Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | 14% | — |
| 2020 | 7 | 29% | 40,000 miles |
| 2019 | 6 | 13% | — |
| 2018 | 3 | 23% | 22,000 miles |
| 2017 | 3 | 17% | — |
| 2016 | 5 | 13% | 37,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 21% | 39,000 miles |
| 2014 | 5 | 9% | 14,000 miles |
| 2013 | 7 | 18% | 52,000 miles |
| 2012 | 4 | 15% | 90,000 miles |
| 2011 | 12 | 40% | 90,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 22% | 90,000 miles |
| 2006 | 7 | 17% | 77,000 miles |
| 2005 | 8 | 25% | 47,000 miles |
| 2004 | 10 | 26% | 91,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While coming to a stop the vehicle lurches around 1200 rpms as the rpms are falling. The vehicle appears to already be in 1st gear when this happens. This can be replicated in all driving modes. observation: when braking or even when coasting to a stop the vehicle will slow down rapidly, as if the brakes are being tapped hard (the brake pressure is constant and occurs even when not braking) for a brief second and then release causing a lurching motion. This lurching motion is enough to concern while driving as a possible loss of traction. it feels as if the car is engine braking. This issue puts the driver, passengers, and other vehicles at a safety risk. I have had passengers state that it gives them motion sickness. I have reported this to the dealer and they had the car twice. The second time was for a substantial amount of time. …
On my 2021 Porsche Cayenne Base, which is equipped with the 3.0L V6 EA839 engine, I brought the vehicle to the dealership for a recall service. During inspection, the dealership found a leaking water pump and quoted $8,500 for repairs. There were no visible signs of a coolant leak on the ground, indicating an internal seal failure. My independent technician confirmed that coolant is leaking internally into the vacuum system. This EA839 engine architecture is shared across multiple Volkswagen Group models, including Audi A6, A7, A8, Q7, and Q8, where this water pump internal leak is a known, widespread manufacturer defect that has already triggered class action lawsuits.
The contact owns a 2022 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that an abnormal tapping noise was coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated at the time of the failure. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic, who confirmed the tapping noise and referred the contact to an authorized dealer for further inspection. The vehicle was then taken to local dealers, who acknowledged the noise but advised that the vehicle was operating as designed and that the condition was considered normal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was later taken to New Country Porsche Greenwich Service Center, 241 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The tapping noise continued to persist over time. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no warranty coverage. …
There is a major issue with the coolant pump/water pump on the V8 4.0L engine. Every 30,000ish miles I've had to have a water pump replaced in my vehicle, Porsche NA claims they redesigned the pump and it fails in the same amount of time. Rennlist Porsche worldwide forums there are 28 threads of people having water pumps/coolant pumps replaced at the tune of $9,000-$12,000 because 70-80% of the front end of the Cayenne has to be removed to get to the water pump. The pump needs to be made out of more durable materials for durability and longevity. Expecting customers to replace water pumps every 30K miles is ridiculous. My 3rd water pump in 95K miles is being replaced as I type this right now. The dealership Porsche of Wallingford, CT, has 3 other customer Cayennes now that also need water pumps. …
While driving my 2019 Porsche Cayenne S on the freeway, the check-engine light came on, followed by a message on the dashboard that read "Engine Control fault - Driving permitted - Visit workshop." Moments later, the vehicle suddenly lost power and decelerated from about ~75 mph to around 55 mph, even though my foot was still on the accelerator. I am [redacted] pregnant and had our [redacted] child in the car at the time. The unexpected loss of speed in fast-moving traffic was frightening. I had to quickly change lanes to reach the slower lane and avoid being hit by other vehicles. After reaching safety, I drove the car to an authorized Porsche dealership, where technicians found an active water-pump leak with coolant entering the vacuum system, which may have caused turbocharger and engine-power failure. This is after I replaced the water pump last year at another porsche dealership. …
The hybrid cooling system on my 2019 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid repeatedly displayed a red dashboard warning while the vehicle was in motion: "Hybrid coolant level too low / Park vehicle safely / Let vehicle cool down." This warning appeared on multiple occasions at speeds of approximately 22 mph, 38-40 mph, and 47 mph, as documented in timestamped photos and videos taken in November 2025. A separate warning in July 2025 read: "Engine cannot be started / Remove charger plug." The warnings indicate a potential thermal management or hybrid cooling system failure. A moving vehicle being instructed to park and cool down presents a safety risk to the driver and others, particularly if the condition causes sudden power loss or thermal event. The vehicle was serviced at an authorized Porsche dealer in 2025. …
The day we took our Porsche home, we noticed a lot of heat generation in the car- but we thought it will be fine going further, given the attention to detail of Porsche's Automobile Engineering. The following days were not any better for my daughter- she missed a major accident because of the unexpected burnt smell and loud warnings of an overheat of the engine by Porsche in the middle of a highway. Due to her excellent driving record for the past 5 years, she was able to manage and stop in the middle of the highway at the curb of the road. She panicked so much so that, she stopped using the Porsche and borrowed our other cars, Benz and Lexus. I requested her to give Porsche another chance yesterday night. …
Intermittent lack of acceleration when taking left turns from a dead stop. Car was a dealer loaner with 9000 miles on speedometer. I purchased the car in August, 2018. Within the first 1000 miles and in less than four weeks I experienced a serious lack of acceleration on two occasions when making a left turn, I reported this to the dealer and was advised that it was probably driver error caused by operating the brake and accelerator using both feet. I do not drive an automatic car using two feet. Also, I was told by the dealer they checked with Porsche and there are records of this type of event. I checked on the internet and there are numerous identical complaints dating back several years. This lack of acceleration has occurred four more times. The dealer has been responsive and kept my vehicle on two occasions to try and duplicate the event to no avail. …
Related recalls (1)
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Porsche Cayenne years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (12), 2004 (10), 2005 (8), 2006 (7) and 2013 (7) model years. Engine complaints make up 40% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for Porsche Cayenne engine problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 12V-329 (turbo/supercharger, Jul 12, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Porsche Cayenne engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles; 46% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (4 mentions), followed by the engine › gasoline (2).
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.