Most common 2011 Porsche Panamera problems
Share of the 34 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Porsche Panamera complaints by model year
Best Panamera years: 2017, 2016, 2015. Years to avoid: 2011, 2018. Compare all years →
2011 Porsche Panamera recalls (5)
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.
Electrical system
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Panamera 4S and Panamera S, 2011-2016 Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera Turbo, 2012-2016 Panamera Turbo S and Panamera S E-Hybrid, 2013-2016 Panamera GTS, 2013 Panamera Platinum Edition and Panamera 4 Platinum Edition, 2014-2016 Panamera 4S Executive,…
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower control unit, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243.
Engine
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Panamera S, Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo vehicles, 2011-2012 Panamera and Panamera 4 vehicles, and 2011 Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo vehicles.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fastening screws for the camshaft adjusters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2018.
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.
What 2011 Porsche Panamera owners say
Engine & cooling all 22 →
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. …
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
Electrical system
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. …
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.
Transmission & drivetrain
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.
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
2011 Porsche Panamera engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 7-speed automatic | 4WD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl turbo | 7-speed automatic | AWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Porsche Panamera a good car?
Based on 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Panamera rates use caution: 3.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Panamera at the same age. It is one of the Panamera 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 2011 Porsche Panamera?
The engine & cooling — 22 complaints, 65% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › crank/camshaft position sensor. Next are the electrical system (6) and transmission & drivetrain (6).
How many recalls does the 2011 Porsche Panamera have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2011 Porsche Panamera, 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 Panamera?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2016 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011 and 2018. See the full Porsche Panamera years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Porsche Panamera problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 43% 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.