What 21 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe Platinum Edition

Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and is bubbling on the entire top where the Airbag sits. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing the entire dashboard! This is a very common issue with Porsche, and a safety concern which seems due to the fact that Porsche did not use the correct adhesive on all most of cars build in the last 10 years. The dashboard is not withstanding normal sun light and this causes a safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11749717

My 2020 Porsche Cayenne has experienced leather dashboard delamination, with the leather separating, shrinking, and lifting from the dashboard substrate on both the driver and passenger sides. The delamination extends across the upper dashboard, including areas adjacent to the passenger airbag deployment zone. I am concerned that loose or detached dashboard material could interfere with, delay, or alter the proper deployment of the passenger airbag during a collision, increasing the risk of injury. The continued deterioration also raises concerns about the integrity of the dashboard structure over time. Porsche inspected the vehicle and determined that the repair requires replacement of the entire dashboard assembly at an estimated cost of approximately $8,000 to $10,000. This indicates the condition is not a cosmetic issue but requires replacement of a major dashboard component. I have identified numerous reports from other Porsche owners describing the same leather dashboard delamination on late model Cayenne vehicles, suggesting this is a recurring manufacturing defect rather than an isolated occurrence. Porsche is part of the Volkswagen Group. Audi, another Volkswagen Group brand, issued Technical Service Bulletin 2071698/1 (NHTSA TSB MC-10245529-0001) addressing leather dashboard delamination caused by adhesive failure. The bulletin describes bubbling, wrinkling, loose leather, and delamination and instructs dealers to replace the dashboard. Audi also issued a limited warranty extension for affected vehicles. While Audi's bulletin does not apply to Porsche vehicles, it demonstrates that Volkswagen Group has recognized this type of dashboard adhesive failure. I request that NHTSA investigate whether Porsche Cayenne dashboard delamination constitutes a safety defect with the potential to affect passenger airbag deployment and occupant protection.

NHTSA ODI 11746995

Seat belt and airbag indication lights and sound alarms remain on and notifying on the dashboard regardless of buckling. It will intermittently stop and start as the car is in motion. In the beginning, notification was present then resolved day-to-day. More recently, the alarm is present every drive. Driver was unsure whether or not the notifications were valid or not as the pattern of notification had little consistency. Dealership service later admitted that it was a faulty seat belt buckle and that part had failed internally, but refused to remedy it unless paid for. Car is essentially inoperable and unsafe until faulty buckle is replaced, as a faulty seat belt buckle can be fatal, with faulty implying a manufacturing issue and not of user misuse or abuse of systems. Manufacturer will not provide warranty and dealership continues to demand vehicle owner to pay.

NHTSA ODI 11734672