What 39 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Porsche Cayenne

2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo (EA825 4.0L V8, VIN [XXX]). Vacuum-actuated water pump seal failure caused coolant infiltration of the vacuum system on two separate occasions during the CPO warranty period. The vacuum system on this engine supplies the brake servo (brake booster) — a safety-critical connection documented in Porsche and Audi's own engineering literature for this engine (NHTSA document MC-XXX). First failure: XXX (92,916 miles, RO XXX). Towed in overheating. Technician documented coolant infiltrating vacuum system. Coolant pump replaced. Vacuum lines not inspected or replaced. Vacuum pump not inspected or replaced. PCNA's own ATI 2235.1 (NHTSA MC-XXX) required vacuum line inspection — not performed. Second failure: October 3, 2025 (103,904 miles, RO 207205). Coolant documented at timing chain cover. Coolant pump replaced. Change-over valve not replaced — required unconditionally by ATI 2235.1. Vacuum lines not inspected or replaced. No PQIS fault code logged — required by PCNA TSB 2307 (NHTSA MC-XXX). No oil analysis performed. No timing chain cavity inspection. Service visit performed one month before CPO expiration. Third visit: XXX (103,988 miles, RO XXX). Cracked breather hose found 84 miles after second service. Vacuum system still unremediated. Current failure: March 2026. Severe valvetrain noise on cylinder bank 2. Engine-out diagnosis required. Estimate $13,286.57. Vehicle currently at Porsche Novi/Farmington Hills. PCNA denied coverage June 25, 2026 without referencing a single technical bulletin, repair order, or published protocol from the documented record. The brake servo vacuum supply connection — documented in PCNA and Audi's own engineering literature — makes this a safety matter. PCNA's own TI 173/21 (NHTSA MC-XXX) explicitly covers the V8 Biturbo variant and was not followed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11747045

The hybrid cooling system on my 2019 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid repeatedly displayed a red dashboard warning while the vehicle was in motion: "Hybrid coolant level too low / Park vehicle safely / Let vehicle cool down." This warning appeared on multiple occasions at speeds of approximately 22 mph, 38–40 mph, and 47 mph, as documented in timestamped photos and videos taken in November 2025. A separate warning in July 2025 read: "Engine cannot be started / Remove charger plug." The warnings indicate a potential thermal management or hybrid cooling system failure. A moving vehicle being instructed to park and cool down presents a safety risk to the driver and others, particularly if the condition causes sudden power loss or thermal event. The vehicle was serviced at an authorized Porsche dealer in 2025. Despite that service activity, the hybrid coolant warning recurred while driving in November 2025, suggesting the underlying condition was not fully resolved. The issue was reported to the manufacturer (PCNA), who acknowledged it under a case number and offered a service voucher. The selling dealer attributed the concerns to a manufacturer charging-cable campaign. Neither response addressed the recurring in-motion warning or confirmed the hybrid cooling system was repaired. Timestamped photo and video evidence is available showing the dashboard warnings and vehicle speed at time of occurrence. Complete repair orders have been requested but not yet provided. The component may be available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ODI 11745533

Porsche leather dashboard shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag may not deploy properly. The Porsche dealer looked at it recommend that it be replaced. This is a known manufacturer defect that has been occurring with many of Porsche leather dashboards in different models. The manufacture is not taking responsibility in repairing or recalling this dangerous situation and putting the cost onto the customer. The fact that this is an option they offer as an additional cost on their vehicles , knowing this is a dangerous defect. This alone should automatically issue recall to fix before someone gets seriously injured.

NHTSA ODI 11737919

The leather dash is peeling irregularly and will not deploy the passenger airbag properly if vehicle is involved in an accident and could result in death of a passenger. Serious problem with Cayenne SUV’s and Porsche refuses to address the problem with multiple complaints from other owners.

NHTSA ODI 11737472

sudden total drivetrain failure at 52k mi with no warning, child passenger, prior dealer-documented leak that was not escalated.

NHTSA ODI 11734234

At approximately 52,000 miles, the vehicle experienced a sudden catastrophic transmission / driveline failure while in use. The failure created serious concern about safe operation and reliability and left the vehicle disabled or unsafe to continue driving normally. An authorized Porsche dealer evaluated the vehicle and stated that the repair would require replacement of the entire transmission assembly at very high cost. No practical parts-level repair option has been provided. I am reporting this because a sudden major powertrain failure at this mileage may indicate a safety-related defect.

NHTSA ODI 11731119

Bubbled dashboard is considered as a safety issue that airbag may NOT be properly deployed when an accident occurs.

NHTSA ODI 11722824

The contact owns a 2019 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V896000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact called a local dealer and the manufacturer but was advised that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11721015

SAFETY ASSESSMENT: 2019 Porsche Cayenne S Dashboard Material Failure Vehicle Identification: VIN [XXX] , Current Odometer: 46639 Assessment Date: 12/11/2025 Evaluator: [XXX] , Registered Owner/Operator ________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The dashboard upper assembly in this vehicle exhibits progressive adhesive delamination and synthetic leather separation (colloquially “bubbling”) across the instrument cluster housing and passenger airbag deployment zone. This defect, while initially cosmetic, presents measurable safety risks under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) by compromising passive restraint systems, driver visibility, and interior structural integrity during collision events. The failure pattern is consistent with documented manufacturing defects affecting 2018-2022 Cayenne production units. ________________________________________ TECHNICAL ANALYSIS Defect Manifestation: •Multi-point adhesive failure between dashboard substrate and synthetic leather wrap •Bubbles ranging 2-8cm diameter directly above passenger-side airbag module •Progression rate: 15% surface area increase over 4-month observation period •Material: Thermoplastic olefin (TPO) substrate with polyurethane coating exhibiting UV-degradation and outgassing Root Cause: Inadequate adhesive curing during manufacturing combined with incompatible material expansion coefficients, resulting in progressive de-lamination under thermal cycling. ________________________________________ SAFETY CONCERNS 1. PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT (FMVSS 208 Violation Risk) 2. DRIVER VISIBILITY IMPAIRMENT (FMVSS 101 Violation Risk) 3. INTERIOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY (FMVSS 201/214) 4. SECONDARY PROJECTILE HAZARD 5. OCCUPANT HEALTH & COGNITIVE LOAD This defect constitutes a latent safety hazard that degrades over time, not a static cosmetic issue. The combination of airbag deployment trajectory interference, driver visibility impairment, structural integrity compromise. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11710843

Porsche leather dashboard shrunk and is loose; I was told airbags may not deploy correctly. Porche recommended replacing the dashboard. This is a very common issue.

NHTSA ODI 11707762

The dashboard material cover is pulling away lifting up from the dashboard where air bags are located.Not safe

NHTSA ODI 11702288

While driving my 2019 Porsche Cayenne S on the freeway, the check-engine light came on, followed by a message on the dashboard that read “Engine Control fault – Driving permitted – Visit workshop.” Moments later, the vehicle suddenly lost power and decelerated from about ~75 mph to around 55 mph, even though my foot was still on the accelerator. I am [XXX] pregnant and had our [XXX] child in the car at the time. The unexpected loss of speed in fast-moving traffic was frightening. I had to quickly change lanes to reach the slower lane and avoid being hit by other vehicles. After reaching safety, I drove the car to an authorized Porsche dealership, where technicians found an active water-pump leak with coolant entering the vacuum system, which may have caused turbocharger and engine-power failure. This is after I replaced the water pump last year at another porsche dealership. A photo taken during the incident shows the dashboard warning message as it appeared. This incident created a serious safety hazard, as the vehicle displayed “driving permitted” even though it was at risk of a sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds. The car and the failed components are available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11698394

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out, I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the air bags might not deploy properly . the Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing it . this is a very common issue .

NHTSA ODI 11683410

leather dashboard bubbles up and could effect the deployment of the passenger airbag

NHTSA ODI 11681233

The leather dashboard has shrunk to the point where the the Porsche dealer recommend replaceing it. This appears to be an issue serious enough to prevent the airbag from deploying correctly if in an accident. This appears to be a common issue.

NHTSA ODI 11673197

Seals around both headlights appear to be improperly/weakly sealed. Water intrusion is coming in from light rain or even a car wash causing entire headlight system to shut off until the moisture dries up often while driving. This vehicle has matrix adaptive led headlights and there is no self service bulb to replace since they’re leds. Local Porsche dealer service advisors appear to know this is a common issue but state Porsche has yet to do a recall and they have no fix option and only offer to sell me a full headlight assembly replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11671492

the dashboard has a fitted leather coating covering the airbag... the leather and its surrounding seals has melted.. almost entirely.. and it is rippled and uneven all around... this is widespread for these models and may cause problems with the airbag in the dash...the airbag has to be able to deploy without any problems.. the dash should be fixed so it is safe

NHTSA ODI 11655986

I purchased a Used Porsche Pre-Owned Certified 2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV on February 22, 2025, and within 4 to 6 weeks, the front brakes started to squeal very loudly when the vehicle comes to a near- stop. The dealership (Porsche River Oaks, 4007 Greenbriar Dr, Houston, TX 77098) tells me that this is normal squealing due to the type of brakes that this car has (PSCB). The squeal is louder than typical brake squealing and shouldn't appear on such a newly purchased certified car. I am reading multiple complaints on the internet about the squealing problems with the Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB) that I have on my vehicle. I am also seeing that. Porsche Cars North America, Inc has issued a Technical Service Bulletin 120/22ENU 4652 published on Sept 9, 2022, on how to fix this problem for its customers with a special brake disc and brake pad with better acoustical properties. The parts for this repair are extremely expensive. My car is supposed to be under warranty, but the service technician has offered to only clean the brake pads which the service advisor tells me should suppress the brake squeal for a short period of time, but then told me that the noise will come back due to the type of PCSB brakes this car has. I feel like I have been tricked into buy a car with defective squealing brakes and Porsche Cars of North America knew about the problem with these PSCB brakes. My worry is that Porsche Dealerships, know how to temporarily fix this squealing problem when they sell these vehicles by cleaning the brake pads.

NHTSA ODI 11654003

The A/C in this 5 year old vehicle no longer works. There are no warning lights or anything to suggest the A/C is no longer functioning, other than turning it on to see if it works. The weather would need to be warm enough to test it. The dealer said it is due to the Evaporator core, and to replace it would cost $8,000.00. Upon search, many others have had this same malfunction. Audi uses the same part in their vehicles and in 2021, they revised their new car warranty to include the A/C evaporator for 10 years/100k miles. Porsche should also commit to this action as they are using the exact same faulty part and these vehicles cost even more than the Audi’s.

NHTSA ODI 11653102

When car downshifts from 2nd gear to 1st gear, it lunges / jerks forward, even as brakes are applied. Porsche mechanic and Porsche Cars North America both indicate nothing is wrong with the transmission. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. EVERYDAY FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. EVERY STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11609566

2019 Porsche Cayennes (and other Porsche models) have LiFe P04 lithium batteries that have an internal Battery Control Module that causes a "Battery Low " indication. Porsche has been updating the software/ firmware for this module, only for it to fail again. Eventually, the battery will fail, lose charge, and become dead. There are no after market batteries available and if you are 1 mile out of the warranty period, Porsche forces you to buy a new replacement battery from them for over $2,000.00 USD plus labor. This battery failure condition for vehicles with this type of battery is well known by Porsche and they now use a completely different type of battery in their newer models. This failure should be considered a Safety issue and concern since the battery powers every safety feature the vehicle has to offer. There are pages upon pages of testimonies on the Rennlist forum website for Porsche owners and all have been advised to contact Porsche Cars North America and only a small percentage have had any luck with that. Porsche should release a recall to modify the system to the newer, more dependable battery for affected vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11554814

Porsches with LiFePO4 Lithium batteries (like mine 2019 Cayenne S) have a software/hardware error that causes the battery to incorrectly send a code to the battery management system so that it will suddenly shutdown the battery permanently and will require a full battery replacement, which the dealers abuse its customers by charging $3,000 to $5,000 dollars and give a battery replacement date as almost one year later. Porsche has internal TSBs but it is not recalling all the customers to have the software update for the controller/sensor bug/defect so that the battery management system will not overcharge the Lithium battery and damage it or cause the battery to issue a software code that preventsbthe battery from waking up or be usable. Texas has temperatures of 110 F, and becoming stranded because the battery gets incorrectly/permanently shutdown is a death sentence to Porsche customers. Porsche is being arrogant with their customers and deeply profiting from this know defect. There are a series of small battery shops that are making money from Porsche’s defective battery controllers/sensors and charge around $500 to $800 to replace the battery sensor/controller and programming the new controller as long as you send them your dead battery. Porsche will not reprogram rhe battery controller/sensor if you replace the original battery, with no explanation on why. Anybody driving a Porsche vehicle that have these battery defects in the controller/sensor/programming will perish, together with their passengers, if the battery gets shutdown and become unusable in a 100+ F, 110+F or if yhey get stranded in a freezing situation. It's a deadly time bomb waiting to happen, if it hasn't happen already since Porsche is not being straightforward. Porsche even sells these defective Lithium LiFePO4 batteries on old cars 2019 models and others, and does not disclose to them that the battery can die unexpectely and hjat the battery is not within the warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11540201

In September 2022 the yellow battery warning light appeared on my dash while my car was still under warranty. Porsche had an open Campaign WMJ9 that involved a software update that resolved the issue. Last month, June, while my car was now out of warranty the same yellow warning light appeared but this time the dealership recommended i replace the battery at a cost of $3,200 Porsche refuses to accept that these 2 instances are related and that the battery should be covered since the software update during my first service visit didn't offer a long term solution. to make matters worse the lithium battery used in my vehicle has been an issue for porsche to say the least.

NHTSA ODI 11532271

Driving Light Control Error keeps on popping up on the Dash

NHTSA ODI 11515416

Car died suddenly at a traffic light stop. It was later diagnosed by dealership that the battery and starter have failed.

NHTSA ODI 11513665