IllustrationTL* 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.
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
30–25K
125–50K
850–75K
475–100K
7100–150K
1150K+
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.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Visibility complaints
2 reportsHAVE 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
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.