NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Porsche Cayenne Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Porsche Cayenne has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Porsche dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Porsche Cayenne owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Porsche Cayenne, describing incidents dated December 7, 2010 to August 16, 2017.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11110701 · Filed July 11, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V576000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, 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…
ODI #10445187 · Filed January 25, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VIBRATION WENT FROM A PART TIME OCCURRENCE TO BEING A CONSISTENT OCCURRENCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE SUPPORT BEARING FAILED. THE CONTACT…

Read all 2 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Porsche Cayenne in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA06-005: SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION
Closed March 12, 2007
Preliminary Evaluation PE05-060: SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION
Closed March 15, 2006

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

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.

PORSCHE/FMVSS 208/SEAT BELT RETRACTOR

NHTSA #04V593000 · Seat Belts · NHTSA notice

Reported December 15, 2004 · PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 31,000 vehicles

Porsche campaign A506 · Owners notified May 17, 2005 · Vehicles built through September 30, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." ALL THREE REAR SEAT POSITIONS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER POSITION ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT HAVE A LOCKING FEATURE WHICH CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR FROM AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) MODE TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) MODE FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLATION. THE BELT MAY DEACTIVATE THE ALR MODE WITH CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINTS.

Safety consequence

WHEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE CHILD RESTRAINTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY INSTALL A CLIP IN EITHER OF THE AFFECTED REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS AND PROVIDE AN OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT. THE CLIPS WILL PREVENT UNWARRANTED CONVERSION FROM ALR TO ELR MODE WITH CHILD SEAT INSTALLATION. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 17, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.

Notes

PORSCHE RECALL NO. A506.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #11110701

Incident: August 16, 2017 · Filed: July 11, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V576000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, 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 (PORSCHE ROCHESTER, 3955 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623, (585) 334-1600) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Power Train; Structure

ODI #10445187

Incident: December 7, 2010 · Filed: January 25, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VIBRATION WENT FROM A PART TIME OCCURRENCE TO BEING A CONSISTENT OCCURRENCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE SUPPORT BEARING FAILED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE SUPPORT BEARING WAS BEING HELD TOGETHER BY A PIECE OF RUBBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,350 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 52,000. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED PREMATURELY. UPDATED EVOQ 03/08/12 UPDATED EVOQ 04/12/12

Other Porsche Cayenne model years

Check your 2003 Porsche Cayenne VIN

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

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