This page covers 5 recalls, 30 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Porsche Cayenne.
18–19 mpg combined
12.4–13.1 L/100km
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
Complaints on the 2011 Cayenne split evenly between engine and powertrain issues, with a secondary pattern involving the dashboard covering. On the mechanical side, owners frequently report unexpected warning lights, particularly a "service necessary" message, appearing at highway speeds, accompanied by cruise control shutting off abruptly. The warning tends to clear on its own, which owners find frustrating since the underlying cause isn't obvious. Several owners also report the leather dashboard covering shrinking, pulling away from the dash structure, and in some cases bunching or rippling near the front passenger airbag area. Exposed staples and separating material are commonly mentioned details in these dashboard reports, and multiple owners describe being told by their mechanics that the deformation could interfere with airbag deployment in a crash.
30
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
By System
The 2011 Porsche Cayenne has 5 recalls, the most serious being a brake pedal that can come loose and leave the driver unable to stop the vehicle. A circlip that secures the brake pedal's pivot pin may be missing, allowing the pin to shift and the pedal to detach from its mount entirely. On turbocharged models, the turbocharger's turbine wheel can fracture, which drops engine power and can allow oil to enter the exhaust, creating smoke and a risk of fire. Two recalls affect the headlights: the housings can work loose and detach from the fender, leaving a gap in forward lighting, and on certain vehicles the headlights may be aimed incorrectly, either failing to illuminate the road ahead or shining directly into oncoming traffic.
At a glance
What can fail
The protective caps covering the low-beam headlight adjustment screws are missing, which allows headlights to be adjusted incorrectly and fail to meet federal lighting standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your headlights and install any missing sealing caps at no charge.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A small retaining ring (circlip) may be missing from the brake pedal hinge. Without it, the pivot pin can shift out of position, causing the pedal to wobble. This wobbling can crack the hinge over time, eventually letting the pedal separate from its pivot and reducing braking power.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the brake pedal hinge and install the missing circlip if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake pedal pivot pin may lack a circlip, allowing the pin to shift and the brake pedal to come loose.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly and install any missing circlips at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A casting defect can cause the turbine wheel inside the turbocharger to fracture, reducing vehicle performance and potentially causing the turbine shaft to fracture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the turbine wheels at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The headlamp locking assemblies may loosen, causing the headlamps to detach from the fender.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the headlamp locking assemblies at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
