2019 Porsche Cayenne Complaints
Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA
40
Total
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Most Reported Components
Recent Complaints
AIR BAGS — Filed 07/11/2026
The dashboard is peeling up and is unsafe due to airbag being underneath the leather dash. If airbag was to blow it would not function correctly due to dashboard leather peeling. Could potentially injur passenger or not deploy at all.
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE — Filed 03/16/2026
2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo (EA825 4.0L V8, VIN [XXX]). Vacuum-actuated water pump seal failure caused coolant infiltration of the vacuum system on two separate occasions during the CPO warranty period. The vacuum system on this engine supplies the brake servo (brake booster) — a safety-critical connection documented in Porsche and Audi's own engineering literature for this engine (NHTSA document MC-XXX). First failure: XXX (92,916 miles, RO XXX). Towed in overheating. Technician documented coolant infiltrating vacuum system. Coolant pump replaced. Vacuum lines not inspected or replaced. Vacuum pump not inspected or replaced. PCNA's own ATI 2235.1 (NHTSA MC-XXX) required vacuum line inspection — not performed. Second failure: October 3, 2025 (103,904 miles, RO 207205). Coolant documented at timing chain cover. Coolant pump replaced. Change-over valve not replaced — required unconditionally by ATI 2235.1. Vacuum lines not inspected or replaced. No PQIS fault code logged — required by PCNA TSB 2307 (NHTSA MC-XXX). No oil analysis performed. No timing chain cavity inspection. Service visit performed one month before CPO expiration. Third visit: XXX (103,988 miles, RO XXX). Cracked breather hose found 84 miles after second service. Vacuum system still unremediated. Current failure: March 2026. Severe valvetrain noise on cylinder bank 2. Engine-out diagnosis required. Estimate $13,286.57. Vehicle currently at Porsche Novi/Farmington Hills. PCNA denied coverage June 25, 2026 without referencing a single technical bulletin, repair order, or published protocol from the documented record. The brake servo vacuum supply connection — documented in PCNA and Audi's own engineering literature — makes this a safety matter. PCNA's own TI 173/21 (NHTSA MC-XXX) explicitly covers the V8 Biturbo variant and was not followed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 07/01/2025
The hybrid cooling system on my 2019 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid repeatedly displayed a red dashboard warning while the vehicle was in motion: "Hybrid coolant level too low / Park vehicle safely / Let vehicle cool down." This warning appeared on multiple occasions at speeds of approximately 22 mph, 38–40 mph, and 47 mph, as documented in timestamped photos and videos taken in November 2025. A separate warning in July 2025 read: "Engine cannot be started / Remove charger plug." The warnings indicate a potential thermal management or hybrid cooling system failure. A moving vehicle being instructed to park and cool down presents a safety risk to the driver and others, particularly if the condition causes sudden power loss or thermal event. The vehicle was serviced at an authorized Porsche dealer in 2025. Despite that service activity, the hybrid coolant warning recurred while driving in November 2025, suggesting the underlying condition was not fully resolved. The issue was reported to the manufacturer (PCNA), who acknowledged it under a case number and offered a service voucher. The selling dealer attributed the concerns to a manufacturer charging-cable campaign. Neither response addressed the recurring in-motion warning or confirmed the hybrid cooling system was repaired. Timestamped photo and video evidence is available showing the dashboard warnings and vehicle speed at time of occurrence. Complete repair orders have been requested but not yet provided. The component may be available for inspection upon request.
AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 12/31/1969
Porsche leather dashboard shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag may not deploy properly. The Porsche dealer looked at it recommend that it be replaced. This is a known manufacturer defect that has been occurring with many of Porsche leather dashboards in different models. The manufacture is not taking responsibility in repairing or recalling this dangerous situation and putting the cost onto the customer. The fact that this is an option they offer as an additional cost on their vehicles , knowing this is a dangerous defect. This alone should automatically issue recall to fix before someone gets seriously injured.
AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 06/30/2024
The leather dash is peeling irregularly and will not deploy the passenger airbag properly if vehicle is involved in an accident and could result in death of a passenger. Serious problem with Cayenne SUV’s and Porsche refuses to address the problem with multiple complaints from other owners.
ENGINE — Filed 02/14/2026
sudden total drivetrain failure at 52k mi with no warning, child passenger, prior dealer-documented leak that was not escalated.
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 02/14/2026
At approximately 52,000 miles, the vehicle experienced a sudden catastrophic transmission / driveline failure while in use. The failure created serious concern about safe operation and reliability and left the vehicle disabled or unsafe to continue driving normally. An authorized Porsche dealer evaluated the vehicle and stated that the repair would require replacement of the entire transmission assembly at very high cost. No practical parts-level repair option has been provided. I am reporting this because a sudden major powertrain failure at this mileage may indicate a safety-related defect.
AIR BAGS — Filed 03/01/2026
Bubbled dashboard is considered as a safety issue that airbag may NOT be properly deployed when an accident occurs.
BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 12/19/2025
The contact owns a 2019 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V896000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact called a local dealer and the manufacturer but was advised that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.
AIR BAGS,VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 09/05/2025
SAFETY ASSESSMENT: 2019 Porsche Cayenne S Dashboard Material Failure Vehicle Identification: VIN [XXX] , Current Odometer: 46639 Assessment Date: 12/11/2025 Evaluator: [XXX] , Registered Owner/Operator ________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The dashboard upper assembly in this vehicle exhibits progressive adhesive delamination and synthetic leather separation (colloquially “bubbling”) across the instrument cluster housing and passenger airbag deployment zone. This defect, while initially cosmetic, presents measurable safety risks under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) by compromising passive restraint systems, driver visibility, and interior structural integrity during collision events. The failure pattern is consistent with documented manufacturing defects affecting 2018-2022 Cayenne production units. ________________________________________ TECHNICAL ANALYSIS Defect Manifestation: •Multi-point adhesive failure between dashboard substrate and synthetic leather wrap •Bubbles ranging 2-8cm diameter directly above passenger-side airbag module •Progression rate: 15% surface area increase over 4-month observation period •Material: Thermoplastic olefin (TPO) substrate with polyurethane coating exhibiting UV-degradation and outgassing Root Cause: Inadequate adhesive curing during manufacturing combined with incompatible material expansion coefficients, resulting in progressive de-lamination under thermal cycling. ________________________________________ SAFETY CONCERNS 1. PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT (FMVSS 208 Violation Risk) 2. DRIVER VISIBILITY IMPAIRMENT (FMVSS 101 Violation Risk) 3. INTERIOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY (FMVSS 201/214) 4. SECONDARY PROJECTILE HAZARD 5. OCCUPANT HEALTH & COGNITIVE LOAD This defect constitutes a latent safety hazard that degrades over time, not a static cosmetic issue. The combination of airbag deployment trajectory interference, driver visibility impairment, structural integrity compromise. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
About This Data
Complaints are filed by vehicle owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They represent individual consumer experiences and do not necessarily indicate a widespread defect.
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