2017 Porsche Cayenne Problems And Complaints

User Complains and Problems

Mechanical Problems

• Engine - The most common engine problems reported by 2017 Cayenne owners include premature ignition coil failure and defective spark plugs, which causes engine misfire, start-up issues, reduced performance, and even sudden engine failure.
• Fuel pump - Another common problem found in the 2017 Cayenne is fuel pump failure. Several owners have complained about poor engine performance, engine sputters, and cessation of their engines, which are caused by the failure of the fuel pump or defective fuel injectors.
• Coolant pipe and epoxy - Another major problem in the second-generation Cayenne is plastic coolant pipe and epoxy melting over time. For some reason, Porsche designed the second-gen Cayenne’s cooling system with a plastic coolant pipe. The plastic coolant pipe melts over time as it carries hot coolant, thus, causing the engine to overheat and release steam. Some owners also reported engine failures.
• Brakes - Several owners reported premature brake pad wear, spongy brakes, brake disc wear, excessive vibrations, and squealing noises. Besides, one owner reported complete brake failure.
• Transfer case - While transfer case problems were at their peak in the 2012 model year, there are still some complaints about transfer case failures due to wear and tear over the years. The common issues include irregular acceleration, unusual vibrations, engine jerking, rough gear shifts, howling noises, and loss of AWD engagement. While this may be a common problem in AWD cars, Porsche charges around $5,500 to fix the problem.
• Transmission - Some owners reported rough gear shifts, a faulty solenoid, gearbox overheating, and slipping gears in rare cases.
• Suspensions - A few 2017 Cayenne owners reported overly firm ride quality, broken rear struts, and pulling to one side while driving. An owner reported an air suspension malfunction, which was fixed by the service center.

Exterior Problems

• Lights - Several Cayenne owners complained about premature headlight failures, weak low beam spread, and condensation in the headlight and taillight units. A buyer from Petaluma with NHTSA ID number 11451412 stated that the headlights weren’t sealed correctly, causing water to seep through, resulting in a malfunction. Furthermore, the owner was billed $4,100 for the repair.
• Sunroof - Several owners have complained about the sudden shattering of their sunroof. Moreover, a buyer from Galveston, Texas with NHTSA ID number 11265503 reported a sudden bursting of the sunroof while driving at 75 MPH.
• Paint - Few owners have expressed their concerns about exterior paint and chrome parts fading.

Safety Problems

• ACC - Some buyers have complained about the lane departure warning system malfunction and defective parking sensors. Furthermore, an owner from Florida has complained about meeting an accident due to the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist malfunction.

Electrical Problems

• Power-assisted steering - A Cayenne owner from Sarasota, Florida with NHTSA ID number 11061958 has complained about a sudden power-assisted steering column malfunction. As per the owner, the PAS failed suddenly while driving, causing them to lose control of the vehicle and crash.
• Backup camera - The same owner from Sarasota, Florida, also complained about a defective backup camera, which was later fixed by the service center. Besides, several other owners have reported issues with the backup camera and park assist sensors.

Recalls

S. No.	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	November 28, 2018	18V844000	An incorrect thread may cause the ski bag to detach.	The incorrect thread may cause the ski bag to detach increasing the risk of injury during a crash.	Porsche had notified the owners and dealers had replaced the ski bag for free.

Should you buy the 2017 Porsche Cayenne?

While there are plenty of premium SUVs on the market, very few are as good as the Cayenne. And although the second-gen Cayenne is riddled with issues, most of them are minor and can be fixed. Moreover, the 2017 Cayenne scored 82/100 in the J.D. Power reliability ratings. But one thing that you do have to watch out for is the plastic coolant pipe and epoxy issue as it still plagues the second-gen models. Other than that the 2017 Porsche Cayenne seems like a fairly reliable choice.