Most common 2004 Porsche Cayenne problems
Share of the 38 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Porsche Cayenne complaints by model year
Best Cayenne years: 2022. Years to avoid: 2019, 2014, 2020, 2016, 2021. Compare all years →
2004 Porsche Cayenne recalls (6)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
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.
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
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…
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo vehicles, 2004-2006 Cayenne vehicles, and 2006 Cayenne S "Titanium" Edition vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel filter flanges with new filter flanges that have a protective film, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018.
Seat belts
Certain passenger cars fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." all three rear seat positions and the front passenger position are equipped with seat belt retractors that have a locking feature which converts the retractor from an emergency locking…
Remedy: Dealers will permanently install a clip in either of the affected rear outboard seat belts and provide an owner's manual insert.
Seat belts › Rear/other
On certain passenger vehicles, the rear seat belt latch attachment bolt is insufficient riveted.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the belt buckle latch and, if necessary, replace the latch. Owner notification began on June 1, 2004. Owners should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Certain sport utility vehicles May have had a transfer case installed that could, due to changes in the housing casting, result in the oil pump rotation. Should this occur, oil starvation of the internal gears might result.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transfer case housing and, if necessary, replace the transfer case. Owner notification began on May 3, 2004. Owners should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2004 Porsche Cayenne:
SRS warning light illumination
During the preliminary evaluation phase, odi identified 76 owner complaints and 6,582 warranty claims related to airbag warning light illumination from either a faulty side-impact airbag module or wiring harness.to date, there has been no allegation of crash, injury or death reported.Porsche reports that a bad batch of modules was produced during mid-November to mid-December, 2003.however, Porsche?s warranty data…
SRS warning light illumination
Porsche is initiating a customer notification action to address a condition related to a faulty or loose connector in the side airbag system.Porsche's testing has shown that the faulty connector will not prevent side airbag deployment.the faulty connector will cause the circuit resistance to exceed the threshold for illumination of the air bag warning light.Porsche has reported a large number of warranty claims for…
What 2004 Porsche Cayenne owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2004 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V656000 (Exterior Lighting), 19V446000 (Power Train), and 17V576000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the fuel gauge failed to read accurately. The headlamp wiring had been deteriorating causing the headlights to malfunction. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000. Parts distributions disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated he parked the vehicle in his drive way without the emergency break engaged and left to enter his residence. The contact stated within 2-3 minutes later, when exiting his residence, the vehicle inadvertently shifted gears to reverse and rolled away from his residence. The contact stated the vehicle hit two trees, a fence, continued to roll away and hit a second fence which detained the vehicle. Air bags did not deploy. The contact state no one was injured. The contact stated he had to break the rear passenger side window to enter and turn off the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a body shop for body damage repairs. The contact state at that moment he did not contact the dealer to have the vehicle diagnosed. The contact states he received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V446000 (power train) in September of 2019. …
Engine & cooling
Upon taking the vehicle out of the driveway I started hearing a ticking sound coming from the engine, something like a lifter hitting the block. I pulled back in to my driveway and called a repair shop and scheduled an appointment. When meeting with the technician I was informed that the engine had a scored cylinder and that it is a common issue with the model and year. The only recourse to fix the issue would be to replace the engine. A replacement engine would cost $17 -35,000 - more than the vehicle is worth. If I were to replace it with a used engine, I would be destined for a repeat of the same issue. If this issue is such a common problem why has there not been a recall for these vehicles? …
At 38,785 miles coolant pipes leaking and replaced. After repair "internal engine noise" and noise is now louder and engine use more oil. Took to local Porsche dealer vehicle still at Porsche dealer because dealer states" engine needs replaced" because if overheated due to coolant pipe failure pistons walls damaged. Dealer checking with Porsche to find out if they will pay something or all of cost to replace engine. Cayenne at Porsche dealer for over 60 days with no outcome as to what Porsche will pay. Could cost up to $20,000 if invoiced to me.
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2004 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V656000 (Exterior Lighting), 19V446000 (Power Train), and 17V576000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the fuel gauge failed to read accurately. The headlamp wiring had been deteriorating causing the headlights to malfunction. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000. Parts distributions disconnect.
There is a significant smell of gasoline inside the cabin of the vehicle. There was a recall on the same make, model, and year for fuel pump filter flange leaks, which are indicative of a strong smell of gas inside the car. This can potentially cause the car to start on fire. The dealer stated due to the VIN, the vehicle was not covered under the existing recall.
2004 Porsche Cayenne engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.5L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 4.5L 8-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Porsche Cayenne a good car?
Based on 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Cayenne rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Cayenne at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Porsche Cayenne?
The transmission & drivetrain — 10 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about driveline. Next are the engine & cooling (10) and fuel & propulsion system (9).
How many recalls does the 2004 Porsche Cayenne have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2004 Porsche Cayenne, the most recent from August 30, 2022 (headlights). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Porsche Cayenne?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2014, 2020, 2016 and 2021. See the full Porsche Cayenne years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Porsche Cayenne problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 miles; 32% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.