TRANSFER CASE FAILS VERY OFTEN. IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND UNSTABLE DURING DRIVING. PORSCHE HASN'T ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON CAYENNES.
2013 Porsche Cayenne powertrain problems
moderate 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD UNKNOWN NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. IT HESITATES AND DRIVES LIKE THE CAR IS BEING HELD BACK. ACCELERATION IS NOT SMOOTH. ROUGH AND SHUDDER AND HERKY JERKY. IT HAS A FAULTY TRANSFER CASE WHICH IS WELL KNOWN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.
The contact owns a 2013 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise while shifting from first to second gear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the…
PURCHASED A 2013 CAYENNE PORSCHE GTS WITH 67K MILES ON IT. NOTICED A KIND OF THUMPING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING, USUALLY APPEARING AT 3K RPMS. VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAULT AND THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT IT WAS, ENGINE TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW ALLOWING WATER INTO THE TRANSFER CAS…
WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 30 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC MY 2013 CAYENNE GTS STARTED TO JERK BETWEEN SHIFTING GEARS. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BUMPY ROAD AT LEAST BUT THEN AFTER THE TRAFFIC WAS OVER AND I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP SOME SPEED TO UP TO AROUND 40-45MPH THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. MY LIFE LITERALLY FLASHED IN MY EYES I WAS SO LUCKY …
The Drive train consists of an engine, transmission, transfercase, driveshafts and differentials. The Transfercase has failed prior to the normal life cycle. Porsche recognizes this problem on this series of SUV and extends the warranty for 10 years and unlimited mileage. Porsche announced this extension in June 2024. However this does not cover the early models in this series 2011-2013 with t…
TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY AFTER ACCELERATION BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. VEHICLE STUMBLES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT FROM A STANDSTILL, KNOWN ISSUE IN THE PORSCHE COMMUNITY, MY ISSUE FIRST STARTED AT 68K MILES, GOT THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED, NOW SAME ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE AGAIN AT 79K MILES, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, MY WIFE, AND 2 KIDS AT THE AGE …
TRANSFER CASE FAILURE AT 43,000 MILES. KNOWN DEFECT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH IF FAILS
FAILURE OF TRANSFER CASE AT 51,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 78,000 MILES. PORSCHE ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM NATIONWIDE BUT WILL NOT COVER REPAIR. VEHICLE SHUTTERS/STUTTERS AND DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS (4 TO 5). THIS FAILURE IS DESCRIBED COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES ON THE INTERNET IN VARIOUS FORUMS. PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO COVER REPAIR & WARRANTY REPAIR ON SAME PROBLEM.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 Porsche Cayenne?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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