2021 Porsche CAYENNE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Porsche CAYENNE has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: problem with the hybrid system and the engine control system. unit changed automatically and unexpectedly from battery power mode to engine power mode when on battery power mode only. this change is not supposed to happen. this failure happened when starting the unit, put on drive and starting to.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

21%

• Problem with the hybrid system and the engine control system. Unit changed automatically and unexpectedly from battery power mode to engine power mode when on battery power mode only. This change is not supposed to happen. This failure happened when starting the unit, put on drive and starting to
• I was driving the auto and parked in my garage without any indication of a fault. I attempted to start the car about 30 minutes later and the car would not start and gave an error message that said "change driver" I tried both keys and neither would allow the car to be started. There was no start
• Much like thousands of Cayenne drivers, I am constantly let down by an ongoing issue with Adaptive Cruise Control failures with an error message that reads, “Adaptive Cruise Control unavailable.” THIS MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF NOT REPAIRED AS VEHICULAR COLLISION RATES INCREASE DRAMATICAL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“Problem with the hybrid system and the engine control system. Unit changed automatically and unexpectedly from battery power mode to engine power mode when on battery power mode only. This change is not supposed to happen. This failure happened when starting the unit, put on drive and starting to”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

17%

• Check engine light thrown intermittently and dealer is unable to reproduce issue. Multiple incidents of the same issue by other owners. https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-9y0-2019/1248120-grr-cel-code-654-miles-on-new-21-cayenne.html Pattern is the same. Take delivery of new car, get CEL <1000 m
• On my Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid model, the check engine light came on at less than 1000 miles. Porsche does not know why this happens but I've heard them claim that it's a software problem that has to do with how the car communicates with the charging system. Based on my research, there has been ma
• othe car's tach increase several hundred RPM as the computer tries to match revs when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd gear in Normal Mode and 2nd to 1st gear in Sport Mode.. When that happens, the car lurches forward. owhat seems to be happening is the engine is over-revving while disengaged from a ge

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“Check engine light thrown intermittently and dealer is unable to reproduce issue. Multiple incidents of the same issue by other owners. https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-9y0-2019/1248120-grr-cel-code-654-miles-on-new-21-cayenne.html Pattern is the same. Take delivery of new car, get CEL <1000 m”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

3 complaints

13%

• The car is notifying me that the drivers airbag is not working. the message that appears is: “Airbag system error, please visit workshop”
• Dashboard leather is separating and was told this could affect the airbag deployment in the case of an accident. Porsche dealership is asking 10k outside of warranty to replace the dash. If it was just cosmetic I could deal with it, but now that it is a safety concern for my passenger I feel forced
• I am reporting a safety defect with my 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS. The leather dashboard is delaminating and lifting away from its underlying structure. This defect is concerning because: The delamination is occurring on the drivers side but will eventually expand in the area covering the passenger-s

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“The car is notifying me that the drivers airbag is not working. the message that appears is: “Airbag system error, please visit workshop””

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

• When the vehicle is decelerating and the transmission is in gear 2 the vehicle will lurch forward interfering/fighting with the normal operation of the brakes. This consistently happens when braking to a stop. The vehicle has 260 miles and I have driven it perhaps 4 - 5 times for a total of 30 mil
• when decelerating and car is in gear 2 it lurches the car forward while braking, basically fighting the attempt to slow the car down. I attribute this to aggressive downshifting, but is a safety issue because the operator then needs to compensate by pressing down on the brake pedal harder to stop th

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“When the vehicle is decelerating and the transmission is in gear 2 the vehicle will lurch forward interfering/fighting with the normal operation of the brakes. This consistently happens when braking to a stop. The vehicle has 260 miles and I have driven it perhaps 4 - 5 times for a total of 30 mil”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

• When the vehicle is decelerating and the transmission is in gear 2 the vehicle will lurch forward interfering/fighting with the normal operation of the brakes. This consistently happens when braking to a stop. The vehicle has 260 miles and I have driven it perhaps 4 - 5 times for a total of 30 mil
• 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 b

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 24 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: Problem with the hybrid system and the engine control system. Unit changed automatically and unexpectedly from battery power mode to engine power mode when on battery power mode only. This change is not supposed to happen. This failure happened when starting the unit, put on drive and starting to
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: Check engine light thrown intermittently and dealer is unable to reproduce issue. Multiple incidents of the same issue by other owners. https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-9y0-2019/1248120-grr-cel-code-654-miles-on-new-21-cayenne.html Pattern is the same. Take delivery of new car, get CEL <1000 m
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: The car is notifying me that the drivers airbag is not working. the message that appears is: “Airbag system error, please visit workshop”
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: When the vehicle is decelerating and the transmission is in gear 2 the vehicle will lurch forward interfering/fighting with the normal operation of the brakes. This consistently happens when braking to a stop. The vehicle has 260 miles and I have driven it perhaps 4 - 5 times for a total of 30 mil
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)