2008 Porsche Cayenne
The Verdict
The 2008 Porsche Cayenne has 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (23 complaints) and transmission (8 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 90/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Porsche Cayenne, consider the 2010 model year which has 97% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2010 has 97% fewer complaints
View the 2010 Porsche Cayenne dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
PORSCHE IS RECALLING 5,573 MY 2008 CAYENNE V6 VEHICLES. A FUEL LINE IN THE PLENUM PANEL AREA MAY CONTACT THE REAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER. RELATIVE MOVEMENTS OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING MAY CAUS...
Risk
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE FUEL LINE AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SPACER RING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2008 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V446000 (Power Train) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer previously completed the recall remedy. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was sent confirmation of the VIN being clear of recalls. In addition, the contact stated that the VINTool shows 1 recall associated with the VIN however, per the NHTSA VIN Tool shows no recalls associated with the VIN.
The contact owns a 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS. The contact stated there was a delay when starting the vehicle however, immediately afterward there was an abnormal fuel odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V576000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact was able to confirm the Part Number: (955/620/931/01/M82) for the in-tank fuel pump, and Part Number: 95562093201M2 fuel pump parts matched the part number for the parts installed in the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started wobbling with a loud sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred several times. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was already repaired under warranty. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, he smelled a strong gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that others had also informed him that the vehicle had a strong gasoline odor. The contact stated that the gasoline odor was coming from the rear passenger's side and rear driver's side seats. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure via email. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
ENGINE HAS CUTOFF ON 3 OCCURRENCES: (1) OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AND EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. I WAS ABLE TO MANUEVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER WHILE COASTING WITHOUT ENGINE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE BUT IT CUTOFF A FEW SECONDS AFTER. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT PORSCHE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. (2) THE ENGINE CUTOFF WHILE OPERATING ON CITY STREET AT 40 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO MANUEVER THE VEHICLE WHILE COASTING WITHOUT POWER OR POWER STEERING INTO A PARKING LOT. THE ENGINE WOULD START BUT CUTOFF A FEW SECONDS LATER ON MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT PORSCHE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THIS OCCURRENCE WAS THE FIRST TIME OPERATING THE VEHICLE AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT SERVICE. (3) OPERATING THE VEHICLE WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE CUTOFF AND I WAS STALLED FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE BLOCKING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE REMAINING 2 MILES HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. ALL 3 OCCURENCES INVOLVED ABRUPT ENGINE CUTOFF AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE PORSCHE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP IS UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE ISSUE. THE RISK EXPOSURE TO ACCIDENT IS HIGH WHEN ENGINE CUTOFF OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S REAR WHEEL WELL. A RECALL EXISTS FOR 03-06 MODELS, BUT MY 08 IS SUFFERING THE FROM THE SAME ISSUE.
COOLANT DISTRIBUTOR BARB CAME UNGLUED CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT ON HIGHWAY. CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND PORSCHE HAS UPDATED THE PART HOWEVER WILL NOT WARRANTY THE DEFECTIVE PARTS STILL ON VEHICLES.
ENGINE ROUGH IDLING WHICH DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE
PORSCHE CAYENNE HAVE WATER DRAIN DESIGN ISSUE. WHEN RAINING OR WASH THE CAR, THE WATER DRAIN CLOG WILL MAKE WATER FLOOD THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLES, AND DAMAGE THE WIRES UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, PORSCHE KNOW THIS, BUT NOT FIX IT.
ON THE BACKSIDE OF THIS V8 ENGINE THERE IS A COOLANT DISTRIBUTION TUBE THAT HAS COOLANT BARB PRESSED INTO THE CAST ALUMINUM DISTRIBUTION TUBE WITH ADHESIVE. WHILE DRIVING FROM WOR TO HOME, THE ADHESIVE FAILED 19MAR20 CAUSING THE BARB TO SLIP OUT OF THE TUBE ALLOWING LARGE AMOUNTS OF COOLANT TO GUSH OVER THE HOT EXHAUST AND OUT FROM UNDER THE CAYENNE. THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT RECOGNIZED LOW COOLANT LEVEL THE DASH PANEL FLAGGED "LOW COOLANT" AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER BEFORE OVERHEATING THE ENGINE. FORTUNATELY DUE TO THE TELEWORKING STATUS OF WHERE I WORK THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND THANKFULLY NO MOTORCYCLIST. I WOULD EXPECT MORE A $71,145 VEHICLE FROM PORSCHE EVEN AFTER 12 YEARS AND 140K MI.
PARKED VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF GOT A RED ALERT STEERING FAULTY,EVERYTHING LOCKED UP INCLUDING TRANSMISSION AND WINDOW SWITCHES..HAD TO BE FLAT BEDDED TO A PORSCHE DEALERSHIP TOOK A WEEK FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT,HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN.CONCERN IS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF DRIVING AT THE TIME..GOT NO ANSWER
THIS IS A PORSCHE CAYANNE 2008. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. THIS ISSUE CAN HAPPEN IF THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, STREET OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. THE WIPERS CAN STOP OPERATION FOR A VARIABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. AT TIMES I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE CAR TO GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN. SOMETIMES THEY WILL REMAIN INOPERABLE FROM SECONDS TO 15-20 MINUTES, AND RESTART ON THEIR OWN. AT TIMES IF I AM DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL CUT OFF AND NOT RESTART OR RESTART AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, PREVENTING PROPER VISIBILITY.
A START IGNITION WON'T START AND I HAVE TO PLUG THE KEY IN ORDER TO STARTED THE VEHICLE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL, HIGH PRESSURE, AND PRESSURE PUMPS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER DUE TO THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
ENGINE RUNNING INCREASINGLY ROUGH ON ACCELERATION. MECHANIC FOUND DRIVESHAFT FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE AXIAL PLAY FROM CENTER DRIVESHAFT SUPPORT BEARING. DRIVESHAFT REPLACED. MORE THAN 50 SIMILAR FAILURES ARE DOCUMENTED ON GOTACLASSACTION.COM. I'VE ATTACHED COMPLAINT TO PORSCHE, THEIR RESPONSE AND REPAIR INVOICE. *TT*JB CONSUMER STATED PARTS WAS ORDERED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION TANK WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PORSCHE OF SOUTH SHORE (185 W SUNRISE HWY, FREEPORT, NY) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.
I PURCHASED A 2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE ON 3/14/18. HERE WE ARE 3 MONTHS LATER AND I NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE DRIVER REAR TIRE. I USED GOOGLE TO DIAGNOSE MY CONCERNS AND FOUND THIS: SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 ' PORSCHE IS RECALLING MORE THAN 50,000 CAYENNE SUVS BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP FILTER FLANGES COULD LEAK GAS AND AT THE LEAST CREATE AN ODOR OF FUEL, AND AT THE MOST CREATE A FIRE HAZARD IF FUEL HITS A HOT IGNITION SOURCE. THE RECALLED GAS-POWERED VEHICLES INCLUDE THE 2003-2006 CAYENNE S AND CAYENNE TURBO, 2004-2006 CAYENNE AND 2006 CAYENNE S "TITANIUM" EDITION VEHICLES. SO, I TOOK MY CAR TO GET DIAGNOSED AT DEAN MCREARY PORSCHE IN MOBILE, AL AND WAS ADVISED THAT I HAVE A FLANGE AND SEALING RING LEAK AND THAT IT WOULD BE 1124.00 TO REPAIR. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. THIS IS A HAZARD. SOMEONE COULD DIE. I THEN CALLED PORSCHE NORTH AMERICAN AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL IS VIN SPECIFIC AND I DO NOT QUALIFY. THIS MAKES NO SENSE AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. PORSCHE IS CONSTANTLY MAKING CARS THAT ARE UNSAFE AND WHEN A PROBLEMS OCCURS, THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT.
THE CAR CUT OUT AS I WAS CROSSING A INTERSECTION WHILE IN MOTION LEAVING THE CAR DISABLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION, LUCKILY OTHER DRIVERS SAW THE PROBLEM AND WENT AROUND ME. ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE IGNITION LOCK FAULT. I TURNED IT OFF AND AFTER 2 MINUTES IT RESTARTED. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THE IGNITION LOCK FAULT CAME ON, AND THEN ALL OF THE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND WAS LOCKED IN PARK. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE IN FEB 2017 WHEN A CORRODED WIRES WERE FOUND IN A MAIN BUNDLE OF WIRES IN THE DRIVERS FOOTWELL. THERE WAS NO WATER ON THAT AREA AND NOR HAS THERE BEEN ANY WATER ON THE CAR OR THE FOOTWELL. I HAVE HAD WEATHERTECH MATS IN PLACE HTE WHOLE TIME TO PREVENT THAT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT IT COULD GO DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION NOT JUST A STARTING ISSUE. I HAVE REVIEWED TECHNICAL BULLETIN NHTSA 10056337 WHICH DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY EXPLANATION FOR IMPLYING THAT THE LACK OF FEEDBACK HAS LEAD TO THE FACTORY NOT KNOWING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PORSCHE NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THE IMPROPERLY SPLICED WIRES AND THE BUNDLE NEED TO BE RETROFITTED IN A WAY TO PROTECT THEM FROM ONGOING CORROSION THAT IN MY CASE HAPPENED HAPPENED TWICE THE SECOND TIME ON 6,000 MILES AFTER THE LAST IN A CAR THAT IS KEPT IN A GARAGE.
COOLANT DISTRIBUTOR BOLTED TO THE BACK OF ENGINE BLOCK HAS A GLUED -IN PIPE THAT CONNECTS TO A HOSE. THE GLUED-IN PIPE IS LEAKING AND HALF WAY PUSHED OUT OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. THE IMMINENT FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD HAVE CAUSED IMMEDIATE OVERHEAT AND FIRE DUE TO CATASTROPHIC COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE. THE REPAIR IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. PORSCHE HAS A NEW PART THAT HAS THE PIPE THREADED IN INSTEAD OF GLUED. PORSCHE SHOULD RECALL THIS AND PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND SAFETY ISSUE. IMAGINE 8 GALLONS OF HOT COOLANT DISCHARGING ALL OVER, SAY A MOTORCYCLIST GOING 70 MPH. THIS ISSUE WAS NOTICED WHILE DOING OTHER COOLANT SYSTEM MAINTENANCE THAT WAS ALSO NECESSITATED BY POOR DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE.
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.
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