Model year record

2016 Porsche Cayenne recalls & problems

The 2016 Porsche Cayenne has 2 safety recalls and 40 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is unknown or other (16 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints40filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingAug 30, 2022

Headlights

Recall 22V656000222,858 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.

Service brakes, hydraulicMar 23, 2016

Pedals and linkages

Recall 16V16900088,300 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Fix: 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 repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2016 Porsche Cayenne SUV AWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2016 Porsche Cayenne Diesel SUV AWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2016 Porsche Cayenne S SUV AWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2016 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid SUV AWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2016 Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV AWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Cayenne Diesel Diesel

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Diesel

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,000/year to fuel

Cayenne S e-Hybrid Plug-in Hybrid

22mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 24 mpg
Electric range	14 mi
On electricity	47 MPGe · 69 kWh/100 mi
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (AM8) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

Cayenne

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

Cayenne S

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

Cayenne Turbo

17mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4.8 L · 8 cyl · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Unknown or other	16	2	16,000 mi
Air bags	11	0	—
Power train	7	2	28,500 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights	6	0	65,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	5	0	—
Engine	5	2	—
Electrical system	3	0	—
Steering	1	0	—
StructureBody	1	0	—
Visibility/wiper	1	0	—
Tires	1	0	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
Porsche dashboard leather shrunk. Safety hazard for airbag not deploying properly. This is a common issue reported.
Sep 10, 2026
Unknown or other
[XXX] the salesman at cars 4 your budget sold a 2016 Porsche VIN#[XXX] ON XXX to [XXX] DOBXXX. The vehicle's odometerÂ was tampered with by [XXX] he had the miles rolled back by a friend of his. the customer has no idea this was done to the vehicle the miles were rolled back before the vehicle went to [XXX] auto auction were the vehicle went unsold [XXX] kept the vehicle and contiuned to drive it for persoal use before financing the vehicle to Mr. [XXX] for $19,000 ON XXX. [XXX] bossÂ [XXX] Has knowledge of this transaction and was fine with it has long a [XXX] gave him a cut of the profits from the sale. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.…
Aug 3, 2026
Air bags
Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. 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 the entire dashboard which costs over $10,000. This is apparently a very common issue.
Jul 1, 2025
Air bags
Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. 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.
May 21, 2026
Fuel/propulsion system
I noticed a hesitation when I Pressed the gas pedal, I also noticed the smell of Gasoline when I parked it in my Garage. I had my Certified mechanic look at it and he told me there was a recall on the Fuel sending unit, creating a transfer case failure, apparently the flange breaks and leaks gas. I googled it and it confirms it. I called the local dealer and they have not called me back?
Feb 26, 2026
Air bags
Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.
Oct 2, 2024
Air bags
passenger side leather covered dashboard delaminated making air bag deployment inpossible
Oct 1, 2025
Air bags
Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. 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.
Jan 1, 2024

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021