Parts information for parts withdrawal involving the (976809858) Fuel filler flap module. The vehicles affected are ones that use the part number mentioned.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Porsche Cayenne engine problems
severe 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 31 engine complaints filed for the 2011 Porsche Cayenne, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Porsche Cayenne we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 31.
Engine accounts for 50% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Parts information for parts withdrawal involving the transmission oil. Part number 00004321012 is affected - the vehicles that use this part number should be included.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Parts information for Parts Withdrawal - Oil Pressure Sender. The vehicles affected are ones that use the part number PAB906060.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Parts information for parts withdrawal involving various parts. The vehicles affected are ones that use the part numbers mentioned. Part numbers: 0PD145703E, 0PD145703H, 0PD907123G, 0PD907123K
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Parts information for parts withdrawal involving the transmission oil. The vehicles affected are ones that use the part number 00004330563
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 Porsche Cayenne V8 has a severe manufacturing defect in the camshaft adjuster bolts. These bolts, made of aluminum instead of steel in early production, shear or snap off during normal operation, causing catastrophic engine failure. When bolt fragments fall into the engine block, they damage internal components beyond repair. In Turbo models, simultaneous loss of power steering and braking occurs because the vacuum pump—which supplies brake assist—is driven by the camshaft. Owners report complete engine stalls on freeways, in traffic, and during routine driving at mileages ranging from 20,000 to over 130,000 miles.
Porsche issued a limited "Workshop Campaign WC-22" covering only certain VIN ranges and did not publicly notify owners. The company recalled affected vehicles in China but initially resisted a U.S. recall. NHTSA Campaign 17V368000 came years after failures began, with owners reporting parts shortages delaying repairs. Owners who paid for repairs before the recall ($3,500–$4,000 for bolt/adjuster replacement, up to $35,000 for engine replacement) have been denied reimbursement. A separate coolant hose design flaw—aluminum tubing held with epoxy glue instead of mechanical fastening—causes similar catastrophic failures, leaving owners stranded.
Same Porsche Cayenne engine reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Variocam camshaft adjuster bolt shearing
Aluminum bolts holding the camshaft adjusters (also called camshaft controllers or actuators) shear or snap off inside the engine, causing catastrophic engine damage or complete failure. In some cases, broken bolt fragments fall into the engine block and cause additional internal damage. This is a known manufacturing defect in V8 engines from late 2010 to early 2012 model years. Porsche redesigned the assembly with steel bolts instead of aluminum in later production, and recalls were issued in China for the same defect.
When: Late 2010 to early 2012 production (2011 model year most commonly reported); failures reported from 20,000 miles to 131,046 miles and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly stops or stalls while driving; Check engine light illuminates; Engine will not restart or fails to restart; Violent shaking or rough running engine; Loss of power steering assist; Loss of power braking (loss of vacuum pressure affecting brake function); PSM (stability control) warning light appears before stall; Engine producing loud noises or ticking sounds
Codes mentioned: P0011 or similar camshaft timing codes, Misfire codes (cylinder-specific), Oil pressure warning codes, Check engine light with multiple unknown fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of camshaft adjuster bolts with steel versions and replacement of camshaft adjusters. Owner costs reported at $3,500–$4,000 for bolt/adjuster replacement. Complete engine replacement costs $30,000–$35,199 when internal damage is severe. Owners cited unpaid out-of-warranty repairs ranging from $4,000 to $35,199. Porsche dealer quoted $4,000 for bolt/adjuster repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Porsche issued limited Workshop Campaign WC-22 covering specific VIN ranges (VINs covered vary; some owners with aluminum bolts outside covered range). NHTSA Campaign 17V368000 and Porsche Recall AH08 issued for 2011–2012 Cayennes and Panameras; however, owners report parts unavailability delaying repairs and Porsche refusing reimbursement for pre-recall repairs. Porsche recalled affected vehicles in China but initially resisted U.S. recall. Porsche North America denied coverage citing out-of-warranty status.
Coolant return hose/tubing failure
The aluminum-to-aluminum coolant return tubing from the radiator to the engine block is held together with an incomplete epoxy glue connection that fails catastrophically. The connection is engineered as substandard and lacks mechanical fastening. Porsche redesigned this connection in later model years but did not issue a recall or service bulletin for affected 2011 models.
When: 2011 model year; failure reported during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant tubing blows apart while driving; Complete coolant loss; Vehicle left stranded
Repairs/costs cited: Tubing replacement required; owner incurred $1,000 in towing costs when stranded in remote area
Acceleration hesitation/bogging at low speeds
When rolling slowly or accelerating from a stop, the engine hesitates or bogs down for 1–8 seconds before responding, creating a safety hazard when merging or changing lanes. Porsche dealers have verbally acknowledged this as a 'first year' hybrid model issue. Porsche North America denies it is a defect and states the vehicle is 'performing to specification.' The condition is intermittent and has not been replicated or repaired by dealers.
When: Intermittent occurrences (reported 9+ times); first reported at low mileage (20,000 miles noted in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: 1–8 second hesitation when accelerating from a stop or rolling slowly; Engine bogs down regardless of throttle position; Failure to accelerate when needed for safe merging or lane changes; Intermittent nature—occurs without pattern
Repairs/costs cited: No successful repair identified in complaints; dealer unable to replicate or repair condition
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Porsche North America states vehicle is 'performing to specification' and denies defect; some dealers verbally acknowledge issue as characteristic of early hybrid models
Engine violent shaking at startup
Engine and stability warning lights illuminate and vehicle shakes violently when started. Condition ceases after several days but recurs.
When: At 20,000 miles; may be related to early variocam bolt issues
Symptoms owners cite: Engine and stability warning lights illuminate on startup; Violent shaking of engine/vehicle; Intermittent recurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer service availability delayed; Porsche making necessary repairs (per update)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Porsche making repairs (status per owner update)
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
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 previous repairs as they noted. No response on timing.
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 the engine.
Major engine failure -related to defect identified in voluntary workshop campaign wc-22-in the aluminum camshaft adjuster bolts which have a tendency to sheer off, which prevent the camshafts from running. If this occurs in the camshaft that operates the vacuum pump, the power braking will also fail, which will result in an extremely dangerous situation especially if the driver does not have the…
Faulty camshaft bolts in early v8's of this generation (2011 models) resulting in loss of engine power, and sometimes brakes. Vehicle broke down in the middle of a busy road, luckily was not at highway speed or it could have been very dangerous.
11/10/2016 while driving engine light came on, car running very rough, trouble starting. Dealer verified and found numerous faults. Removed left valve cover and found screws for cam adjuster broken. Removed bank 2 cam adjuster & valve cover removed oil pan to retrieve broken pieces of screws from actuator. Replaced both bank 1&2 cam adjusters. Reset cam adjuster timing.-during test drive vehicle…
While driving on the road in a remote national park, the tubing that returns coolant to the engine block from the radiator on my 2011 Porsche cayenne s completely blew apart. This aluminum to aluminum tubing connection appears to have been held together exclusively by a thin, incomplete ring of epoxy glue. This is grossly substandard engineering for any such vital connection within the engine.…
When rolling slowly (<15mph) 1-2 second stall/bog after pressing accelerator before car accelerates, creating a major safety issue esp when merging with traffic, changing lanes, etc. *tr Porsche north america denies this is a problem after inspection and says its "performing to specification". Separately, several Porsche dealers have verbally acknolwedged and/or confirmed this issue and call…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Porsche cayenne s. The contact stated that when he started the vehicle, the engine and stability warning lights illuminated as the vehicle began to shake violently. The dealer was notified of the failure but stated that they had no availability to repair the vehicle. The failure ceased four days later but soon recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.…
The contact owns a 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. Additionally, while driving, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist, and the brake pedal was firm while depressed. The vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. The traction control, check engine, oil pressure, and several other unknown warning…
Had engine trouble with your 2011 Porsche Cayenne?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2011 Porsche Cayenne?
It's a meaningful issue. 31 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 54,000 and 94,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 54,000; a quarter make it past 94,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Porsche/Cayenne.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.