PORSCHE CAYENNE HAVE WATER DRAIN DESIGN ISSUE. WHEN RAINING OR WASH THE CAR, THE WATER DRAIN CLOG WILL MAKE WATER FLOOD THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLES, AND DAMAGE THE WIRES UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, PORSCHE KNOW THIS, BUT NOT FIX IT.
2008 Porsche Cayenne
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Porsche Cayenne do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cayenne years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
24 reports with mileage · 3 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
7 reportsPARKED VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF GOT A RED ALERT STEERING FAULTY,EVERYTHING LOCKED UP INCLUDING TRANSMISSION AND WINDOW SWITCHES..HAD TO BE FLAT BEDDED TO A PORSCHE DEALERSHIP TOOK A WEEK FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT,HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN.CONCERN IS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF DRIVING AT THE TIME..GOT NO ANSWER
A START IGNITION WON'T START AND I HAVE TO PLUG THE KEY IN ORDER TO STARTED THE VEHICLE
THE CAR CUT OUT AS I WAS CROSSING A INTERSECTION WHILE IN MOTION LEAVING THE CAR DISABLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION, LUCKILY OTHER DRIVERS SAW THE PROBLEM AND WENT AROUND ME. ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE IGNITION LOCK FAULT. I TURNED IT OFF AND AFTER 2 MINUTES IT RESTARTED. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULD N…
Read full complaint
THE CAR CUT OUT AS I WAS CROSSING A INTERSECTION WHILE IN MOTION LEAVING THE CAR DISABLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION, LUCKILY OTHER DRIVERS SAW THE PROBLEM AND WENT AROUND ME. ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE IGNITION LOCK FAULT. I TURNED IT OFF AND AFTER 2 MINUTES IT RESTARTED. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THE IGNITION LOCK FAULT CAME ON, AND THEN ALL OF THE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND WAS LOCKED IN PARK. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE IN FEB 2017 WHEN A CORRODED WIRES WERE FOUND IN A MAIN BUNDLE OF WIRES IN THE DRIVERS FOOTWELL. THERE WAS NO WATER ON THAT AREA AND NOR HAS THERE BEEN ANY WATER ON THE CAR OR THE FOOTWELL. I HAVE HAD WEATHERTECH MATS IN PLACE HTE WHOLE TIME TO PREVENT THAT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT IT COULD GO DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION NOT JUST A STARTING ISSUE. I HAVE REVIEWED TECHNICAL BULLETIN NHTSA 10056337 WHICH DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY EXPLANATION FOR IMPLYING THAT THE LACK OF FEEDBACK HAS LEAD TO THE FACTORY NOT KNOWING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PORSCHE NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THE IMPROPERLY SPLICED WIRES AND THE BUNDLE NEED TO BE RETROFITTED IN A WAY TO PROTECT THEM FROM ONGOING CORROSION THAT IN MY CASE HAPPENED HAPPENED TWICE THE SECOND TIME ON 6,000 MILES AFTER THE LAST IN A CAR THAT IS KEPT IN A GARAGE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATION DRAIN LINE WAS PLUGGED, WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,340.
HAVE EXPERIENCED ONGOING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MIRROR PROBLEMS, WITH MY 2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE, WHERE THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS MOVED ON THEIR OWN WHILE DRIVING AND PARKING. FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MIRROR PROBLEM ON (3/23/09) AT 12,391 MILES, AS THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO SAME DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT (INSKIP PENSKE …
Read full complaint
HAVE EXPERIENCED ONGOING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MIRROR PROBLEMS, WITH MY 2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE, WHERE THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS MOVED ON THEIR OWN WHILE DRIVING AND PARKING. FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MIRROR PROBLEM ON (3/23/09) AT 12,391 MILES, AS THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO SAME DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT (INSKIP PENSKE PORSCHE IN WARWICK, RI (12) SEPARATE TIMES FOR UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR. THE REPAIR INVOICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING VISITS: 3-23-09 = 12,391 / 3-31-09 = 12,592 / 4-2-09 = 12,992 / 9-13-10 = 25,668 / 9-28-2010 = 26,186 / 12-16-10 = 28,179 / 8-24-11 = 38,186 / 9-13-11 = 38,664 / 9-30-11 = 39,249 / 12-19-12 = 47,715 / 1-24-13 = 47,973 / 3-7-13 = 48,199. PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW ON (2/4/08) WITH ONLY 24 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. COMPUTER CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED AT LEAST 10 SEPARATE TIMES, AS THIS CAR MAY HAVE HAD SOFTWARE VIRUS & OR AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS NOT TO NOT KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY PROGRAM THIS CAR, AS THEY CLAIMED THAT THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP ON (3/7/13) AFTER BEING IN THEIR SHOP FOR 37 DAYS SINCE THE 11TH VISIT BEGINNING ON (1/24/13). LESS THAN 12 MILES LATER, I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE 12TH TIME ON (3/7/13), BECAUSE THE SPARE KEY WHICH THEY HAD PROGRAMMED WE SUSPECT MAY HAVE HAD OLD SOFTWARE WHICH CORRUPTED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM AGAIN CAUSED THE MIRRORS TO MOVE IN ALL KIND OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, THUS CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING OR OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THEY FINALLY ORDERED ANOTHER COMPUTER REPLACEMENT & 2 NEW KEYS WHICH THEY PROGRAMMED SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEMS. PRIOR TO THIS 12TH REPAIR, I CAME CLOSE TO BEING INVOLVED IN AT LEAST 4 NEAR MIS ACCIDENTS, AS CARS WERE NOT VISIBLE IN MY BLIND SPOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE MIRRORS MOVE ON THEIR OWN. HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO ARBITRATIONS. UPDATED 03/15/13*LJ
S10 DIRECT REPLY LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REGARDING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED HE FILED TWO SEPARATE ARBITRATION AGAINST THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE FIRST ARBITRATION CASE …
Read full complaint
S10 DIRECT REPLY LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REGARDING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED HE FILED TWO SEPARATE ARBITRATION AGAINST THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE FIRST ARBITRATION CASE WAS SETTLED IN 2009, WITH THE EXPECTATION ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, CURRENT, PAST AND PRESENT WOULD BE PROPERLY IDENTIFIED AND RESOLVED. SINCE THE INITIAL ARBITRATION CASE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 11 TIMES FOR THE SAME ELECTRICAL/SOFTWARE PROBLEM. THE ON-GOING PROBLEM UNCONTROLLABLY AFFECTED THE PROPER POSITIONING OF THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS AND THE OVERALL SAFETY ASPECT WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ONBOARD COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE SEVEN TIMES, AS THEIR FIELD TECHNICAL EXPERT SUSPECTED THERE WAS AN UNIDENTIFIABLE ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE OR A COMPUTER RELATED SOFTWARE VIRUS SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DEALER HAD NO IDEA HOW TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Official recalls
322V656000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Aug 30, 2022
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. The caps that cover the low-beam headlight horizontal adjustment screws are missing, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.
19V446000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Jun 12, 2019
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 Executive, Panamera Turbo S G1 II, Panamera Turbo S Executive, 2013 Panamera 4 Platinum Edition, Panamera Platinum Edition, 2016 Panamera 4 Edition, Panamera Edition, Panamera Turbo S Executive Luxury Sports vehicles. The bushing that attaches the gear selector lever to the gearbox may degrade over time, causing the bushing to detach. This condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB1.
08V076000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Feb 20, 2008
PORSCHE IS RECALLING 5,573 MY 2008 CAYENNE V6 VEHICLES. A FUEL LINE IN THE PLENUM PANEL AREA MAY CONTACT THE REAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER. RELATIVE MOVEMENTS OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING MAY CAUSE KNOCKING NOISES AND CHAFING ON THE FUEL LINE. A FUEL LEAK MAY DEVELOP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE FUEL LINE AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SPACER RING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration