NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image may not appear on the display when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, limiting rear visibility.
This page covers 7 recalls, 16 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Porsche Cayenne.
20 mpg combined
11.8 L/100km
Standard 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 for the 2021 Porsche Cayenne are spread across a small number of reports, but a few patterns stand out. The most-reported concern involves the electrical system, including instrument cluster film delaminating or peeling away in irregular patches, which owners say can obscure speed readings and warning lights under certain lighting conditions, and a backup camera that fails to display a clear image while in reverse. A separate but notable pattern involves dashboard leather separating from the underlying structure near the passenger side, with multiple owners specifically concerned that the delamination could interfere with airbag deployment. Powertrain complaints round out the filing set but are limited in number. One isolated report describes a significant odometer discrepancy discovered after purchase.
16
Total Complaints
By System
The 2021 Porsche Cayenne has 7 recalls, the most serious involving two chassis defects: a rear trailing arm lock nut that can break and misalign the rear axle, and a steering column connection that can fail and leave the driver with no steering.
Both the trailing arm and steering column issues can cause sudden loss of vehicle control. Separately filed in two jurisdictions, the trailing arm defect is treated here as one underlying problem. On the occupant safety side, certain Cayenne GTS, Cayenne Coupe, and E-Hybrid Coupe models have a missing seat back heating element that can interfere with the passenger seat's occupant classification system, potentially preventing the front passenger airbag from deploying in a crash. There is also a follow-on issue from a prior repair: on vehicles where the trailing arm recall was previously addressed, the rear wheel alignment was not always checked afterward, which can cause the steering to pull to one side, wear tires unevenly, and eventually lead to a tire failure. The rearview camera on certain vehicles may fail to display an image when shifting into reverse, reducing visibility behind the car.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image may not appear on the display when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, limiting rear visibility.
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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 →
What the fix does
Dealers will update the driver assistance software at no cost to restore rearview camera display function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Rear wheel alignment was not checked during a previous recall. This can cause steering to pull to one side and tires to wear unevenly, potentially leading to reduced traction and tire failure.
What the fix does
Dealer will inspect and adjust rear wheel alignment as needed, and inspect rear tires for premature wear, replacing them if necessary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after previous recall repairs were completed on certain 2021-2022 Cayenne vehicles.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust alignment if needed, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The screw connecting the steering column to the steering box may fail, potentially causing the steering column to detach.
What the fix does
A dealer will install a new screw at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger seat back heating element is missing, which can affect how the Occupant Classification System detects and responds to passenger presence.
What the fix does
Dealers will install the passenger seat back heating element at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lock nuts holding the rear trailing arms may break, causing the trailing arm to loosen and resulting in sudden loss of vehicle stability.
What the fix does
Porsche will mail you instructions to visit a dealer, where technicians will replace the rear trailing arm lock nuts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lock nut on the rear axle trailing arm may break due to stress corrosion, potentially affecting rear suspension integrity.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the lock nuts on the rear axle trailing arm at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
