What 44 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-hybrid

I have a 2011 model Porsche Cayenne S. From the service records, I can tell the car has had two transfer cases already replaced and is in need of another. The first transfer case was replaced in mid-2016 by the dealer at about 46,000 miles. The second transfer case was replaced just over 12,000 miles later, at 58,500 miles, in late 2019. Both replacements were done by the previous owner. This should have been the newest and most updated transfer case with the new control modules and GNC-coated plates, but this does not appear to have solved the problems Porsche is having with the transfer cases. It is now mid-2023, and an independent shop says I need another transfer case in my car at 76,000 miles. It is hard to believe that Porsche considered the upgraded parts (2018+) to be a permanent solution, especially when it only lasted about 17,000 miles.      I will hopefully be able to have my local dealership dissect the transfer case I am replacing so that I can learn more about what actually failed on this updated unit. Transfer cases are a major part of the vehicle and should be expected to last just as long as other major components (ex. engine, transmission). It is very unsafe when any major part of the drive train fails.  PS. One of the main reasons for purchasing this specific cayenne was because I believed the transfer case it had installed in 2019 would have solved all of these issues and I would not need to replace it again. 

NHTSA ODI 11521164

2011 Cayenne Turbo: Vehicle has had recent transfer case servicing. Experiencing a grinding sensation on roundabouts, and turns that almost feels as if the brake is applied. If issue continues to worsen, it could easily cause an accident as a sudden speed reduction on a roundabout, or turn may prompt unaware/inattentive drivers to rear-end me, or worse. Dealership is citing transfer case failure, however, my vehicle is one year removed from the end of the extended warranty campaign and is no longer eligible for a replacement unit.

NHTSA ODI 11501597

VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH MY 2011 CAYENNE S -- JUST REPLACED TRANSFER CASE IN JULY 2017 (LESS THAN 3 YEARS AGO) DUE TO UNEXPECTED PAUSING/HESITATING WHEN ACCELERATING, AND NOW THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN!!! SEARCHED ONLINE AND READ SIMILAR COMMENTS MADE BY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PORSCHE HAS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS -- IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328197

TRANSFER CASE WHILE DRIVING STARTED JERKING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.. IT HAS SLOWLY GOTTEN WORSE AND HAS BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS I ALMOST HAVE GOT INTO A FEW ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE SURGE IN SUDDEN JERKS. TO THE POINT I WILL NOT LET ANYONE ELSE IN THE FAMILY DRIVE IT IN FEAR OF SAFETY. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW $5,000 TRANSFER CASE. A LOCAL PORSCHE SHOP TOLD ME THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S ISSUE AND VERY COMMON IN THESE CARS - DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE TRANSFER CASE AND CAN BE DANGEROUS, BUT NO RECALL (KNOWN) SO FAR. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION CAN LOCK UP DURING DRIVING AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE A LUXURY VEHICLE THAT I AM PAYING INSURANCE ON OF WHICH I CAN'T DRIVE THAT IS USELESS SITTING IN MY GARAGE. THIS WAS MY 1ST PORSCHE AND SADLY MAY BE MY LAST IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED. I HAVE READ TONS OF REPORTS ON FORUMS CITING THIS SAME PROBLEM. IF THIS IS SUCH A KNOWN HAZARD WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO HAVE PORSCE DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL & GET THIS FIXED? I PRAY THEY ARE NOT WAITING FOR A DEATH FIRST. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324569

CAR HAD TRANSFER CASE REPLACED AT 20K AND NOW TOLD TO DO AGAIN AT 46K. SUDDEN JERK AND LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHEN CAR IS GOING FROM 3 TO 4 GEAR OR UNDER 25MPH. ISSUE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY MUCH ON MOST CAYENNES AND COST $5000 TO REPAIR. MINE IS A 2014 MODEL

NHTSA ODI 11298556

TRANSFER CASE HAS FAILED, JERKING AND INTERRUPTION OF ACCELERATIONS. ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA COMPLAINT LOG SYSTEM AS WELL AS DOCUMENTED ONLINE. I CALLED PORSCHE AND THEY DENIED KNOWING ABOUT ANY PROBLEM WITH IT BUT YOU CAN CALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT ANY PORSCHE DEALER AND THEY IMMEDIATELY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I CALLED TWO AND THEY KNOW OF IT AS A COMMON PROBLEM. EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO CORRECT ($5,000).

NHTSA ODI 11267906

AT TIME OF PURCHASE, 11/5/18 MY WIFE GLENDA AND I TOOK IT INTO PORSCHE WOODLAND HILLS WHO PERFORMED CAMPAIGN AHO8 OR VERIFIED THAT THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE - REPLACING THE FAULTY FASTENING SCREWS IN CAMSHAFT CONTROLLER. ATTACHED INVOICE #C56285 DATED 11/5/18 SAYS "RECALL COMPLETED - NO CORRECTION NEEDED" UNDER CONCERN #24 (MIDDLE OF PAGE).

NHTSA ODI 11234137

I HAVE HAD THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE TWICE IN THE LAST 25K MILES. AT 65K MILES THE CAR IS DOING THE FAMILIAR GRINDING AND SURGING AGAIN, EVIDENT IT WILL NEED A THIRD $5-6000 TRANSFER CASE. THE DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN OR REPAIR THE ISSUE EFFECTIVELY. THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT REPLY TO INQUIRIES, IT IS MY REQUEST THAT THEY BE FORCED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT, RELIABLE FIX FOR THIS ISSUE. I'M WORRIED THIS COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCE SINCE IT HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE MECHANICS AT THE VARIOUS DEALERS HAVE TOLD ME ITS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE SPANNING PORSCHE SUVS FROM 2008 THROUGH THE PRESENT. GOTTA WONDER WHAT THIS MANUFACTURER IS THINKING HERE AND WHY THEY ARE HIDING THE DETAILS.

NHTSA ODI 11180247

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11150150

TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. THERE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY PORSCHE OF AN ASSOCIATED DEFECT OF THE TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AND A RELATED WORKSHOP BULLETIN (WB) WHEN REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE. PORSCHE MECHANICS ARE INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE A "VENT HOSE" FOR THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS NEWLY REVISED DESIGN PART NUMBER FOR THE REVISED VENT IS 958-301-047-10. THE REASON: THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR CAYENNE 958 PORSCHE TRANSFER CASES HAD THE HOSE ENDING ON THE LOWER (CLOSER TO THE GROUND) SIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THE NEW HOSE ENDS ON THE UPPER (FURTHER FROM THE GROUND) SIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. PORSCHE DETERMINED THAT MOISTURE WAS GETTING SUCKED INTO THE CASES AND CAUSING FLUID CONTAMINATION. SINCE THE TRANSFER CASE USES A "MULTIPLATE WET CLUTCH", MOISTURE COULD PREMATURELY CORRODE OR ALLOW RUST TO FORM, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CLUTCH TO BIND AND WORK ERRATICALLY. THESE ARE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY MULTIPLE OWNERS OF 958 CAYENNES DISCUSSED IN PORSCHE FORUMS (E.G. RENNTECH.ORG, RENNSLIST.COM, ETC.). THIS REVISED VENT DEVELOPED BY PORSCHE TO REPLACE THE EXISTING DESIGN, SHOULD BE COVERED BY PORSCHE. MOREOVER, OWNERS OF 958 CAYENNES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURES OF THE TRANSFER CASE AND SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE NEWLY DESIGNED HOSE, SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE FULL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT TRANSFER CASE AND THE HOSE. THERE ARE NOW HUNDREDS OF CAYENNE OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. MOREOVER, THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE DOES NOT CALL FOR ANY PREVENTATIVE FLUID CHANGES OF THE TRANSMISSION OIL. THIS SHOULD BE REVISED AND RECOMMENDED SERVICING SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED (E.G., EVERY 10,000 MILES). THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER CASE COULD CAUSE VEHICLES TO LURCH OR REACT IN AN ERRATIC OR UNSAFE CAPACITY ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF OPERATION, INCLUDING HIGHWAY SPEED DRIVING. SUCH AN ERRATIC EVENT COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC HARM TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, OR BYSTANDERS.

NHTSA ODI 11141928

THE TRANSFER CASE IN THIS CAR IS FAILING AT 50,000 MILES LEADING TO POTENTIAL LOCK UP OF WHEELS, AXLES, OR TOTAL BREAKDOWN/SHUTDOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED IF NOT CORRECTED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS KNOWN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11073089

TRANSFER CASE WENT BAD AT 64K MILES. THREE TSB'S ON TRANSFER CASE PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE VERY ISSUE MY CAR HAS.

NHTSA ODI 11004166

THE TRANSFER CASE CLUNKS AND GRINDS WHEN DRIVING TURNING AND IN REVERSE WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11000301

WHEN ROLLING SLOWLY (<15MPH) 1-2 SECOND STALL/BOG AFTER PRESSING ACCELERATOR BEFORE CAR ACCELERATES, CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ESP WHEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC, CHANGING LANES, ETC. *TR PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA DENIES THIS IS A PROBLEM AFTER INSPECTION AND SAYS ITS "PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATION". SEPARATELY, SEVERAL PORSCHE DEALERS HAVE VERBALLY ACKNOLWEDGED AND/OR CONFIRMED THIS ISSUE AND CALL IT A "FIRST YEAR" HYBRID MODEL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10423070

VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HESITATES/ BOGS DOWN FOR 5 TO 8 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING REGARDLESS OF THE THROTTLE POSITION. THIS INTERMITTENT FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED OR REPLICATED BY THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. IT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT IMPAIRS THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO ENTER FLOWING TRAFFIC SAFELY. THE FAULT HAS OCCURRED 9 TIMES ALREADY.

NHTSA ODI 10401992