2011 Porsche Panamera Owner Complaints

My 2011 Porsche Panamera 4 has water coming through the AC vents. I noticed that the passenger rugs are wet and possibly shorting out my electrical modules.

NHTSA ID

11680216

Incident

Jun 2, 2025

I am reporting an issue with the AH08 recall (NHTSA Campaign 17V368) for my 2011 Porsche Panamera 4S. I experienced the failure on December 27, 2024, while driving on the highway. I scheduled repair at Porsche Greensboro (Foreign Cars Italia) for Dec 31, 2024, but they kept my vehicle for 33 days without completing any recall work. They then advised me to contact another dealer. I arranged to have the vehicle towed to Porsche Southpoint in Durham, NC, for a February 3, 2025 appointment. As of June 2025, none of the recall repairs have been performed, and the dealer is requesting $12,000 to disassemble the engine for damage stemming from the AH08 issue—work that should be covered under the recall. I have not received any response from the dealership despite repeated requests. I am requesting NHTSA’s assistance in enforcing compliance with the recall requirement and investigating this prolonged failure to perform mandatory safety repairs.

NHTSA ID

11669179

Incident

Dec 27, 2024

On [XXX], I experienced the failure associated with the AH08 recall while driving on the highway. I promptly scheduled an appointment at Porsche Greensboro (Foreign Cars Italia) for December 31, 2024, at 8:00 AM (Confirmation Code: [XXX]) to address recalls AH08, AKA7, AKB1, and ANB4. Despite keeping my vehicle for 30 days, Porsche Greensboro did not complete any of the recall services and ultimately informed me that they could not perform the work in a timely manner, advising me to contact another dealership. Following this, I scheduled an appointment at Porsche Southpoint for February 3, 2025, at 9:20 AM (Confirmation Code: [XXX]), and Porsche Greensboro arranged to have the vehicle towed there. However, as of today, Porsche Southpoint has not completed the recall repairs and is requesting $12,000 (50% upfront) for engine disassembly related to failures stemming from the AH08 recall. This is deeply concerning, as recall repairs should be addressed promptly and at no cost to the vehicle owner. To date, my vehicle has been out of service for nearly six months with no resolution. I respectfully request your immediate assistance to ensure that the recall repairs are completed without further delay or financial burden to me, in accordance with NHTSA and Porsche’s recall obligations. I have included correspondence with both Porsche Greensboro and Porsche Southpoint for your review. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to a prompt and satisfactory resolution. I can be reached at [XXX] or [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11662484

Incident

May 27, 2024

Due to a problem with my car engine, the car would not accelerate and would move slowly despite pressing on the pedal. The car screen indicated that it was PCM problem (the gas would not come up) and it was a reduced engine problem. The car not accelerating despite pressing the pedal can pose serious safety problems. I have not taken the car to a dealer to repair yet.

NHTSA ID

11653314

Incident

Jul 30, 2024

2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. CONSUMER LETTER WRITES IN REGARD TO SLOW RESPONSE OF INTAKE CAMSHAFT. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11514159

Incident

Mar 28, 2023

Coolant warning light on - seeing leak Coolant warning light for coolant level comes on. Seeing a leak at a hose. Leaking at coolant bypass hose under intake. Coolant pipes in thermostat housing are coming loose at the epoxy joint. Chassis system failure, The car will stop abruptly on roads. And if here's that these problems that are reoccurring have been recalls before, That have not been addressed

NHTSA ID

11468743

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Porsche Panamera. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the transmission failed to shift as designed. The contact stated that the transmission and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 19V446000 (Power Train). The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.

NHTSA ID

11467158

Incident

May 20, 2022

Mileage

101,000 mi

Every time I drive the vehicle for any distance or speed when I park I can smell fuel. The odor is very strong when I park in the garage. The Odor will last a few hours then go away. But if I have not drove the vehicle that day no odor will be present. It Is smelled back by the gas cap leading me to believe it’s ether the fuel hose receiver or the fuel pump that after investigation have found out the fuel pump is under the back seat on the passenger side. But it is important to note there is never a fuel smell inside the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11446698

Incident

May 1, 2021

I was informed by a mechanic that when the passenger seat is adjusted to a low position, it causes the seat to damage the airbag control module, thereby causing the airbag to be disabled.

NHTSA ID

11421620

Incident

Jun 20, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE, THE PSAM, THE SPORT AND COMFORT MODE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPORT AND COMFORT MODE NOT ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PORSCHE SOUTH SHORE (185 W SUNRISE HWY, FREEPORT, NY 11520) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT ACTUATOR WAS FAULTY AND THAT METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

NHTSA ID

11382843

Incident

Dec 3, 2020

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THEIR VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED FORWARD BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK AND POWERED OFF. THE CONTACT HAD A MOBILE MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THE DIAGNOSING CODES WERE RESET, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE PERSISTED. THE MECHANIC THEN STATED THE FUEL PUMP BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE REOCCURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE TIME IN BETWEEN FAILURES THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY SMELT A FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC, WHO RESET THE CODES. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN AND HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS SINCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11351352

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE AC/HEATER BLOWER WAS BLOWING WEAK MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE AND NOT BLOWING WELL. PORSCHE CHECKERED IT OUT AND GENERATED A REPORT STATING I NEEDED A NEW BLOWER. AFTER OBTAINING MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF MY CAR ( DOES SO WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING, ON RAINY DAYS OR WHEN SNOW HAS MELTED ) UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE BLOWER STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE REPORT FROM PORSCHE DID NOT STATE ANY LEAKS WERE FOUND. A FORMER PORSCHE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE BLOWER AND FOUND WATER ENTERING THE A/C BLOWER CONTROL UNIT, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN BOTH THE BLOWER AND RESISTOR, AND ALSO OBSERVED THE EXTENT OF THE LEAK IN OTHER AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. THE BELOW DAY IS AN APPROXIMATE DAY IN JUNE WHICH IT OCCURRED. ALSO, THE HORN JUST STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ID

11287962

Incident

Jun 22, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V322000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED CAPITAL EUROCARS (3705 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304, (888) 701-6470) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER UNTIL JANUARY OF 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11265576

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY THE CEMENT PARKING DIVIDER. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ROLLED FORWARD AND BECAME ATTACHED TO THE CEMENT DIVIDER, WHICH DAMAGED THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V446000 (POWER TRAIN) LATER THAT DAY. PORSCHE ATLANTA PERIMETER (4006 CARVER DR, ATLANTA, GA 30360, (888) 893-6299) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 202,000.

NHTSA ID

11244503

Incident

Aug 14, 2019

Mileage

202,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE ABNORMAL NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PORSCHE OF ARLINGTON (3100 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, ARLINGTON, VA 22202) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A REPLACEMENT CAMSHAFT AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11084357

Incident

Mar 28, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE). THE DEALER (PORSCHE OF DESTIN, 808 AIRPORT RD, DESTIN, FL 32541) STATED THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11054760

Incident

Dec 10, 2017

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (PORSCHE OF NASHVILLE, 1580 MALLORY LN, BRENTWOOD, TN 37027) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11051209

Incident

Jun 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CAM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (WALTERS PORSCHE 8423 INDIANA AVENUE, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN TOOL WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,800.

NHTSA ID

11006014

Incident

Jul 16, 2017

Mileage

57,800 mi

CAMSHAFT BOLTS FRACTURED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WAS GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AT A PORSCHE MECHANIC. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FATALITIES AND FURTHER ENGINE DAMAGE HAD I BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS DEFECT WAS RECALLED ON THIS MODEL IN CHINA DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. PORSCHE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT IN THE US, AS IT IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS IS CAN BE A DEVASTATING HAZARD THAT CAN COST LIVES. IT MUST BE ATTENDED TO !!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10947697

Incident

Jan 25, 2017

Mileage

82,293 mi

THE ENGINE OF MY PORSCHE PANAMERA WENT INTO A TOTAL FAILURE BECAUSE OF FAULTY DESIGN/PARTS BY THE MANUFACTURER (I.E. SCREWS BROKE INSIDE THE CAMSHAFT/BLOCK). AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH PORSCHE PANAMERA, EVEN THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP (PORSCHE OF ORLANDO) TOLD ME THIS. DUE TO THIS ISSUE, THE CAR, WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING, ESSENTIALLY STOPPED WORKING AND QUICKLY DECELERATED FROM 70 MPH TO A COMPLETE STOP IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. LUCKILY, THE SEMI THAT WAS BEHIND HIM MANAGED TO AVOID A COLLISION WHICH, IF SUCH A COLLISION WERE TO HAPPEN, COULD HAVE EASILY KILLED MY SON. PORSCHE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AND A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH WILL DISPLAY MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE'S ENGINE BUT PORSCHE IS NEGLIGENT BY REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS A HAZARD, PORSCHE REFUSES TO ISSUE REPARATIONS TO OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM LEAVING PEOPLE LIKE ME OUT OF WARRANTY AND A CAR AS THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WHICH COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. EVEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES, NAMELY CHINA, RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, YET HERE IN THE U.S., THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS COMPANY AS VW, THE PARENT COMPANY, WAS RECENTLY SUED FOR LYING ON MECHANICAL STATISTICS (I.E. EMISSION REPORTS). I AM HOPING THAT YOU WILL ASSIST ME IN MAKING A COMPELLING CASE AND ASSURE THAT PORSCHE ANSWERS FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE AND REFUSAL TO HELP ITS CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10933749

Incident

Oct 4, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE CAM SHAFT ADJUSTER BOLTS WERE BROKEN AND ARE TEARING APART WITH IN THE ENGINE AND CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP AND NOT START BACK AGAIN, THIS IS ALSO GIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, START STOP MODE DEACTIVATED, PSM FAILURE ERRORS, THERE IS A RECALL IN CHINA FROM PORSCHE ABOUT THE SAME ERRORS AND SAME YEAR MODELS

NHTSA ID

10894113

Incident

Jul 24, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD, THE SPEED REDUCED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND BOLTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.

NHTSA ID

10855432

Incident

Apr 12, 2016

Mileage

41,000 mi

EARLIER THIS YEAR, I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 55 MPH, MY 2011 PORSCHE PANAMERA'S ENGINE LOST POWER AND POWER STEERING,. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM SEEMED TO HAVE POWER, BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD BUT ENGINE WAS DEAD RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS ALSO REPORTED BY NUMEROUS DRIVERS WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD ON THIS MODEL CAR (WEB SEARCH). WHEN I ASKED IF PORSCHE WAS AWARE OF A SIMILAR ISSUE, PORSCHE REFUSED TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER.

NHTSA ID

10852613

Incident

Jan 2, 2016

Mileage

94,843 mi

I WAS DRIVING APPROX. AT 55 MPH, ENGINE LOST POWER, LOST POWER STEERING, BRAKES FELT LIKE HAVING NO POWER AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM SEEMED TO HAVE POWER, BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD BUT ENGINE WAS DEAD RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BREAK. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS ALSO REPORTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER ON JULY 12, 2012 ON THIS MODEL CAR (WEB SEARCH). PORSCHES HAS CHECKED MY CAR AND THEY REPORT THAT THERE IS NO ERROR CODE AND IT MEETS THEIR SPECIFICATION. WHEN I ASKED IF PORSCHE WAS AWARE OF A SIMILAR ISSUE, PORSCHE REFUSED TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER. WHEN I REQUESTED TO HAVE THE CONTACT INFORMATION TO A TECHNICAL REP IN GERMANY OR PORSCHE QUALITY REPRESENTATIVE, IT WAS REFUSED BY PORSCHE. WHEN I ASKED IF PORSCHE HAS DONE A FAULT SIMULATION SPECIFIC TO MY PROBLEM, THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER. LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING CAN BE CATASTROPHIC AND LIFE THREATENING. I WOULD LIKE AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10851162

Incident

Jan 2, 2016

Mileage

94,200 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER BOLT PIN BROKE OFF AND CAMSHAFT CAME A PART. INCIDENT HAPPENED ON FREEWAY. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOOK A PART THE ENGINE AND FOUND A BUNCH OF METAL IN THE OIL PAN. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON CARS IMPORTED INTO CHINA BUT THAT DID NOT COVER MY CAR. PORSCHE KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSING TO FIXED. THE COST OF THE NEW ENGINE IS $25000. THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED IN UNITED STATES BY PORSCHE. ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH THOUSANDS OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED ON NOVEMBER 1 2015 CAR BROKE DOWN NOVEMBER 3 2015

NHTSA ID

10807762

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

7,700 mi