The Porsche Cayenne is undoubtedly one of the hottest luxury SUVs on the market. With sports-car-like performance and a luxurious cabin, the Cayenne offers you the best of both worlds. And while it is exceptional in terms of performance, style, and luxury, the Cayenne hasn’t always been a very reliable proposition. However, things changed for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne. There are only about 16 complaints registered on the NHTSA website while over 15000 units were sold that year. In this article, we take a quick look at all the problems that owners have faced with the 2016 Porsche Cayenne and find out if it is worth buying.
User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Problems
- Engine - A 2016 Cayenne owner reported a sudden loss of power and engine shutdown on March 4, 2018, on the NHTSA website. According to the owner it happened frequently and on another occasion, the SUV seized and shook violently before coming to a halt on the road. In a complaint filed on May 22, 2019, a user reported a high level of vibrations from the engine. Reports suggest that the vibrations were so harsh that they could even cause ear damage to the occupants. In another complaint filed on October 1, 2019, a user reported a malfunctioning engine. The engine is equipped with an automatic start/stop feature and malfunctioning of the system resulted in the vehicle jumping or lurching ahead for about 15 feet when the vehicle was at rest. A complaint filed on October 1, 2021, reports yet another issue with the powertrain and fuel propulsion system. According to the owner the engine was dangerously slow to react to throttle inputs in situations that require you to slow down and accelerate such as slowing down to a yield sign and then trying to merge. The vehicle didn’t react to throttle inputs in such situations and as a result, the driver could not pull into traffic quickly and safely.
- Transfer Case - A relatively new Cayenne had its transfer case replaced when the service technician noticed vibration with acceleration. A report filed by an owner on November 1, 2017, states that the Porsche service technician suggested getting the transfer case replaced since he observed some vibrations. However, the SUV had only clocked 20,000 miles and an issue with the transfer case so early isn’t anticipated.
- Steering - As reported by an owner on December 30, 2015, the auto start/stop function of the engine led to the freezing of the steering wheel. The owner states that as you slow down to come to a stop, the engine shuts down while the car is still in motion but that also locks the steering wheel and takes away your ability to steer the vehicle. This can prove to be dangerous, especially in situations where you're slowing down to stop at a traffic light and have to steer your vehicle. The steering wheel should only get locked when the car is at a halt and standing still, not while it is moving.
Exterior Problems
- Lighting - An owner has complained about water condensation in the headlights on March 30, 2016. As per the complaint filed, water condensation is seen in both the headlights after heavy rains and car wash. In another report filed for faulty lighting systems on January 5, 2022, the owner states that the instrument panel throws a warning that the left and the right taillights are malfunctioning. The complaint further states that this typically happens in cold weather and both the taillights do not work properly under cold conditions.
- Wipers - An owner has reported that the wipers of the Cayenne aren't completely attached to the windshield. As a result, the wiper leaves streaks on the windshield and hampers visibility.
Electrical Problems
- Turn signals - The owner of a 2016 Cayenne has filed a complaint on November 19, 2020, where they have stated that the turn signal sound of the SUV has become too low to be audible.
- Blower - As reported by an owner on October 31, 2018, the blower of the SUV kept turning on and off by itself. When the driver's door was open, the blower shut down automatically but once the door was closed, it kept fluctuating on and off.
Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
March 23, 2016 |
16V169000 |
Missing brake pedal clip may cause loss of braking |
If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes |
Porsche notified its owners and dealers to inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip and install any missing circlips free of charge. |
Should you buy the 2016 Porsche Cayenne?
The Porsche Cayenne is an exciting SUV and has always had the reputation of offering the dynamics of a sports car with the luxury and practicality of an SUV. Moreover, looking at the complaints registered by its users, one can say that the Cayenne has improved a lot in terms of reliability. While most of the complaints revolve around the SUV’s powertrain, none of them have reported serious injuries, fatalities, or any other major issues. Moreover, the 2016 Cayenne has had just one recall over the years. The Cayenne does seem to be a very attractive proposition, but we would recommend you to get it thoroughly inspected by a mechanic or an expert before you buy it even if no major problems have been reported so far.
