORSCHE ACKNOWLEDGED MORE OR LESS THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. HERE IS WHERE THINGS GET 'STICKY': ONCE KNOWLEDGE OF POSSIBLE RECALL, WAS PUBLIC ON JANUARY 12, 2018 LETTER RELEASED AND I RECEIVED. I CONTACTED MY DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECEIVING THE 'CORRECT' PART RATHER THAN THE REPAIR PARTS I RECEIVED ON 5/24/2017. DEALER STATED PART 'KIT' WAS NOT YET MANUFACTURED. I CALLED PORSCHE WHO STATED PARTS WERE BEING ENGINEERED AND I WOUKD BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. AROUND MID FEBRUARY 2018 I CALLED DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE STILL WAITING ON PARTS 'KIT' . FINALLY, MARCH 8, 2018 I CALLED DEALER WHO SAID THEY NOW HAD THE SPECIAL 'PARTS' KIT FOR MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALER MARCH 14, 2018 FOR REPAIR. MARCH 15, 2018 DEALER CALLED TO STATE 'WE HAVE TEVIEWED YOUR PREVIOUS REPAIR FROM MAY AND HAVE DETERMINED YOU HAVE THE CORRECT PARTS AND WE WILL NOT BE PERFORMING THE RECALL REPAIR ON YOUR VEHICLE. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS THE CORRECT PARTS ALREADY FROM A REPAIR PRIOR TO RECALL AND MORE IMPORTANTLY PRIOR TO THE PARTS BEING IN EXISTNCE UNTIL AFTER MY REPAIR DONE IN MAY OF 2017? MY CAR HAS BEEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE CAMSHAFT REPAIR FOR ROUGH IDLE. NOW, THE DEALER SAYS I HAVE A LOOSE MOTOR MOUNT AND REPAIR COST $1000. YET THEY PULLED MY MOTOR IUT($2400 MY PART) WHEN CAM BOLTS REPAIRED I AM FILING REPORTS WITH MY ATTORNEY GENERAL AND CONSUMER FRAUD. I HAVE BEEN LIED TO OVER AND OVER. I HOPE OTHERS WILL INTERNET SEARCH CLASS ACTIONS ( JOIN). NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT I HAVE ZERO FAITH IN THE REPAIR I HAD DONE WITH SUB PAR PARTS. IF THE NHTSA DOES NOT SEE THE FRAUD, THEY ARE IGNORANT.

NHTSA ID
11079731
Incident
Mar 15, 2018

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 Panamera 4 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2024000
2023000
2022000
2021020
2020020
2019010
2018041
2017021
2016030
2015030
2014030
2013030
2012040
2011Viewing240

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.