Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale from Facebook Market Place. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 125,383, but after performing an AutoCheck of the vehicle, it was discovered that the mileage was 205,154.
The worst 2012 Porsche Cayenne problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission12
- Engine4
- Electrical3
- Seats2
- Airbags1
- Brakes1
- Driver assistance1
- Fuel system1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2012 Porsche Cayenne
Recalls 4
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2020 Porsche Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, and Cayman S, 2001-2004 Boxster, Boxster S, 2004 Boxster 50 JAHRE SPYDER 550 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all affected models and model years. The caps that cover the low-beam headlight horizontal adjustment screws are missing, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the headlights for sealing caps and install missing caps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1‑800‑767‑7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.
Recall number 22V656000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
- What is wrong
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
- Risk
- If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip, installing any missing circlips, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1‑800‑767‑7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG02.
Recall number 16V169000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger
- What is wrong
- Porsche is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 panamera turbo, 2012 panamera turbo s, and 2012 cayenne turbo vehicles. The turbine wheel of a turbocharger may fracture due to a casting defect. If a fracture occurs, vehicle performance will be decreased and the turbine shaft may fracture.
- Risk
- If the shaft fractures, oil may be drawn into the exhaust system, resulting in smoke and the increased risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the turbine wheels, free of charge. The recall began on august 31, 2012. Owners may contact porsche at 1‑800‑767‑7243.
Recall number 12V329000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Porsche is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 cayenne, cayenne s, cayenne s hybrid, and cayenne turbo vehicles manufactured from march 8, 2010, through january 31, 2012 because the headlamps may come loose and detach from the fender.
- Risk
- A detached headlight could lead to loss of visibility and an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlamp locking assemblies, free of charge. The safety recall began on march 9, 2012. Owners may contact porsche at 1‑800‑767‑7243.
Recall number 12V065000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne 485
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Parts Information for Parts Withdrawal
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche A40 Engine Oils
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C40 Engine Oils
- Special Tools and Equipment Information for alignment machines
2012 Porsche Cayenne fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6‑cyl Hybrid | AWD | 20 | 24 | 21 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | AWD | 15-17 | 22-23 | 17-19 |
| 4.8L 8‑cyl | AWD | 15 | 22 | 17 |
What 2012 Porsche Cayenne owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out around passenger side airbag. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.
The transfer case on my car has been confirmed by two different mechanics that it needs to be replaced. Porsche no longer makes or sells the original transfer case and components, so the entire transfer case needs to be replaced, at a cost of approximately $5,000. Porsche extended the warranty for the transfer case for up to 10 years, but I was never notified or made aware of this extension. Because my transfer case issue was identified 6 months outside of the extended warranty, the full cost of this repair is my liability. I believe that Porsche is aware that the original transfer case has design flaws and reliability issues, and while they did extend warranty coverage, they made no effort to communicate the extension. If so, I would have had the transfer case inspected while still under warranty.
I own a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. Transfer case broke at 33,000 miles and was replaced by the dealer, and now it broke again at 55,000 miles. Repair cost is $6,340 plus tax. It broke under the warranty period but Porsche gave me the runaround and told me they wouldn't check it until after some body damage was complete (more details below). Honestly feel like I'm getting gouged with faulty parts. Many other Porsche Cayenne owners seem to be reporting this problem on forums. (e.g. https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-958-2011-2018/1290994-transfer-case-failure-2.html) More details - 1. We asked the Porsche dealership to review the car for mechanical issues and repair bumper body damage while the transfer case was under warranty. 2. The Porsche dealer declined to review any mechanical issues until the bumper body damage repair was complete. 3. The Porsche was taken in for service to repair the body work first in late March per Porsche's guidance while the transfer case was still under warranty. 4. The body work was delayed due to Porsche's supply chain issues, and by the time it was complete it was after May 2nd which was when the warranty expired for the transfer case. 5. When the Porsche dealer received the car after May 2nd it identified the transfer case broke. This has been a recurring issue with a car as one transfer case broke at ~33,000 miles and was replaced at a Porsche dealership. Now the second transfer case broke at 55,000 miles (this case only lasted 22,000 miles). 6. Porsche declined to make an exception to the warranty and recommends replacing the transfer case at a price of $6,340 plus tax which will likely last for between 22,000 - 33,000 miles based on prior data points.
Recall work mishandled and caused problem: I went to porsche for a regular oil change. They said that there is an active recall on camshaft and they can also be performed while the car is in. Now when I went to get my car back they said the engine light was on and when they checked the tech says the parts seems to be all new and it was done at a different work shop. They asked me to go to the shop and check with them. But I told them it was done few months back and I had no issues at all and the car didnt have any issues when I gave it for oil change( no check engine light). Also when I entered the car I was able to smell a thick oil smell which I informed becky the service consultant and I was told that it could be oil spill when they did oil change. I asked if the issue might be related to the camshaft work they did but they promptly said it was not related. So I took the car to the auto shop ( porsche certified shop) to have them check it. The shop checked and didnt find any issues with their parts they replaced since it was covered under warranty they went ahead replaced the part and the check engine light sign didnt go away, so they performed smoke test and found out the intake leak coming from a sensor seal on the valve cover. They said this is because of the camshaft work that has caused a large air leak in the engine setting the check engine light. Also when they checked the covers they found that there were 2 aluminium screws that were broken . When the cover was removed the alumimium screws were supposed to be replaced which were not and the old ones were used which lead to tension and they were broken the auto shop has provided me with all the details and evidence of the issue along with video to showcase.I need the federal safety agency assistance to help me guide on this issue caused by the dealership to my car while working on the recall.
I have a 2012 porsche cayenne s hybrid. It is suffering from the defect described in this recall campaign: 17v36800. The bolts that hold the camshaft in place have sheared off. Porsche is refusing any type of consideration because the VIN is not in the recall list, but it is in the year of the recall and suffers from the issue. I was driving the vehicle on the highway and the check engine light came on. The vehicle lost power and the engine started knocking. I was able to coast to the shoulder. I had to call my wife and have it towed. The dealer told me it would cost 14k+ to repair and they would need the vehicle for a month.
The transfer case is faulty. It was replaced at 26,000 miles and now it is acting the same way again at 48.000 miles. I was entering the hwy and the car jumped forward and suddenly lost power before jumping into gear. This is not safe considering there was a car in front of me and behind. Did not cause an accident but could have. Dealer admits the transfer case has been a constant problem with 2011-2017 cayenne but refuses to totally cover replacement. This is my second issue with the transfer case and after some light research have come across many owners with anywhere between 1 and 4 replacements. Porsche will not cover the total cost of the repair (approx. $6500). How can a company like porsche be so arrogant as to understand and accept it is a faulty design but not make restitution to its loyal customers,
The transfer case in this car is failing at 53,000 miles causing unsafe, jerking acceleration leading to total breakdown/shutdown if not corrected. Numerous owners experience the same issue. The manufacturer acknowledges the defect and is now providing newly designed repair parts described as permanently solving the problem and covered by a 2-year warranty at a cost in excess of $5,500 retail
Power drivers seat moved fore/aft and up/down while driving on highway on 10.22.2019 on its own. Moving driver away from contact with either brake or gas pedal and a unnaturally long reach to steering wheel. Driver engaged buttons to move seat forward, pulled off to safe location and shut down/restarted car. Problem continued upon restart
Dash board leather is peeling and shrinking
Compare the 2012 Porsche Cayenne
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Questions about the 2012 Porsche Cayenne
Is the 2012 Porsche Cayenne reliable?
Owners have filed 27 complaints about the 2012 Porsche Cayenne, close to a typical Cayenne model year.
What is the 2012 Porsche Cayenne year score?
The 2012 Porsche Cayenne scores 73 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Porsche Cayenne: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Porsche Cayenne?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 12 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles. Next is engine (4).
How many recalls does the 2012 Porsche Cayenne have?
4 recalls, covering exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic and engine and engine cooling.
What year does the Porsche Cayenne have bad transmission?
The Porsche Cayenne model years with the most transmission complaints are 2014 (17 complaints), 2013 (16 complaints) and 2012 (12 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Porsche Cayenne get?
Official estimates for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne range from 17 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl hybrid, AWD) gets 20 city and 24 highway.
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