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The 2011 Porsche Cayenne has 62 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2011 Porsche Cayenne has 62 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 31 complaints, typically surfacing around 73,549 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Cayenne | 42 | 3 |
| 2009 Cayenne | 15 | 2 |
| 2010 Cayenne | 1 | 2 |
| 2011 Cayenne (this page) | 62 | 3 |
| 2012 Cayenne | 36 | 4 |
| 2013 Cayenne | 40 | 3 |
| 2014 Cayenne | 53 | 3 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: engine is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 73,549 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Intake camshafts adjuster bolts broke while in motion on city street c@p case with Porsche # 0005611574 manufacturer campaign number : ah08
Engine stalled while driving. Car taken to Porsche dealership where they determined the camshaft controller needed to be replaced as it was broken. Paid $4000 in repairs in 2016. Porsche has since issued a recall for this issue, however they will not reimburse for the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Porsche cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v368000 (engine). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Porsche of…
Camshaft adjuster bolts snapped while in operating mode.being made of aluminum not steel as in previous years caused the engine to stop operating. Porsche usa refused to cooperate citing an out of warranty reason.vehicle onlu had 84000 miles when this factory defect has effected…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
A detached headlight could lead to loss of visibility and an increased risk of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Porsche Cayenne is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2011 Porsche Cayenne is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Engine: 31 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 54,000–94,000 mi; Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 31 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 73,549 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 62 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 73,549 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 31 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 73,549 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 73,549 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 62 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.