Most common 2012 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 →
2012 Porsche Cayenne recalls (4)
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip, installing any missing circlips, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger
Porsche is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 panamera turbo, 2012 panamera turbo s, and 2012 cayenne turbo vehicles. The turbine wheel of a turbocharger May fracture due to a casting defect. If a fracture occurs, vehicle performance will be decreased and the turbine shaft May fracture.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the turbine wheels, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2012. Owners May contact Porsche at 1-800-767-7243.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Porsche is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 cayenne, cayenne s, cayenne s hybrid, and cayenne turbo vehicles manufactured from March 8, 2010, through January 31, 2012 because the headlamps May come loose and detach from the fender.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlamp locking assemblies, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 9, 2012. Owners May contact Porsche at 1-800-767-7243.
What 2012 Porsche Cayenne owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
2012 Porsche Cayenne with 47,000 miles. Noticed jerking when turning left and some slippage in transmission. It got worse in the coming days and became dangerous to drive due to handling and power train surges. I took it to southpoint Porsche in durham, nc, this week and was told it needs a new $4,435 transfer case. A local Porsche shop directed me to reviews which note the same 'known' issue - due to a known defect that drains fluid by transfer case and gets moisture into the case. Porsche has issued corrective instructions for repairs but no recall (known) or callback to repair at their cost. Transmission can lock up during driving causing serious injuries or death. I asked dealership to contact Porsche and regional rep and to share my concerns and links to forums where this issue is outlined in many other Porsche Cayenne cases.
The transfer case is faulty. It was replaced at 26,000 miles and now it is acting the same way again at 48.000 miles. I was entering the hwy and the car jumped forward and suddenly lost power before jumping into gear. This is not safe considering there was a car in front of me and behind. Did not cause an accident but could have. Dealer admits the transfer case has been a constant problem with 2011-2017 Cayenne but refuses to totally cover replacement. This is my second issue with the transfer case and after some light research have come across many owners with anywhere between 1 and 4 replacements. Porsche will not cover the total cost of the repair (approx. $6500). How can a company like Porsche be so arrogant as to understand and accept it is a faulty design but not make restitution to its loyal customers,
Engine & cooling
I own a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. Transfer case broke at 33,000 miles and was replaced by the dealer, and now it broke again at 55,000 miles. Repair cost is $6,340 plus tax. It broke under the warranty period but Porsche gave me the runaround and told me they wouldn't check it until after some body damage was complete (more details below). Honestly feel like I'm getting gouged with faulty parts. Many other Porsche Cayenne owners seem to be reporting this problem on forums. (e.g. https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-958-2011-2018/1290994-transfer-case-failure-2.html) More details - 1. We asked the Porsche dealership to review the car for mechanical issues and repair bumper body damage while the transfer case was under warranty. 2. The Porsche dealer declined to review any mechanical issues until the bumper body damage repair was complete. 3. …
I have a 2012 Porsche Cayenne s hybrid. It is suffering from the defect described in this recall campaign: 17v36800. The bolts that hold the camshaft in place have sheared off. Porsche is refusing any type of consideration because the VIN is not in the recall list, but it is in the year of the recall and suffers from the issue. I was driving the vehicle on the highway and the check engine light came on. The vehicle lost power and the engine started knocking. I was able to coast to the shoulder. I had to call my wife and have it towed. The dealer told me it would cost 14K+ to repair and they would need the vehicle for a month.
Electrical system
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale from Facebook Market Place. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 125,383, but after performing an AutoCheck of the vehicle, it was discovered that the mileage was 205,154.
GPS malfunction while driving , service test no error code but visible GPS malfunction ! Manufacture can't identify the problem suggest to replace the new PCM. It is very dangerous for driver to believe on the GPS while driving on it. It is design fraud and careless of service when the device is malfunction and system can't detect it. Customer has pictures and videos support the claim. Video link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0b1w2q8jzjub7rgzsbhntq0o1s1k
2012 Porsche Cayenne engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl supercharged hybrid | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | AWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Porsche Cayenne a good car?
Based on 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Cayenne rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Cayenne at the same age. It is one of the Cayenne years we suggest avoiding. 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 2012 Porsche Cayenne?
The transmission & drivetrain — 12 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2012 Porsche Cayenne have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2012 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 2012 Porsche Cayenne problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 53,000 miles; 50% 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.