Cayenne (92A)
Engine Reliability Ratings
MA1.02
3.0L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne
That's below the typical rate for PHEVs in this dataset (median 5.7 per year). Battery & propulsion complaints are lower than peer average for this category.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 32 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Sample complaint excerpts
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2011] A 'HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE' MESSAGE IS RECEIVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION (NORMAL DRIVING, AND/OR ACCELERATED DRIVING), OR UPON INITIAL START-UP OF THE ENGINE. THE HYBRID SYSTEM THEM FAILS TO 'E' CHARGE AS IT SHOULD. AFTER A FEW DAYS ERROR MAY DISAPPEAR, BUT RANDOMLY RESURFACES EACH TIME.
- [2012] THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS UNKNOWN HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE. IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER ABRUPTLY WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON A CITY STREET WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT TRAVEL MORE THAN 20 MILES ON AUTOMATIC; UNLESS IT IS SWITCHED TO MANUAL SHIFT GEAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD SUBMITTED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND CONCLUSION WAS MADE AS THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY FAILUR
- [2016] my car had a problem in the hybrid part, before doing the diagnosis they said 3 different problems, when they gave me the diagnosis they said they didn't know what it was but that to begin with “it could be “ the components $13,000 to fix. but my car is under the 8 years or 100,000mls hybrid system warranty, so i contacted porshe headquarters and they said the car was out of warranty. so i called
High-Voltage Battery
- [2012] THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS UNKNOWN HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE. IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER ABRUPTLY WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON A CITY STREET WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT TRAVEL MORE THAN 20 MILES ON AUTOMATIC; UNLESS IT IS SWITCHED TO MANUAL SHIFT GEAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD SUBMITTED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND CONCLUSION WAS MADE AS THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY FAILUR
- [2015] The 2015 Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid has a charging port for charging the electric drive battery. The electric plug does not disconnect from the vehicle. Based on the OBD-II software used for diagnosis Error Code - P0D9400 Error Description - High-voltage charger - charging-plug lock fault (00A93D)
- [2015] The 2015 Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid has a charging port for charging the electric drive battery. The electric plug does not disconnect from the vehicle. Based on the OBD-II software used for diagnosis Error Code - P0D9400 Error Description - High-voltage charger - charging-plug lock fault (00A93D)
Charging System
- [2015] The 2015 Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid has a charging port for charging the electric drive battery. The electric plug does not disconnect from the vehicle. Based on the OBD-II software used for diagnosis Error Code - P0D9400 Error Description - High-voltage charger - charging-plug lock fault (00A93D)
- [2015] The 2015 Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid has a charging port for charging the electric drive battery. The electric plug does not disconnect from the vehicle. Based on the OBD-II software used for diagnosis Error Code - P0D9400 Error Description - High-voltage charger - charging-plug lock fault (00A93D)
- [2015] The 2015 Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid has a charging port for charging the electric drive battery. The electric plug does not disconnect from the vehicle. Based on the OBD-II software used for diagnosis Error Code - P0D9400 Error Description - High-voltage charger - charging-plug lock fault (00A93D)
Electric Propulsion
- [2017] I am reporting a series of safety-related defects involving the electrical, cooling, and fuel systems of my 2021 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid. The vehicle was initially brought to the authorized Porsche dealership due to an electrical system error, and the dealer kept the vehicle for an extended period. After approximately five months, the vehicle was returned to me without a clear explanation of the
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Vehicle-Level Issues
These issues affect the Porsche Cayenne regardless of engine variant.
Recalls (7)
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."
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid, Cayenne GTS, Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid Platinum Edition, Macan Turbo and Macan GTS vehicles, 2017-2018 Cayenne S, Macan, Cayenne Platinum Edition and Macan S vehicles and 2018 Cayenne vehicles equipped with the optional ski bag. The ski bag fastening strap may have been sewn with incorrect thread, possibly resulting in the strap seams tearing and the ski bag being unsecured in the event of a crash.
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.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cayenne Diesel and Cayenne S vehicles manufactured November 26, 2014, to November 27, 2014. Due to a manufacturing error, the suspension alignment on the front and rear axles may not have been performed correctly and the screw connections of the camber, toe and caster may not have been tightened with the specified torque.
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.
PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CAYENNE, CAYENNE S, CAYENNE S HYBRID, AND CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 8, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2012 BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS MAY COME LOOSE AND DETACH FROM THE FENDER.
PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 PANAMERA TURBO, 2012 PANAMERA TURBO S, AND 2012 CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES. THE TURBINE WHEEL OF A TURBOCHARGER MAY FRACTURE DUE TO A CASTING DEFECT. IF A FRACTURE OCCURS, VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WILL BE DECREASED AND THE TURBINE SHAFT MAY FRACTURE.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne problems?
The 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne has accumulated 1,068 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Electrical System, Engine, Fuel System. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.
Which Porsche Cayenne engine is most reliable?
The 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne was offered with 1 engine option. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne a good used car?
The 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 1,068 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne have?
The 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne has 1,068 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.
What recalls affect the 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne?
There are 7 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.
What should I check before buying a used Porsche Cayenne?
Before buying a used Porsche Cayenne, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Electrical System, Engine, Fuel System, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.
Does the Cayenne have NHTSA crash test ratings?
NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2011-2017 Porsche Cayenne. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 1,068 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.