2012 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid 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 2012 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, 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
- Body & structure125.0%
- Fuel system125.0%
- Steering125.0%
- Suspension125.0%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE PANAMERA S E-HYBRID. THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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 .