Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2020 Porsche Cayenne S — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Porsche Cayenne S year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Cayenne GTS, Cayenne GTS Coupe, 2020-2021 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S Coupe, Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe vehicles. The passenger seat back heating element was not installed and may impact the calibration of the Occupant Classification System.
Risk: The front passenger air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will install a heating element, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB0.
Campaign 21V318000
Rated configuration: 2020 Porsche Cayenne S SUV AWD
The parts named most often across 22 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
1 crash
1 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and is bubbling on the entire top where the Airbag sits. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing the entire dashboard! This is a very common issue with Porsche, and a safety concern which seems due to the fact that Porsche did not use the correct adhesive on all most of cars build in the last 10 years. The dashboard is not withstanding normal sun light and this causes a safety issue.
My 2020 Porsche Cayenne has experienced leather dashboard delamination, with the leather separating, shrinking, and lifting from the dashboard substrate on both the driver and passenger sides. The delamination extends across the upper dashboard, including areas adjacent to the passenger airbag deployment zone. I am concerned that loose or detached dashboard material could interfere with, delay, or alter the proper deployment of the passenger airbag during a collision, increasing the risk of injury. The continued deterioration also raises concerns about the integrity of the dashboard structure over time. Porsche inspected the vehicle and determined that the repair requires replacement of the entire dashboard assembly at an estimated cost of approximately $8,000 to $10,000. This indicates the condition is not a cosmetic issue but requires replacement of a major dashboard component. I have identified numerous reports from other Porsche owners describing the same leather dashboard delamination on late model Cayenne vehicles, suggesting this is a recurring manufacturing defect rather than an isolated occurrence. Porsche is part of the Volkswagen Group. Audi, another Volkswagen Group brand, issued Technical Service Bulletin 2071698/1 (NHTSA TSB MC-10245529-0001) addressing leather dashboard delamination caused by adhesive failure. The bulletin describes bubbling, wrinkling, loose leather, and delamination and instructs dealers to replace the dashboard. Audi also issued a limited warranty extension for affected vehicles. While Audi's bulletin does not apply to Porsche vehicles, it demonstrates that Volkswagen Group has recognized this type of dashboard adhesive failure. I request that NHTSA investigate whether Porsche Cayenne dashboard delamination constitutes a safety defect with the potential to affect passenger airbag deployment and occupant protection.
"Engine temperature too high. Park vehicle and allow engine to cool". warning at 50,000 miles which the mechanic says this is a huge problem with all Porsche, Audi and VW due to water coolant changeover valve which fails and also stated that Porsche is aware and should have a "bulletin" open on this issue?
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. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Seat belt and airbag indication lights and sound alarms remain on and notifying on the dashboard regardless of buckling. It will intermittently stop and start as the car is in motion. In the beginning, notification was present then resolved day-to-day. More recently, the alarm is present every drive. Driver was unsure whether or not the notifications were valid or not as the pattern of notification had little consistency. Dealership service later admitted that it was a faulty seat belt buckle and that part had failed internally, but refused to remedy it unless paid for. Car is essentially inoperable and unsafe until faulty buckle is replaced, as a faulty seat belt buckle can be fatal, with faulty implying a manufacturing issue and not of user misuse or abuse of systems. Manufacturer will not provide warranty and dealership continues to demand vehicle owner to pay.
The contact owns a 2020 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat belt failed to buckle and became unusable. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was advised to schedule an appointment for the vehicle to be repaired at the owner's expense. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
Vehicle: 2020 Porsche Cayenne VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 41,918 Complaint: My 2020 Porsche Cayenne exhibits a significant and repeatable lurching and abnormal braking pattern each time the vehicle decelerates to a stop. The behavior is consistent and pronounced enough to cause me physical motion sickness on every drive. I brought the vehicle to Porsche Bellevue (Bellevue, WA) for diagnosis. The service manager personally rode in the vehicle with me, experienced the lurching behavior firsthand, and acknowledged feeling it. He then stated the vehicle could not be repaired because this is simply how the car behaves — no repair order was written and no fix was attempted. I am filing this complaint because: (1) the behavior involves abnormal braking and deceleration which I believe constitutes a safety concern, (2) the authorized dealership confirmed the issue exists but refused to document or repair it, and (3) I am concerned other owners of this vehicle may be experiencing the same issue without recourse. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether this is a known issue across the 2020 Porsche Cayenne platform and whether it meets the threshold for a safety investigation or recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
A coolant hose located on the top of the engine developed a leak that caused the engine to overheat. It was necessary to remove several components of the engine to reach and replace the leaking hose. This repair cost over 5000 dollars with the associated labor cost. Vehicle had less than 6000 miles on it at the time of the incident. It took several weeks to get the needed parts.
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. Porsche USA and AG/Germany need to issue a 15 year/unlimited miles warranty on this water pump, like they’ve had to do with window switches, emissions valves, and other parts they have gotten sued for and now have 15 year warranties.
Rearview- back up camera works intermittently. Took it to my mechanic replaced battery and camera, back up camera still works intermittently. Took it to Porsche of Spokane, they said that it was not a safety issue and all cameras would have to be replaced for $16,951.81. I have the receipts.
Rear camera and surround views cameras not working intermittently.
Everytime when vehicle coming to a stop car lurches forward few feets. It just happens when car downshifts from second to first gear transmission pushes you forward few feets, You just need to be very carefull because it can push you into another vehicle or pedastrian. Porsche is aware of it and have a software update in Europe only but not in USA
Showing 12 of 22 complaints.
Over 5 years this costs $7,750 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.