NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Porsche Cayenne S Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Porsche Cayenne S has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 6 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Porsche dealer.

NHTSA also files the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S separately as Cayenne S Hybrid — 3 recall campaigns.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 Porsche Cayenne S owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S, describing incidents dated June 22, 2017 to February 28, 2019.

Most-cited components

Power Train 5 complaints
Engine 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11183519 · Filed March 1, 2019
WHEN DRIVING CAR, IT FEELS ROUGH AND IS HARD TO ACCELERATE SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. THE TRANSFER CASE SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND IS COMMON AMONG THESE CARS. IT'S UNSAFE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY .
ODI #11183067 · Filed February 28, 2019
THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE OUT FOR THE 4TH TIME SINCE IF WENT OVER 50K, AT LOW SPEEDS ITS CLUNKY AND DRAGS AND BUMPY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I FOUND OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM MUTLI TIMES AS MYSELF AND THIS IS NOT CHEAP TO FIX. THE DEALER KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT HELP…
ODI #11163757 · Filed December 27, 2018
TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. CARE CLUNKS/DRAGS IN LOW GEARS.

Read all 6 complaints

Headlight Adjustment Screw Missing Cover/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #22V656000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported August 30, 2022 · Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 222,858 vehicles

Repair completion: 34.88% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Porsche campaign ANB4 · Owners notified October 28, 2022

Defect description

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."

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

HEADLAMP MODULE

NHTSA #12V065000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported February 21, 2012 · PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 20,278 vehicles

Porsche campaign AC01 · Owners notified March 9, 2012 · Vehicles built March 8, 2010 – January 31, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A DETACHED HEADLIGHT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY AND AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

PORSCHE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP LOCKING ASSEMBLIES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.

Notes

PORSCHE'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS AC01.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2012 Porsche Cayenne S SUV AWD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

1 investigation

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S.

Power Train

ODI #11183519

Crash Fire

Incident: February 28, 2019 · Filed: March 1, 2019

WHEN DRIVING CAR, IT FEELS ROUGH AND IS HARD TO ACCELERATE SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. THE TRANSFER CASE SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND IS COMMON AMONG THESE CARS. IT'S UNSAFE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY .

Power Train

ODI #11183067

Incident: January 8, 2019 · Filed: February 28, 2019

THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE OUT FOR THE 4TH TIME SINCE IF WENT OVER 50K, AT LOW SPEEDS ITS CLUNKY AND DRAGS AND BUMPY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I FOUND OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM MUTLI TIMES AS MYSELF AND THIS IS NOT CHEAP TO FIX. THE DEALER KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT HELP WITH COST

Power Train

ODI #11163757

Incident: December 26, 2018 · Filed: December 27, 2018

TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. CARE CLUNKS/DRAGS IN LOW GEARS.

Power Train

ODI #11157213

Incident: December 1, 2018 · Filed: December 10, 2018

THE PORSCHE DEALER INFORMED ME THE BUMPING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING IS THE TRANSFER CASE. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL 2012 CAYENNE CARS. THE TRANSFER CASE WILL MAKE THE BUMPING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. IT WILL EVENTUALLY SLIP TO THE DANGEROUS POINT. THIS IS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSFER CASE ONLY SLIPS AND LEAVES THE SITTING IN TRAFFIC UNABLE TO MOVE. THE REPAIR IS $5000 AND REPLACES THE TRANSFER CASE. THE NEW TRANSFER CASE CORRECTS THE DESIGN FLAW. THE FLAW WAS IN THE TRANSFER CASE VENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER TO BUILD UP IN THE CASE. THE NEW CASE COMES WITH VENT TUBES INSTALLED SO THE CASE CAN VENT PROPERLY AND WATER DOESN'T BUILD UP IN THE TRANSFER CASE FLUID. IT IS A SHAME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS BETWEEN 30,000 AND 80,000 MILES. IF I PAY $60, 000 -$100,000 FOR A CAR I WOULD EXPECT TO GET PAST 100,000 MILES BEFORE A MAJOR REPAIR. HOPEFULLY I DON'T GET KILLED IN TRAFFIC WHEN IT STARTS SLIPPING MORE.

Power Train

ODI #11058321

Incident: December 26, 2017 · Filed: January 3, 2018

FAULTY TRANSFER CASE THE CAR HAD A BUMPY AND VIOLENT SHUDDER AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. FEELS LIKE MISFIRING AND THEN GRINDING AND THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS DANGEROUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC. I CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND WITH A SIMPLE EXPLANATION THEY DIAGNOSED IT OVER THE PHONE. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THESE TRANSFER CASES WERE FAILING REGULARLY AND THAT THE PARTS WERE REDESIGNED AND EVEN STOCKED IN THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT HAPPENS SO REGULARLY. WITH A BASIC SEARCH OF THE INTERNET IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND THAT PORSCHE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE DESIGN FLAW BUT THEY ARE NOT CHOOSING TO RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHETHER THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT.

Engine

ODI #11054502

Incident: June 22, 2017 · Filed: December 13, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT

Other Porsche Cayenne S model years

Check your 2012 Porsche Cayenne S VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Porsche Cayenne S at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Porsche VIN