2012 Porsche Cayenne Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 15%of 27 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 45,394miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Porsche Cayenne, 15% of the 27 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,394 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have a 2012 Porsche Cayenne s hybrid. It is suffering from the defect described in this recall campaign: 17v36800. The bolts that hold the camshaft in place have sheared off. Porsche is refusing any type of consideration because the VIN is not in the recall list, but it is in the year of the recall and suffers from the issue. I was driving the vehicle on the highway and the check engine light came on. The vehicle lost power and the engine started knocking. I was able to coast to the shoulder. I had to call my wife and have it towed. …”
NHTSA complaint #11329783, filed 2020-06, 90,000 miles“The engine of my Porsche Cayenne turbo was shut off completely while turning left on a two-lane highway. The opposite car had to veered off to avoid collision. The car kept moving forward until it hit the curb.”
NHTSA complaint #10469096, filed 2012-08, 789 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11037816Sep 22, 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C40 Engine Oils. Note that this bulletin covers all models back to model year 1984, for which C40 engine oils are…
- 11037813Sep 22, 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils. Note that the bulletin covers all models back to model year 1984, for which C20 engine oils are…
- 11037812Sep 22, 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils. Note that the bulletin includes all models back to model year 1984, for which C30 engine oils are…
- 11037808Sep 22, 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche A40 Engine Oils. Note that this bulletin covers all vehicles from model year 1997 to 2020, for which A40 engine oils…
- 11035916Jul 22, 2026Allocation of Approved Engine Oils MY 2027 (13/26)
- 11034777Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils (20/26)
- 11034776Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils (19/26)
- 11034775Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche C40 Engine Oils (21/26)
- 11034774Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche A40 Engine Oils (15/26)
- 11034773Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils (16/26)
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | 14% |
| 2020 | 7 | 29% |
| 2019 | 6 | 13% |
| 2018 | 3 | 23% |
| 2017 | 3 | 17% |
| 2016 | 5 | 13% |
| 2015 | 3 | 21% |
| 2014 | 5 | 9% |
| 2013 | 7 | 18% |
| 2012 | 4 | 15% |
| 2011 | 12 | 40% |
| 2008 | 6 | 22% |
| 2006 | 3 | 7% |
| 2005 | 1 | 3% |
| 2004 | 9 | 24% |
Other parts of the 2012 Porsche Cayenne
12 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology