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2013 Porsche Cayenne problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Porsche Cayenne has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 3safety recalls
- 40owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 18%fail the UK MOT
40 complaints, against an average of 21 for the other 14 Porsche Cayenne model years.
Every Porsche Cayenne model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Porsche Cayenne?
The components named most often in the 40 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2013 Porsche Cayenne owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 40 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2013 Porsche Cayenne been recalled?
3 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Exterior Lighting: Headlights 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, Hydraulic: Pedals And Linkages 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.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cayenne and Cayenne GTS, model year 2013 Cayenne Diesel and model year 2014 Cayenne S, S Hybrid, Turbo, and Turbo S vehicles manufactured May 27, 2013, through July 10, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the calculated range of the remaining fuel displayed on the instrument cluster may be higher than the actual range. Additionally, the fuel level indicated by the fuel gauge may also be higher than actual amount in the tank.
Risk: The fuel display inaccuracies may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software free of charge. The recall began on December 5, 2013. Owners may contact Porsche at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's recall number is AD03.
Is the 2013 Porsche Cayenne recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAARB9 Recall campaign - Re-program DME control unit
Risk: The software version of the engine control unit does not correspond to the software version that should be on the vehicle.
Fix: Review the software version of the engine control unit and if necessary update it to the correct software version.
UK DVSAImprove the engine control system in terms of nitrogen oxide emissions
Risk: Improve the engine control system in terms of nitrogen oxide emissions.
Fix: Engine control software will be updated.
UK DVSAThe data version of the engine control unit must be updated to improve the nitrogen oxide emissions
Risk: The affected vehicle may not meet prescribed emission limits.
Fix: The engine control unit must be updated in order to improve the engine control system.
UK DVSAThe selector lever cable plastic sleeve does not have the required durability and may break
Risk: The transmission selector lever plastic sleeve does not have the required durability.
Fix: Replace the plastic sleeve on the selector cable.
UK DVSAVehicle may not meet required safety standards
Risk: Necessary technical acceptance not carried out by Porsche AG prior to sale of certain Porsche company cars. As a result one pre-owned vehicle does not comply to the latest standards and related quality standards.
Fix: The one car affected will be bought back by Porsche AG through their Porsche centre network.
UK DVSABraking efficiency may be reduced
Risk: The circlip on the bearing bracket for the pedals may detach. If this occurs the brake pedal will become unsecured axially and come out of one of the two bearings leading to decreased brake functionality.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and check the fitment of the circlip and replaced as necessary.
EU Safety GateThe affected vehicles may not meet the prescribed emission limits due to a default of the data version of the engine control unit.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 13/04/2021
EU Safety GateA securing collar on the bearing block of the pedal cluster may come loose and hinder the action of the brake pedal.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2013 Porsche Cayenne fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2013, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2013 Porsche Cayenne owners report?
12 of the 40 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The leather dash has "shrunk" so badly and is so distorted that there is no way the passenger airbag would properly inflate in an accident. Porsche tells me that this defect is "cosmetic" and of no consequence to vehicle safety. I do not agree with this position and feel that Porsche should be liable for this defect.
This vehicle qualified for the Volkswagen Emissions Recall, yet from the start of the recall through 2018 settlement lawsuit dates , no correspondence was sent (by Porsche nor VW). According to all recall regulations, my vehicle should have among the ‘recall’ with the 85K plus others, yet no correspondence was sent (by Porsche nor VW) & now the local Porsche dealership is denying in, According to all recall regulations, even still with the EPA, the vehicle was to receive an initial emissions test, then undergo all related repairs/part replacements before the issue resulted in toxic emissions…
The factory leather dashboard has detached/ungluded in places both on the driver and passenger side. Now the dashboard cover in the passenger area does not properly line up and has bubbled up on top of the passenger air bag door. There is a high possibility that this defect will prevent the passenger air bag from properly functioning or not function at all during an accident. Several Cayenne owners have reported this problem to Porsche USA however they will only replace at the owner's request and owners expense which is in the thousands of dollars. Porsche USA said that this is not a recall…
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 the same drivetrain and transfercase. So in effect this failure of the transfer case is not covered on 2014 - 2011 Porsche Cayenne's models with the same transfercase because Porsche delayed the…
Just purchased this vehicle from an independent dealer. Each time I test drove the vehicle, I put my seat belt on and after a few seconds of driving the driver's seat belt would come unlatched. Sales person told me that perhaps I wasn't latching it (false latch). After purchase, it has unlatched during my first day of driving it. I see that there are other customers complaining of the same issue on the NHTSA website.
Engine light came on and vehicle decelerated while making a turn in traffic. Based on the owners manual and code test, it comes up as a DPF issue. We could have been seriously injured had the oncoming traffic been closer to us or had someone attempted to follow me on the turn. When the car lost power, I could not accelerate to complete my turn. The problem has been duplicated by my husband who has some mechanical expertise, but the next step would be to take it to a dealer. It is available for inspection, but it is not safe to drive. The check engine light and the glow plug lamp came on at the…
The contact owns a 2013 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V656000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the headlamps illumination had started to become dull. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 154,123. Parts distribution disconnect.
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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,300.
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 CASE THAT PORSCHE IS AWARE OF AND YET TO ADDRESS. ON SOME OCCASIONS PORSCHE WILL PAY FOR THE $5K REPAIR BUT THE PART IS STILL REPLACED WITH A TRANSFER CASE WITH THE SAME FLAW. TRANSFER CASE FAILURE CAN LEAD…
FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION,ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON,THE VEHICLE THEN HESITATED AND JERKS WHEN I DRIVE IT IN MOTION.
THE DISPLAY UNIT WHICH FUNCTION THE NAVIGATION AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING AND IT KEEPS REBOOTING. AFTER DO FURTHER RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS. WITHOUT THE NAVIGATION WE ARE FORCED TO USE OUR PHONES WHICH IS A HAZARD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD SHIFTED AND NEEDED TO BE UNBOLTED AND SHIFTED BACK INTO THE PROPER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/07/16*LJ *TR
2013 Porsche Cayenne: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Porsche Cayenne reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Porsche Cayenne; the most common categories were power train (16, 40%), engine (7, 17.5%), air bags (6, 15%). There are 3 safety recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Porsche Cayenne?
Across 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are power train (40% of complaints), engine (17.5% of complaints), air bags (15% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (12.5% of complaints), seat belts (10% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Porsche Cayenne have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 Porsche Cayenne; the most recent (campaign 22V656000, 2022-08-30) concerns Exterior Lighting: Headlights. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2013 Porsche Cayenne have all-wheel-drive or 4x4 problems?
6 of the 40 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Porsche Cayenne (15%) describe all-wheel-drive, 4x4 or transfer case faults. One owner wrote: "Transfer case failing 43,000 miles. toxic fumes entering cabin, vehicle jerks and and does not function. wife was almost killed as vehicle failed to accelerate out of the way of a semi- truck. gathering data now to begin legal proceeding." (NHTSA complaint 11191076, March 2019). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2013 Porsche Cayenne idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
3 of the 40 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Porsche Cayenne (7.5%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11376082, November 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Does the 2013 Porsche Cayenne have emissions system or DPF problems?
3 of the 40 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Porsche Cayenne (7.5%) describe emissions faults such as DPF, EGR, catalytic converter, AdBlue/DEF or NOx sensor problems. One owner wrote: "The porsche cayenne diesel is designed to not restart when the adblue exhaust chemical is too low. this seems reasonable. however, the vehicle is also designed to not restart when the adblue reaches a low point, even when it is refilled to full capacity." (NHTSA complaint 11012570, August 2017). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Cayenne
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only; combines NHTSA's entries for CAYENNE, CAYENNE DIESEL, CAYENNE GTS, CAYENNE S, CAYENNE S HYBRID and CAYENNE TURBO.