What 51 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S

My vehicle has camshaft and crankshaft correlation problems due to the well-known problem with its screws and other things. I reported it to Porsche and they told me that it has already been repaired but I don't understand how to fail again and deny help for its repair.

NHTSA ODI 11584086

INTAKE CAMSHAFTS ADJUSTER BOLTS BROKE WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREET C@P CASE WITH PORSCHE # 0005611574 MANUFACTURER CAMPAIGN NUMBER : AH08

NHTSA ODI 11385083

ENGINE STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11349020

THE ALUMINUM BOLTS ON THE TIMING COVER ARE BROKEN CAUSING AN OIL LEAK. IF THE ALL BOLTS ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM THEN WHAT ABOUT THE TRANSFER CASE? I'VE HEARD ABOUT NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF BOLTS BREAKING EITHER BECAUSE OF THE MATERIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BOLTS AND THE MAGNESIUM IN THE MOTOR. IT HAS OCCURRED ON OTHER MODELS OF PORSCHES. PORSCHE SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THE ALUMINUM BOLTS ON ALL PARTS.

NHTSA ODI 11337058

COOLANT LEAKS WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. LEAK IS DUE TO FAULTY PLASTIC THAT WAS REDESIGNED TO METAL TUBING DUE TO COMMON REPORTED ISSUES. PLASTIC TUBING CONNECTED TO COOLANT SYSTEM WILL BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACKED, CAUSING OVERHEATING AND LOST OF COOLANT. THIS ISSUE IS COMMONLY REPORTED ABOUT THE 2011 CAYANNE WITH A DEALERSHIP COST OF UP TO $4500.

NHTSA ODI 11299300

THE COOLANT PIPE DESIGN IS FLAWED. THE BARB IS GLUED AND PRESSED IN THE ALUMINUM BODY. OVER TIME THE GLUE LOSES ITS PROPERTIES AND THE BARB COMES OUT THUS CAUSING MASSIVE COOLANT LEAK AND THE ENGINE CAN OVERHEAT. THE PART WAS REDISGNED AROUND 2015 WHERE THE BARB IS NOW THREADED, BUT THE ORIGINAL PART IS A SAFEY HAZARD FOR THE OLDER MODELS WITH POTENTIAL HUGE REPAIR COSTS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (PORSCHE OF LARCHMONT, 2500 BOSTON POST RD, LARCHMONT, NY 10538) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11060798

I WAS PULLING FORWARD ON A LEVEL CITY STREET AND TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP SIGN. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SHUDDERING AND FEELING OF A LOSS OF POWER. THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS THIS HAD BEEN INCREASING IN SEVERITY BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS ABLE TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM FOR THEM. THEY IDENTIFIED THE TRANSFER CASE AS THE ISSUE. IT WAS REPLACED. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES DUE TO THE DEALERS IDENTIFICATION THAT THE TRANSFER CASE HAD CAUSED DIFFERENTIAL TREAD WEAR DAMAGE TO A REAR TIRE. AS A FORMER MILITARY AVIATOR, THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PORSCHE NEEDS TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE ISSUES ARE (DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, SERVICING, ETC) AND REMEDY THEM. SURPRISINGLY, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SERVICE ADVISER INFORMED ME THAT THEY KEEP TRANSFER CASES IN STOCK. THEY RETAIL FOR $3944, PLUS THE NEW VENT KIT (MINE DOES NOT HAVE IT) AND THEN ADD LABOR, AND TIRES IF THEY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. THAT IS A LOT OF EXPENSIVE INVENTORY TO HAVE ON HAND IF PORSCHE WANTS TO CLAIM THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11058495

ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. CAR TAKEN TO PORSCHE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE CAMSHAFT CONTROLLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS IT WAS BROKEN. PAID $4000 IN REPAIRS IN 2016. PORSCHE HAS SINCE ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS AS THEY NOTED. NO RESPONSE ON TIMING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V368000 (ENGINE). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. PORSCHE OF SILVER SPRING IN SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE THROTTLE CONTROL FAILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PORSCHE OF SILVER SPRING WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT CONTROLLERS FAILED AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11055490

THE BOLTS ON THE CAMSHAFT CONTROLLER BROKE INSIDE OF MY ENGINE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON THE 405 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKED AND THEN STALLED ON THE FREEWAY. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT, BUT THANKFULLY EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO AVOID MY CAR. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A FEW REPAIR SHOPS THAT THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE LOOSE BOLTS LIKELY DAMAGED THE ENGINES INTERNAL COMPONENTS AND I WILL LIKELY BE NEEDING A NEW ENGINE OR AN OVERHAUL OF THE EXISTING ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11011342

THE SCREWS HOLDING MY CAMSHAFT ACTUATOR FAILED AND I EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATE ENGINE LOSE AS WELL AS BRAKING LOSE DUE TO NO VACUUM. AT THE TIME OF MY ENGINE FAILURE IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR PORSCHE (SEE WC-22) WHEREAS THEY DID NOT MAKE PUBLIC AWARE OR PROACTIVELY FIX THE ISSUE. THIS ENDED UP COSTING ME APPROXIMATELY $7500 OUT OF POCKET (IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL EMOTIONAL DAMAGE DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND THE IMMEDIATE DANGER WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE FAR LEFT LANE). PORSCHE HAS SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED A RECALL (RECALL AH-08 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN 17V368000) BUT HAD NOT CONTACTED AFFECTED OWNERS YET. I'D LIKE A FULL REFUND OF MY EXPENSES PLUS INTEREST. I ALSO FEEL THEY SHOULD BE FINED OR PAY IMPACTED OWNERS LIKE MYSELF A PENALTY DUE TO THEIR IMPROPER MISHANDLING.

NHTSA ODI 11004844

VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE ENGINE STALLED AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS. THE VEHICLE REQUIRED TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS TO START. I EXITED THE GAS STATION ONTO THE RAMP FOR THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR SUDDENLY LOCKED UP LESS THAN A MILE DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING 70, MPH. THERE WAS NO POWER BRAKING OR POWER STEERING AT ALL. FORTUNATELY, I REMAINED IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND MOMENTUM CARRIED THE VEHICLE OFF THE NEXT EXIT RAMP BEFORE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I HAVE HAD A HOST OF OTHER ISSUES INCLUDING PSM FAILURES, START/STOP MODE DEACTIVATED ERRORS, IGNITION PROBLEMS, BRAKING ISSUES, UNNECESSARY REPAIRS, TIME/ENERGY, MISSED WORK, RENTAL CARS, MISDIAGNOSES, ETC. I AM CERTAIN THE SYMPTOMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH CAMSHAFT DEFECT AFFECTING MANY OTHER CAYENNE S, TURBO, AND PANAMERA S OWNERS PER SEVERAL INTERNET FORUM DISCUSSIONS. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS. I AM DISAPPOINTMENT EARLIER NOTIFICATIONS WERE NOT ISSUED AND I HOPE THIS MATTER IS ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.

NHTSA ODI 11000763

WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR ALL OF SUDDEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISES. CAR IS SHOWING VARIOUS FAULT CODES AND BRAKES STOPPED WORKING WHICH COUOLD HAVE CREATED MAJOR RISK TO DRIVER AND OTHER PEDENSTRIAN AND VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. ENGINE IS SHOWING VARIOUS MIS FIRE CODES AND CAME SHAFT RELATED CODES. IT IS TOO RISKY TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY PORSCHE DEALER AND IS UP TO DATE WITH ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANNCE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND MUST BE ATTENDED IMMEDIATELY AND DRIVERS OF THIS CAR NOTIFIED ASAP TO AVAOID ANY FATALITIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 10995406

THE COOLANT PIPE CRACKS AND CAUSE LEAK

NHTSA ODI 10949611

THE CAMSHAFT ACTUATOR BOLTS BREAK AND CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE LOSE POWER SUDDENLY AND DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL.

NHTSA ODI 10949610

SNAPPED ALUMINUM CAMSHAFT SENSOR BOLT RESULTED IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY PORSCHE AG HAS RESULTED IN AN AMENDMENT IN AN EXISTING SERVICE BULLETIN (WC-22) AND ALSO A RECALL OF OVER 14000 CAYENNES AND PANAMERAS IN CHINA.

NHTSA ODI 10949006

CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER BOLTS SNAPPED WHILE IN OPERATING MODE.BEING MADE OF ALUMINUM NOT STEEL AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP OPERATING. PORSCHE USA REFUSED TO COOPERATE CITING AN OUT OF WARRANTY REASON.VEHICLE ONLU HAD 84000 MILES WHEN THIS FACTORY DEFECT HAS EFFECTED THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 10928336

FAULTY CAMSHAFT BOLTS IN EARLY V8'S OF THIS GENERATION (2011 MODELS) RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND SOMETIMES BRAKES. VEHICLE BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD, LUCKILY WAS NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 10918673

THE CAR STOPPED WHILE BEING DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY SUBURBAN ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED THE PSM LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS THE ONLY THING THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE SUDDEN STOP. THE CAR WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE ROAD AND FLAT BEDDED TO PAUL MILLER PORSCHE IN PARSIPPANY, N.J. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN(S) FOUND THAT AT LEAST ONE ALUMINUM BOLT FROM THE CAM SHAFT ADJUSTER HAD SHEARED OFF AND FELL THROUGH THE ENGINE CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THE CAR WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASE BRAND NEW ON JUNE 15, 2011. THE CAR HAD BEEN SPECIAL ORDERED SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DELIVERY DATE. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT PORSCHE CAYENNES AND PANAMERAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD OUR CAR WAS MADE WERE RECALLED IN CHINA FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE-ALUMINUM CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER BOLTS SHEARING OFF INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSING TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THIS CAR WAS OUT OF THE PORSCHE 4 YEAR/50K WARRANTY PERIOD. I NOTIFIED PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA OF THIS INCIDENT AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS COVERED UNDER OUR GEICO MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN INSURANCE. GEICO SENT OUT INSPECTORS TO EXAMINE THE CAR AND DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS. WE SURRENDERED THE CAR TO GEICO AND WERE PAID WHAT THEY DEEMED THE CAR WAS WORTH. THE LAST TIME WE SAW THE CAR WAS AT PAUL MILLER PORSCHE IN PARSIPANNY, N.J. ON JULY 26TH WHEN WE EMPTIED IT OF OUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT IN THIS INCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY A CAR SUDDENLY STOPPING WHILE BEING DRIVEN IS HUGE DANGER. HAD THIS OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY OR IN FASTER TRAFFIC THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.

NHTSA ODI 10897068

THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASING REPORTS OF VARIOCAM CAMSHAFT DRIVE BOLT FAILURES ON THE 2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE V8 ENGINES. WHEN THESE BOLTS FAIL, ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURS, AND THE ENGINE TYPICALLY STOPS RUNNING. IN THE CASE OF THE TURBO MODEL - THIS CAN ALSO RESULT IN THE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY SINCE THE BRAKES ARE POWERED OFF A CAMSHAFT. THERE IS ALSO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING - MEANING YOU HAVE A 4,500LB VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKES OR STEERING. PORSCHE HAD A LIMITED "WORKSHOP CAMPAIGN" FOR THESE VEHICLES THAT ADDRESSED A CERTAIN RANGE OF VIN# IN THE USA. IT IS WC-22 (I'M ATTACHING A PDF OF IT.) THE FAILURES ARE NOW BEING REPORTED WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY IN VIN#'S NOT COVERED BY THIS WORKSHOP CAMPAIGN. THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES REPLACING THE VARIOCAM ASSEMBLY WITH ONE ASSEMBLED WITH STEEL BOLTS RATHER THAN ALUMINUM BOLTS. EARLIER VERSIONS OF THIS ASSEMBLY ALSO USED STEEL BOLTS, AND THE FAILURES APPEAR LIMITED TO ONES WHERE THE ALUMINUM BOLTS WERE USED. THE MOST COMPLETE DISCUSSION ON THIS CAN BE FOUND AT: HTTP://WWW.6SPEEDONLINE.COM/FORUMS/CAYENNE/319690-SNAPPED-CAMSHAFT-ADJUSTER-BOLT-ENGINE-BRAKE-HYDRAULICS-FAILURE.HTML THERE ARE OTHER WEBSITES AND DISCUSSIONS ON THE SAME FAILURE. HERE IS AN ARTICLE ON THE RECALL PORSCHE DID IN CHINA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM: HTTP://EUROPE.AUTONEWS.COM/ARTICLE/20150209/ANE/150209861/PORSCHE-WILL-RECALL-SOME-PANAMERA-CAYENNE-MODELS-IN-CHINA MINE HAS NOT FAILED YET - BUT IT APPEARS TO BE JUST A MATTER OF TIME, MINE HAS THE ALUMINUM BOLTS IN THE ASSEMBLY. I WOULD ASK THAT PORSCHE EXTEND THE WORKSHOP CAMPAIGN TO ALL THE VEHICLES WITH THE ALUMINUM BOLTS USED IN THE VARIOCAM ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE OF BOTH BRAKES AND STEERING THAT OCCURS WHEN THESE BOLTS FAIL IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. IT MAKES ME HESITANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I'VE ASKED THE LOCAL DEALER ABOUT IT, AND THEY CLAIM MY VEHICLE IS NOT EFFECTED.

NHTSA ODI 10894489

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD IN A REMOTE NATIONAL PARK, THE TUBING THAT RETURNS COOLANT TO THE ENGINE BLOCK FROM THE RADIATOR ON MY 2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE S COMPLETELY BLEW APART. THIS ALUMINUM TO ALUMINUM TUBING CONNECTION APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN HELD TOGETHER EXCLUSIVELY BY A THIN, INCOMPLETE RING OF EPOXY GLUE. THIS IS GROSSLY SUBSTANDARD ENGINEERING FOR ANY SUCH VITAL CONNECTION WITHIN THE ENGINE. PORSCHE HAS NEGLECTED TO REPAIR THIS KNOWN ISSUE IN MODEL YEARS SUCH AS MINE, BUT HAS CHANGED ITS DESIGN IN THE SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS (LIKELY BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THIS WAS DANGEROUS AND SUBSTANDARD ENGINEERING). THEY HAVE NOT SENT OUT ANY BULLETIN OR RECALL TO ADVISE DRIVERS OF THIS DEFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION OR PREEMPTIVELY REPAIR IT. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A DESERT WHERE I HAD TO WALK FOR HOURS TO GET HELP AND HAD TO HAVE $1000 TOW TO THE NEAREST CITY, ALL BECAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF WHICH PORSCHE IS ALREADY AWARE.

NHTSA ODI 10762247

ON FREEWAY 65-70 MPH WHEN PSM FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND LOS OF POWER JUST MADE OFF FREE WITH CHUGGING AND TO A STOP . TOWED TO DEALER ON A SUNDAY 8/2/15 MONDAY CALL ALUMINUM BOLTS IN VALVE ADJUSTERS ? CAN DAMAGE OR DID THE ENGINE . NO RECALLS ON THEM AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM .

NHTSA ODI 10746230

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE AND STABILITY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THEY HAD NO AVAILABILITY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CEASED FOUR DAYS LATER BUT SOON RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/17/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED PORSCHE IS MAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. UPDATE 09/18/13

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