Although the majority of pre-owned Porsche Cayennes are secure to buy, you should stay away from the 2004 and 2011 models. There have been multiple reports of cooling systems, drivetrain, and electrical issues with the 2004 Porsche Cayenne. You’ll probably have to spend more than $3,000 to have one of these problems corrected.
The worst model to buy is from the 2011 year, as it has numerous engine issues that manifest very early in the life of the vehicle. Engines have failed at less than 40,000 miles, brakes have prematurely worn out at about 20,000 miles, and engines have overheated at 15,000 miles. Avoid the 2011 Porsche Cayenne at all costs because it has the worst engine failure of any model from that year.
You receive a customized list of the top used automobiles in your area from CoPilot. To ensure that you got the greatest deal, we’ll also let you know if there are any comparable vehicles in the area that are available for less money. The best approach to purchase a car is through the CoPilot app.
In This Article...
Overall Reliability Scores: How Reliable Is the Porsche Cayenne?
The Porsche Cayenne’s overall reliability rating is 42, which indicates that it is not very reliable. The exact rankings of this car in relation to various other cars are shown in the chart below, however as a point of reference, the average overall rating is 57.
This information is based on a combination of looking at the cost and frequency of maintenance, warranty coverage, and long-term reliability by looking at how long these vehicles are normally kept on the road. Remember that the Porsche Cayenne is in the same class as other compact or subcompact vehicles, not only those in this comparison.
You may notice that these numbers differ significantly from those in J.D. Power or Consumer Reports. Most publications look at complaints made to the dealership within the first few months of ownership (like JD Power) or solicit biased feedback from owners regarding longer-term cycles of their new cars. Instead, this study examines data from wholesale auctions and repair businesses on actual repair prices and frequency.
Engine Reliability of the Porsche Cayenne
Base editions of the Cayenne were powered by 3.2-liter V6 engines created by Volkswagen beginning in 2003 and continuing until 2010. These lumps featured two cylinder banks sharing a single cylinder head, however they mostly consisted of VW parts despite the fact that the intake manifolds were exclusive to Porsche. They are referred to as VR6 engines, and a wide range of applications relied on them. The main known challenges for these power plants are timing chain and water pump troubles, but with routine maintenance, they can approach or surpass the 200,000-mile mark.
Plastic coolant pipes that were fractured in early Cayenne Turbo models with the 4.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine caused coolant to flow onto the engine and cause it to overheat. These plastic pipes have mostly been replaced by metal versions. If you come across a model that still has the plastic coolant pipes, you should immediately replace them. The 4.8-liter engine that the Cayenne’s S, GTS, and Turbo acquired in 2008 did not have these difficulties, leaving only the coolant piping troubles.
The air/oil separator on the 4.8-liter engine is one item to watch out for (also known as the PVC valve). This is a component of the Porsche Cayenne’s emissions system, and when it malfunctions, it can cause anything from a slight inconvenience to a significant problem that needs to be fixed. You should keep an eye out for oil consumption, smoke coming from the exhaust pipes, a rough idle, and a corresponding check engine light when it begins to fail. If this component needs to be replaced, it won’t cost too much—it costs around $200.
Overall reliability for the first-generation Cayenne was evaluated at 3.5 out of 5 stars by U.S. News & World Report.
basis of the second generation Although they were larger at 3.6 liters, Cayenne models had V6 engines that were comparable to those in the first-gen cars. They had a comparable reputation for reliability with few issues and higher horsepower—296 as opposed to the 3.2-liter’s 250—thanks to the virtually identical architecture. Apart from the obvious increase in displacement, the main distinction between these two engines was the installation of direct injection.
For the Cayenne S, a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 was released in 2015. Porsche kept developing turbo technology, further optimizing the engines, and making them both incredibly dependable and powerful in the process.
According to WhatCar, certain automatic transmission faults were recorded for early second-gen cars, so it’s crucial to take one for a test drive before signing any paperwork. You should be on the lookout for harsh shifts, usually in second and third gear, as well as the gearbox occasionally briefly shifting out of gear when moving. Given that the Warner Aisin transmission was utilized, these gearbox problems are not specific to the Cayenne. These are notorious for having valve body failures that necessitate rebuilt units being changed, which usually comes with a heavy price tag of $1500-$2500 for parts and labor.
Finally, the 2019 model year marked the beginning of the third and current generation. Starting with the base 3.0 liter V6, all of the Cayenne’s engines are now turbocharged. Even after three years in production, this unit, which is shared by several Volkswagen models, appears to be holding up well. The same holds true for Porsche’s more potent models, such as the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 in the Cayenne GTS and the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in the Turbo.
The Porsche Cayenne’s third generation is impressive on many levels.
Despite being an SUV, you can still recognize this vehicle as a Porsche by its nose logo.
The Porsche Cayenne is dependable.
The reliability of the Porsche Cayenne The expected dependability rating for the 2022 Porsche Cayenne is 81 out of 100. J.D. Power predicts that reliability scores will range from 91 to 100, with 91 to 100 being the best, 81 to 90 being great, 70 to 80 being medium, and 0-69 being fair and below average.
Is the Porsche Cayenne a hit?
The 2002 release of the Porsche Cayenne was made in an effort to prevent the German automaker from going bankrupt.
By:
revised on:
One of the Porsche brand’s most popular items since its beginnings is the Cayenne.
The Cayenne SUV project, which Porsche had to go to such measures to keep secret, ended up saving the German high-performance vehicle manufacturer just as it was starting to run out of air. After two decades of a successful run, the German automaker under the Volkswagen brand is now disclosing some of the little-known details that went into the creation of this well-liked, high-performance, luxury SUV. When the Porsche Cayenne was first released in 2002, it was able to prevent the firm from filing for bankruptcy.
The Porsche Cayenne SUV, currently in its third iteration, was formerly known as project Colorado. Porsche developed its SUV at a 3,800 square meter, three-story former computer assembly plant in Hemmingen rather than at its Weissach plant. Klaus Gerhard Wolpert, chief of the Cayenne product line, oversaw the project.
Maintaining a Porsche Cayenne is it expensive?
The total yearly cost of car maintenance for the Porsche Cayenne is $1,231. The table that follows provides a detailed ranking of each car in this overall scheme for comparison’s sake. The Porsche Cayenne is far less expensive to maintain than the average car, which costs $651 year, given that it has an average cost of $1,231.
A supercar, is the Porsche Cayenne?
Why do you find writing about vehicles to be so enjoyable? Because I have a strong personal interest in automobiles, I adore writing about them and I love cars. I enjoy learning about and driving luxurious cars.
An exotic car, sometimes known as a supercar, is a car that is incredibly rare, has a stunning appearance, and was created with performance in mind. And yes, Porsches are supercars.
Only a small portion of them actually do. High-end sports utility vehicles include the Porsche Cayenne (SUV). The Cayenne is a fast automobile, but it’s not a supercar. The Panamera, Macan, and Taycan are all in the same situation.
Compared to vehicles like McLaren, Ferrari, or Lamborghini, Porsche 911s feature a more traditional design language.
Additionally, Porsche 911 versions are less expensive. But because of their uncommonness and distinctive design, they are often even faster.
Despite being Porsche’s definitive chassis for sports cars, the Boxster/Cayman lacks the exoticism necessary to be considered a supercar.
Contrary to common assumption, vehicles like the Carrera GT and Porsche 918 are not merely sports cars.
Although the Porsche 959, 911 GT1, Carrera GT, and 918 hybrid are all “supercars,” only specific models belong under this category.
These cars are incredibly expensive, only made in small quantities, and have a very small production run.
A supercar is typically one with the highest levels of performance, a small number of units, and cutting-edge technology.
The Porsche 911 comes in a variety of variations, some of which are built solely for racing and without any creature comforts. These objects are still ineligible to be referred to as “supercars.”
A sports car, is the Porsche Cayenne?
Even the Panamera, Macan, and Cayenne are sports cars, as are all of our other vehicles. They are the most sporty option in their respective sectors, and they share Porsche 911 genetics. Because of this, Porsche is widely regarded as a sports car manufacturer.
Was Porsche saved by the Cayenne?
It’s safe to assume that Porsche is happy with the Cayenne. The company’s first SUV from 20 years ago turned out to be the kind of moneymaker that dreams are made of. Even the brand has referred to it as a Porsche 959 replacement. Although we can’t be certain of that, the Cayenne’s influence over the past 20 years cannot be overstated.
Even back in 1989, Ferdinand Porsche made the following prediction: “If we produce an off-road vehicle to our standards of quality and it has a Porsche crest on the front, people will buy it.” No, he wasn’t joking. You could say that while Porsche’s 911 was having trouble, the Cayenne saved the company. People didn’t like the 911’s conversion to a water-cooled engine, so Porsche had to rely on the Cayenne to make ends meet while it found out how to win back the hearts of sports car buyers.
That statement’s first part is still accurate today. The Cayenne and Macan outsold the 911 by a factor of nearly four, while Porsche’s lineup of SUVs sold much more units than the 911 in 2021. According to Detlev von Platen, member of the executive board for sales and marketing, “the Cayenne has always been a big pull for our brand – it has brought many new customers and enthusiasts from all over the world to Porsche over the past 20 years.”
Even Porsche will admit that the Cayenne essentially saved the company “The management rapidly realized that the storied 911 and the brand-new mid-engined model couldn’t carry the business into a bright future on their own. A “third Porsche” was in the works, according to the plans.” The Cayenne, which was later planned to share a base with the Volkswagen Touareg, would eventually replace that third model.
Porsche Active Suspension Management, a function that is currently standard in many modern P Cars, was also introduced by the Cayenne. Active damper technology from the manufacturer has become a standard across all of its model lines and is a favorite among 911 aficionados. It doesn’t happen very frequently, yet here we are, with the technology from your SUV trickling down into your top-of-the-line sports car.
The hybrid Cayenne was introduced back in 2014, and the current Cayenne lineup includes a number of eco-friendly and performance trim options. Despite its impressive performance and off-road credentials, the Cayenne has become a mainstay at many retail centers. Since it was the vehicle that saved Porsche, we really don’t care what people do with it.
Is there a VW engine in the Porsche Cayenne?
Although the Porsche Cayenne received a mixed response when it first hit the market, it quickly established itself as having excellent performance for an SUV, comparable decent handling, and powerful engines. The Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo, both powered by a V8, were the first models in the lineup. Versions with VR6 and diesel engines were added later in the model cycle.
The base model is propelled by a 250 PS VW 3.2-L VR6 engine (184 kW; 247 hp). Porsche has its own intake manifold, but other than that, the VW engine and Porsche’s engine are very similar. The manual transmission accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 9.1 seconds, while the Tiptronic S does it in 9.7 seconds.