CSR

Porsche · NHTSA safety record

2020 Porsche Cayenne

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 24 safety complaints about the 2020 Porsche Cayenne with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 7 complaints, 29% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 40,000 miles, the median across the 5 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers March 2021 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

24 complaints on file

24

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

1

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 7 · 29%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7 · 29%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 · 21%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 · 21%
POWER TRAIN 4 · 17%
AIR BAGS 3 · 13%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 · 8%
SEAT BELTS 2 · 8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 8%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 · 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 · 4%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 24.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 11.

12 9 6 3
21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2021 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2020 Porsche Cayenne. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

25V896000 · December 19, 2025

The defect
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2019-2025 Cayenne, Cayenne E-Hybrid, 2020-2025 911, Taycan, 2024-2025 Panamera, and 2025 Panamera E-Hybrid vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the driver assistance software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ASB2. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 19, 2026.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. · up to 172,107 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS

21V318000 · May 5, 2021

The defect
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Cayenne GTS, Cayenne GTS Coupe, 2020-2021 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S Coupe, Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe vehicles. The passenger seat back heating element was not installed and may impact the calibration of the Occupant Classification System.
The risk
The front passenger air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will install a heating element, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB0.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. · up to 136 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

20V271000 · May 13, 2020

The defect
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2020 Cayenne vehicles. An insufficient weld on a transmission oil pipe may cause the vehicle to leak automatic transmission fluid (ATF).
The risk
If transmission fluid leaks while driving, the road surface may be made slippery, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission oil pipe and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ALA5.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. · up to 1,805 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

19V735000 · October 16, 2019

The defect
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 Panamera 4, Panamera Turbo, Panamera Turbo Executive, 2017-2018 Panamera, Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera 4S, 2018 Panamera Turbo S Hybrid, Panamera 4 Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Hybrid, Panamera 4 Executive, 2019 Cayenne Hybrid, 2019-2020 Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, 2020 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne Turbo Coupe, and Cayenne S Coupe vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when the brake pads are worn out. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."
The risk
If the driver is not alerted when brake pads are worn out, the vehicle may not respond as expected when braking, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy
Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall is began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB8. Note: This recall supersedes recall 19V115 and includes vehicles that were previously remedied under that campaign.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. · up to 44,128 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · 6,337 miles

THE CAR CAME WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED TOW SYSTEM. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND IT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I WAS SHOCKED PLUGGING IN A TESTER TO THE 7 WAY CONNECTOR. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT I WAS NOT SHOCKED AND STATES THAT THE LIGHTS STATING THE 7 WAY CONNECTOR IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. WHEN I CONNECT A DIGITAL BREAK CONTROLLER OR 7 PIN CABLE WITH A TRAILER THE CAR DOESN'T NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE BREAK CONTROLLER. THE BREAK CONTROLLER EXPERT STATED THAT SINCE NO DIODE WAS SHOWING WHEN I PLUG THE CAR IN THAT THIS INDICATES THE BRAKES ARE NOT WIRED CORRECTLY. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS SINCE ANOTHER CAR WORKS THE SAME AS MINE THEY DON'T THINK IT IS A ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint 11404548, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

crash

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? -THE TRUNK How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON, THE KEY WAS ON TEH VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE TRUNK POPPED OPEN ON IT'S OWN. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? -NO Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? -NO Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? -NO

NHTSA complaint 11463817. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
This engine EA839 is the same engine installed in Audi’s and which has a massive engine replacement going on now. It seems that the above engine has what is called piston slap or rocker arm failure which requires a complete engine replacement. The manufacturer knows of this problem and as of yet has not issued a recall leaving the customer with a 20,000 repair cost.

NHTSA complaint 11763010. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Nearly 25% of the total time I have owned this Certified Pre-Owned vehicle (146 out of 564 days), it has been non-functional and in the shop — roughly 1 out of every 4 days of ownership. I am a [XXX} with a [XXX] child, and I purchased this vehicle as a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Porsche — expecting the manufacturer's rigorous inspection and warranty to ensure reliability and safety. Instead, the first breakdown occurred within just 1 month of purchase, and the vehicle has since failed six separate times over 18 months (Feb 2025–Aug 2026), totaling 60+ days out of service, despite extensive component replacement: [XXX] (≈1 month after CPO purchase) – Battery failure; car would not start;

NHTSA complaint 11756293, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

80,000 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V896000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that the rear-view camera became inoperable while reversing and then turned on. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to trade the vehicle due to the open recall. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the software update was not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA complaint 11754655. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and is bubbling on the entire top where the Airbag sits. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing the entire dashboard! This is a very common issue with Porsche, and a safety concern which seems due to the fact that Porsche did not use the correct adhesive on all most of cars build in the last 10 years. The dashboard is not withstanding normal sun light and this causes a safety issue.

NHTSA complaint 11749717. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
My 2020 Porsche Cayenne has experienced leather dashboard delamination, with the leather separating, shrinking, and lifting from the dashboard substrate on both the driver and passenger sides. The delamination extends across the upper dashboard, including areas adjacent to the passenger airbag deployment zone. I am concerned that loose or detached dashboard material could interfere with, delay, or alter the proper deployment of the passenger airbag during a collision, increasing the risk of injury. The continued deterioration also raises concerns about the integrity of the dashboard structure over time. Porsche inspected the vehicle and determined that the repair requires replacement of the

NHTSA complaint 11746995, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
"Engine temperature too high. Park vehicle and allow engine to cool". warning at 50,000 miles which the mechanic says this is a huge problem with all Porsche, Audi and VW due to water coolant changeover valve which fails and also stated that Porsche is aware and should have a "bulletin" open on this issue?

NHTSA complaint 11740164. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Porsche Cayenne

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 5 2 —
2021 21 5 —
2019 45 6 —
2018 13 1 —
2017 17 2 —
2016 40 2 —
2015 14 2 —
2014 53 3 —
2013 40 3 —
2012 27 4 —
2011 30 3 —

Other 2020 Porsche models

Taycan 91 Macan 27

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Porsche on this site — 36 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst