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Porsche CayenneModel year report

2008 Porsche Cayenne Problems

Compared with other Porsche Cayenne years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

16/100 0.5× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
27filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
76,388miles, 24 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 3.6L 6-cyl 4WD/AWD · 14 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Porsche Cayenne (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2008 Porsche Cayenne. The part named most often is electrical system, with 7 complaints (26% of the total), followed by engine (6) and transmission and drivetrain (6). 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 17% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 76,388 miles. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 405 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 74 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 56 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 6 Porsche Cayenne model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 16 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Other or unknown (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Body and structure (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10502550, filed 2013-03, 12,391 miles

Engine: “We found a huge leak in the coolant system while the car was parked, a porshe technician identified that on the coolant distributor behind the engine there is a coupler which was glued onto the distributor. The glue detached and the coolant pipe blew out causing the entire engine to lose coolant. I believe that it is a pure design issue and Porsche did not issue a recall on it. It was very expensive to fix that problem due to bad design.”

NHTSA complaint #10588252, filed 2014-05, 102,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “My car is garage kept and very low miles (70k+) since I work mostly from home. I suddenly started to hear a bad noise coming from the bottom of the car and could feel the car shaking whenever started to accelerate. Took to a Porsche specialized mechanic that told me it is a recurring issue on the Cayenne. Long store short, spent two thousand dollars to fix the issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11048790, filed 2017-11, 70,000 miles

Fuel system: “The high pressure fuel pump, car drove with very little ability to speed up. It sputters when trying to accelerate. It won't start right away, building up fuel pressure. I was driving and it just became unresponsive to the gas peddle. I slowed and stopped, restarted and just had a very weak car. It takes some time to reach 50mph. Dangerous if on the hwy.”

NHTSA complaint #11004687, filed 2017-07, 71,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

17% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 55,300 and 102,000 miles.

8%0–104%10–254%25–5033%50–7517%75–10029%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (24 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 76,388 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2012201420162018202062025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 Porsche Cayenne version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Cayenne 4WD/AWD3.6L 6-cyl6-speed automatic142016$5,150
Cayenne 4WD/AWD3.6L 6-cyl6-speed manual142016$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Porsche Cayenne → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 405 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 405 bulletins →

Other model years of the Porsche Cayenne

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20265—1—18—Too new
20255—2—18—Too new
20245—5—19—Too new
20235—2—18—Too new
20212131,0006—20—Falling
20202440,0005—20—Stable
20194712,0007—21100 · MoreRising
20181310,0001—19—Not enough data
20171841,0002—19—Rising
20164016,0002—2080 · MoreRising
20151416,0003—23—Not enough data
20145341,0003—1975 · MoreRising
20134066,0953—1925 · FewerStable
20122751,4504—1950 · TypicalFalling
20113064,5083—199 · FewerRising
20091584,2502—16—Stable
20082776,3883—1616 · FewerFalling
20064180,2523—15Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20053266,0004—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20043891,0006—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Porsche Cayenne model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Porsche Cayenne have?

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2008 Porsche Cayenne as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Porsche Cayenne is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 7 complaints (26% of the total), followed by engine with 6.

Has the 2008 Porsche Cayenne been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Porsche Cayenne get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Porsche Cayenne (Cayenne, 3.6L 6-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Porsche Cayenne reported?

Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 76,388 miles and the middle half falls between 55,300 and 102,000 miles; 17% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.