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ProblemsByVin Index / 2008-PORSCHE-CAYENNE / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2008 Porsche Cayenne owner complaints

42 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 1 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

powertrain 7 complaints shown

9 total in this category · severe · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
12/31/2009 12,000 mi Fire ODI #10297649.0

During low speed driving (roughly 20mph) in congested highway traffic, I attempted to shift gears on the manual transmission in my 2008 Porsche cayenne gts. Upon doing so, the clutch pedal lost all resistance and pinned directly on the floorboard. As I began navigating toward the shoulder, smoke began pouring into the cabin. As I reached the shoulder, the car caught on fire. I escaped unharmed but the entire car burned and was totaled. Porshce has since been exceptionally reluctant to speak with me. This event happened in october (2009). My insurance company (state farm) has subrogated on my behalf and three months later, Porsche is still not disclosing the findings of their investigation nor has anyone from Porsche been in contact with me since early novemeber. This was a low mile

12/06/2022 150,000 mi ODI #11496258.0

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.

11/27/2017 70,000 mi ODI #11048790.0

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.

11/20/2018 ODI #11152891.0

A start ignition won't start and I have to plug the key in order to started the vehicle

10/14/2025 ODI #11693403.0

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.

09/13/2012 30,000 mi ODI #10475265.0

Within minutes of driving my son to school, I heard a grinding sound from underneath my cayenne, then a squealing, and the car began to vibrate violently during acceleration. This happened very quickly and was frightening because I was crossing a bridge in morning traffic. The service man at the Porsche dealership told me that this is an ongoing problem with these vehicles and that my drive shaft had come apart. I am a very careful driver and my car has low miles. I believe that there should be a recall and this is safety issue because of how quickly this happened while driving. *tr

08/24/2018 68,140 mi ODI #11122147.0

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

engine 7 complaints shown

14 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
10/29/2014 61,093 mi ODI #10651059.0

Under moderate acceleration a coolant distributor pipe failed without warning and sprayed/leaked coolant all over the engine bay and underneath the car. The failure occurred at the back of the engine where a pressed in pipe fitting came loose from the engine casting. Repair required removal of the engine at a cost in excess of $3.500. All the coolant was lost from the engine and luckily I was on a side street and not the highway. *tr

10/19/2016 98,000 mi ODI #10917294.0

I was driving on the highway. Accelerating as I was merging into the highway. I saw smoke coming out the back. Check coolant light came on. When I stopped I saw coolant everywhere underneath the car. The dealership determined the glue from the coolant tubes failed and needs to install new coolant pipes. *tr

10/11/2013 32,425 mi ODI #10547588.0

Sudden and total coolant loss when coolant distribution housing pipe came apart while driving on a public roadway resulting in disabled vehicle. Part # 948-106-061-06 distributor tube failure at bottom connection. Required to remove engine and replace coolant distribution housing. *tr

10/08/2020 80,437 mi ODI #11363504.0

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.

09/14/2018 120,000 mi ODI #11129569.0

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.

09/03/2020 89,500 mi ODI #11353049.0

Engine rough idling which dealer cannot diagnose

09/03/2014 40,000 mi ODI #10630271.0

In 2010, I bought a '08 cayenne turbo at 40k miles. Prior to delivery, I had Porsche dealership run a system check to confirm the vehicle was mechanically solid & free of defects. Subsequently, they performed a repair on the coolant pipes (still under factory warranty) and assured me it was in excellent condition to purchase. 105k miles: cayenne's starter was making noises and not functioning 100% of time, so I brought vehicle to the same Porsche dealership who had been servicing it since 2010. The starter was immersed in coolant. I was informed that my (previously "repaired") coolant pipes had a leak & required repair. I reviewed my previous invoice from original "repair" under warranty at 40k miles & it appeared to be the same issue, same part #s, etc. I received another call a few da

other 2 complaints shown

12/20/2020 119,000 mi ODI #11384227.0

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 oper

10/19/2020 128,800 mi ODI #11365216.0

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.

electrical 2 complaints shown

4 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
08/24/2016 72,340 mi ODI #10898245.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Porsche cayenne. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. It was diagnosed that the air conditioner condensation drain line was plugged, which caused the electrical issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 72,340.

08/20/2020 ODI #11350359.0

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.

fuel system 1 complaint shown

12/13/2023 190,000 mi ODI #11559884.0

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.

tires 1 complaint shown

09/14/2010 4,000 mi ODI #10355537.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Porsche cayenne. While the contact was driving at an unknown speed, the tire pressure system warning indicator illuminated with a false low pressure alert. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and four wheel sensors were replaced. On a separate occasion, the control module was replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer five times and they advised the contact that the tire pressure sticker information pertaining to the tire pressure setting should be ignored. The failure persisted with no resolution. The failure mileage was 4,000. Updated 12/20/10 *bf the consumer stated the TPMS has never functioned properly. On many occasions, but only during hot weather, it issued false low tire pressure warnings on the dash. Updated 12/27/10

Showing 300 of 42 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Porsche/Cayenne#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-28. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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