← New search

2013 Porsche Cayenne

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 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

Other model years Selected 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 · 16 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. 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

Power Train complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2024
Power Train

The Drive train consists of an engine, transmission, transfercase, driveshafts and differentials. The Transfercase has failed prior to the normal life cycle. Porsche recognizes this problem on this series of SUV and extends the warranty for 10 years and unlimited mileage. Porsche announced this extension in June 2024. Howeve…

Read full complaint

The Drive train consists of an engine, transmission, transfercase, driveshafts and differentials. The Transfercase has failed prior to the normal life cycle. Porsche recognizes this problem on this series of SUV and extends the warranty for 10 years and unlimited mileage. Porsche announced this extension in June 2024. However this does not cover the early models in this series 2011-2013 with the same drivetrain and transfercase. So in effect this failure of the transfer case is not covered on 2014 - 2011 Porsche Cayenne's models with the same transfercase because Porsche delayed the notification to customers. Even though the SUV may have low mileage, they will not warranty or cover my failure.

NHTSA ODI #11615239

102,300 miles · Nov 10, 2022
Power Train

The contact owns a 2013 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise while shifting from first to second gear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The v…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2013 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise while shifting from first to second gear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,300.

NHTSA ODI #11493099

113,000 miles · Apr 29, 2021
Power Train

GRINDING & CLUNKING NOISE FROM DRIVE TRAIN AT LOW ENGINE SPEEDS. TOOK IT TO PORSCHE DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER, 2020. THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD IT IS OK TO DRIVE. THE NOISE IS GETTING WORSE FROM INITIAL WHINING TO GRINDING & CLUNKING NOISE. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CAYENNE & MACAN M…

Read full complaint

GRINDING & CLUNKING NOISE FROM DRIVE TRAIN AT LOW ENGINE SPEEDS. TOOK IT TO PORSCHE DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER, 2020. THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD IT IS OK TO DRIVE. THE NOISE IS GETTING WORSE FROM INITIAL WHINING TO GRINDING & CLUNKING NOISE. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CAYENNE & MACAN MODELS OF PORSCHE. PORSCHE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE ON THERE WEBSITE WITH WARRANTY EXTENSION. WHEN I CALL THE PORSCHE CUSTOMER SUPPORT. THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. I THINK IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEED TO BE ADDRESS BY PORSCHE

NHTSA ODI #11414407

56,000 miles · Nov 24, 2020
Power Train

CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. IT HESITATES AND DRIVES LIKE THE CAR IS BEING HELD BACK. ACCELERATION IS NOT SMOOTH. ROUGH AND SHUDDER AND HERKY JERKY. IT HAS A FAULTY TRANSFER CASE WHICH IS WELL KNOWN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #11376082

60,000 miles · May 25, 2020
Power Train

MULTIPLE TRANSFER CASE FAILURES. FIRST AT 50K MILES (SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS, FOLLOWED BY A SEVERE JOLT AS THE GEAR FINALLY CHANGED)'TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE ($7000K LATER). SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER AT 55K MILES (SEVERE JOLT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR)'TRANSFER CASE REPLACED UNDER P…

Read full complaint

MULTIPLE TRANSFER CASE FAILURES. FIRST AT 50K MILES (SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS, FOLLOWED BY A SEVERE JOLT AS THE GEAR FINALLY CHANGED)'TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE ($7000K LATER). SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER AT 55K MILES (SEVERE JOLT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR)'TRANSFER CASE REPLACED UNDER PARTS WARRANTY. THIRD FAILURE HAPPENED ANOTHER 6 MONTHS LATER AT 60K MILES (SEVERE JOLT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR). THIS LAST FAILURE'YET TO BE FIXED'HAS HAPPENED WHILE I AM ON A ROAD TRIP, AND IT RISKS ME BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THIS ISSUE IS RAMPANT AMONG 958S. PORSCHE REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS ISSUE. IT'S REPORTED RAMPANTLY ON FORUMS, WITH MANY OWNERS REPORTING MULTIPLE SUCCESSIVE FAILURES LIKE I HAVE EXPERIENCED.

NHTSA ODI #11325912

70,000 miles · Feb 19, 2020
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DIRVING THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FORM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THIS OCCASION WAS THE THIRD TIME THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DIRVING THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FORM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THIS OCCASION WAS THE THIRD TIME THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #11310074

85,000 miles · Nov 26, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD UNKNOWN NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD UNKNOWN NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #11282514

67,000 miles · Oct 20, 2019
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

PURCHASED A 2013 CAYENNE PORSCHE GTS WITH 67K MILES ON IT. NOTICED A KIND OF THUMPING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING, USUALLY APPEARING AT 3K RPMS. VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAULT AND THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT IT WAS, ENGINE TRANSFER CASE FAILURE…

Read full complaint

PURCHASED A 2013 CAYENNE PORSCHE GTS WITH 67K MILES ON IT. NOTICED A KIND OF THUMPING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING, USUALLY APPEARING AT 3K RPMS. VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAULT AND THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT IT WAS, ENGINE TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW ALLOWING WATER INTO THE TRANSFER CASE THAT PORSCHE IS AWARE OF AND YET TO ADDRESS. ON SOME OCCASIONS PORSCHE WILL PAY FOR THE $5K REPAIR BUT THE PART IS STILL REPLACED WITH A TRANSFER CASE WITH THE SAME FLAW. TRANSFER CASE FAILURE CAN LEAD TO A SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY IF SOMEONE IS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HIGHLY RECOMMEND ADDRESSING THIS WITH A RECALL FOR 2013 AND 2014 CAYENNES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER DUE TO TRANSFER CASE FAILURE, NEATLY RESULTING IN A HIGHWAY COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #11269753

65,190 miles · Sep 22, 2019
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 30 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC MY 2013 CAYENNE GTS STARTED TO JERK BETWEEN SHIFTING GEARS. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BUMPY ROAD AT LEAST BUT THEN AFTER THE TRAFFIC WAS OVER AND I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP SOME SPEED TO UP TO AROUND 40-45MPH THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY NOT KN…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 30 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC MY 2013 CAYENNE GTS STARTED TO JERK BETWEEN SHIFTING GEARS. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BUMPY ROAD AT LEAST BUT THEN AFTER THE TRAFFIC WAS OVER AND I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP SOME SPEED TO UP TO AROUND 40-45MPH THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. MY LIFE LITERALLY FLASHED IN MY EYES I WAS SO LUCKY TO GET OUT OF IT WITH NO INJURIES AFTER RESEARCHING AND VISITING MY MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A TRANSFER CASE ISSUE AND IT'S A VERY COMMON THING TO HAPPEN ON CAYENNES WITH GASOLINE ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #11257179

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY AFTER ACCELERATION BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. VEHICLE STUMBLES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT FROM A STANDSTILL, KNOWN ISSUE IN THE PORSCHE COMMUNITY, MY ISSUE FIRST STARTED AT 68K MILES, GOT THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED, NOW SAME ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE AGAIN AT 79K MILES, SOMETHIN…

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY AFTER ACCELERATION BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. VEHICLE STUMBLES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT FROM A STANDSTILL, KNOWN ISSUE IN THE PORSCHE COMMUNITY, MY ISSUE FIRST STARTED AT 68K MILES, GOT THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED, NOW SAME ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE AGAIN AT 79K MILES, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, MY WIFE, AND 2 KIDS AT THE AGE OF 8 YEARS OLD AND 7 MONTHS OLDS WAS ALLMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WITH AN TRACTOR TRAILER DUE TO THIS TRANSFER CASE, SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, PORSCHE MANUFACTURER HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11255257

Official recalls

3

22V656000 · 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.

16V169000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Mar 23, 2016

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip, installing any missing circlips, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG02.

13V506000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

Oct 17, 2013

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cayenne and Cayenne GTS, model year 2013 Cayenne Diesel and model year 2014 Cayenne S, S Hybrid, Turbo, and Turbo S vehicles manufactured May 27, 2013, through July 10, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the calculated range of the remaining fuel displayed on the instrument cluster may be higher than the actual range. Additionally, the fuel level indicated by the fuel gauge may also be higher than actual amount in the tank.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The fuel display inaccuracies may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software free of charge. The recall began on December 5, 2013. Owners may contact Porsche at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's recall number is AD03.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.