Most common 2008 Porsche Cayenne problems
Share of the 27 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 →
2008 Porsche Cayenne recalls (3)
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 › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Porsche is recalling 5,573 my 2008 cayenne v6 vehicles. A fuel line in the plenum panel area May contact the rear engine compartment cover. Relative movements of the engine while driving May cause knocking noises and chafing on the fuel line. A fuel leak May develop.
Remedy: Dealers will reroute the fuel line and install an additional spacer ring free of charge. The recall began on February 15, 2008. Owners May contact Porsche at 1-800-767-7243.
What 2008 Porsche Cayenne owners say
Electrical system
The car cut out as I was crossing a intersection while in motion leaving the car disabled in the middle of a busy intersection, luckily other drivers saw the problem and went around me. All warning lights came on including the ignition lock fault. I turned it off and after 2 minutes it restarted. The next day the car would not start, the ignition lock fault came on, and then all of the other warning lights came on and the engine would not turn over and was locked in park. This happened once before in feb 2017 when a corroded wires were found in a main bundle of wires in the drivers footwell. There was no water on that area and nor has there been any water on the car or the footwell. I have had weathertech mats in place hte whole time to prevent that. This is a safety concern that it could go dead in the middle of operation not just a starting issue. …
Parked vehicle and attempted to turn off got a red alert steering faulty,everything locked up including transmission and window switches..had to be flat bedded to a Porsche dealership took a week for them to figure out,had to replace steering column.concern is what would have happened if driving at the time..got no answer
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2008 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started wobbling with a loud sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred several times. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was already repaired under warranty. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V446000 (Power Train) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer previously completed the recall remedy. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was sent confirmation of the VIN being clear of recalls. In addition, the contact stated that the VINTool shows 1 recall associated with the VIN however, per the NHTSA VIN Tool shows no recalls associated with the VIN.
Engine & cooling
While leaving my home in my 2008 Porsche Cayenne turbo, the car started hesitating and then stalled out with a pdc error. After taking it in to the local Porsche dealership they reported finding nothing. The issue would occur 2 more times and I took it to a local mechanic specializing in porsches who stated it was the throttle body. This was replaced however the issue is reoccurring with supplement errors such as chassis and check engine. My issue isn't uncommon please see provided links where others have had the same problems with their pdcc system. Http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/Cayenne-955-957/200781-3rd-repair-attempt-warning-chassis-system.html http://rennlist.com/forums/Porsche-Cayenne-forum/699011-pdcc-major-problems.html http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/45581-warning-chassis-system-on-2008-Cayenne-turbo/
On the backside of this v8 engine there is a coolant distribution tube that has coolant barb pressed into the cast aluminum distribution tube with adhesive. While driving from wor to home, the adhesive failed 19mar20 causing the barb to slip out of the tube allowing large amounts of coolant to gush over the hot exhaust and out from under the Cayenne. The engine control unit recognized low coolant level the dash panel flagged "low coolant" and the vehicle was pulled over before overheating the engine. Fortunately due to the teleworking status of where I work there was no traffic behind me and thankfully no motorcyclist. I would expect more a $71,145 vehicle from Porsche even after 12 years and 140K mi.
2008 Porsche Cayenne engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 19 / 14 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 17 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Porsche Cayenne a good car?
Based on 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Cayenne rates average: 20% fewer complaints than 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 2008 Porsche Cayenne?
The electrical system — 7 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (6) and engine & cooling (6).
How many recalls does the 2008 Porsche Cayenne have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2008 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 2008 Porsche Cayenne problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 17% 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.