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2018 Porsche Cayenne S
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
13 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#13 of 467Among the 2018 models with a matured record, the 2018 Porsche Cayenne S ranks #13, scoring higher than 94% of them. See the 2018 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2018 Porsche Cayenne S, plotted where owners report it happening.
Electrical system
23%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“While the vehicle was charging, the protective sheath near the power outlet of the charging cable had possible electrical or fire damage. No warning lights were illumi…”
Engine
23%3 complaints
“THE CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING, THE ROAD WAS THE GARDEN STAT PARKWAY IN NEW JERSEY , HAPPENED IN MID NIGHT”
Fuel system
15%2 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCE WHAT FEELS LIKE A DEAD SPOT IN THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN LURCH FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED THIS CONDITION HAS…”
Airbags
15%2 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“The Porsche Cayenne that equipped with leather dashboard are peeling off over the time. If the vehicle in an accident, the airbag on the passenger side dashboard may n…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Equipment · 18V844000
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid, Cayenne GTS, Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid Platinum Edition, Macan Turbo and Macan GTS vehicles, 2017-2018 Cayenne S, Macan, Cayenne Platinum Edition and Macan S vehicles and 2018 Cayenne vehicles equipped with the optional ski bag. The ski bag fastening strap may have been sewn with incorrect thread, possibly resulting in the strap seams tearing and the ski bag being unsecured in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the ski bag detaches during a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ski bags, free of charge. The recall began January 10, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ12.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Porsche before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2018 Porsche Cayenne S. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Has this car been in any accident, and can you share a title history and any service records you have?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Porsche CAYENNE S beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every Cayenne S model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Porsche Cayenne S against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.