Reliable Auto DB

2012 Porsche Cayenne reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Porsche Cayenne holds 36 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Cayenne years here — under the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Headlights, Pedals and linkages, and Turbocharger.

2012 Porsche Cayenne
Photo by Alexander-93, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

36

Per year

1

Recalls

4

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (18 of 36), then Engine (6) and Electrical system (3). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports a fire.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Cayenne has 40 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Porsche Cayenne. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall exterior lighting, headlights 2022-08-30 · NHTSA campaign 22V656000
Summary Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2020 Porsche Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, and Cayman S, 2001-2004 Boxster, Boxster S, 2004 Boxster 50 JAHRE SPYDER 550 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all affected models and model years. The caps that cover the low-beam headlight horizontal adjustment screws are missing, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy Dealers will inspect the headlights for sealing caps and install missing caps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.
Recall hydraulic brakes, pedals and linkages 2016-03-23 · NHTSA campaign 16V169000
Summary Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
Remedy Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip, installing any missing circlips, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG02.
Recall engine and cooling, engine, gasoline, turbocharger 2012-07-12 · NHTSA campaign 12V329000
Summary PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 PANAMERA TURBO, 2012 PANAMERA TURBO S, AND 2012 CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES. THE TURBINE WHEEL OF A TURBOCHARGER MAY FRACTURE DUE TO A CASTING DEFECT. IF A FRACTURE OCCURS, VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WILL BE DECREASED AND THE TURBINE SHAFT MAY FRACTURE.
Remedy PORSCHE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TURBINE WHEELS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.
Recall exterior lighting, headlights 2012-02-21 · NHTSA campaign 12V065000
Summary PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CAYENNE, CAYENNE S, CAYENNE S HYBRID, AND CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 8, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2012 BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS MAY COME LOOSE AND DETACH FROM THE FENDER.
Remedy PORSCHE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP LOCKING ASSEMBLIES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.

Complaints by component (36 total)

Powertrain
18
Engine
6
Electrical system
3
Air bags
2
Fuel and propulsion system
2
Seats
2
Speed control
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Service brakes
1
Visibility
1
Show 3 more Show less
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220121201322016620176201812201932020220221202412026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale from Facebook Market Place. At the time of purchase, the vehicle…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-07-07
  • "Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out around passenger side airbag. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and…"
    Air bags, Unknown or other · filed 2024-12-28
  • "The transfer case on my car has been confirmed by two different mechanics that it needs to be replaced. Porsche no longer makes or sells the original transfer case and components, so the entire transfer case needs to be…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2022-11-04
  • "I own a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. Transfer case broke at 33,000 miles and was replaced by the dealer, and now it broke again at 55,000 miles. Repair cost is $6,340 plus tax. It broke under the warranty period but Porsche…"
    Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2022-07-09
  • "RECALL WORK MISHANDLED AND CAUSED PROBLEM: I WENT TO PORSCHE FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON CAMSHAFT AND THEY CAN ALSO BE PERFORMED WHILE THE CAR IS IN. NOW WHEN I WENT TO GET MY…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2020-12-16

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Porsche Cayenne GTS SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Porsche Cayenne S SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Porsche Cayenne SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Cayenne 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 17 23 19 MPG $4200
Cayenne 3.6L, 6-cyl Manual 6-speed All-wheel drive 15 22 17 MPG $4700
Cayenne S 4.8L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed All-wheel drive 16 22 18 MPG $4450
Cayenne S hybrid 3L, 6-cyl Automatic 8-speed All-wheel drive 20 24 21 MPG $3800
Cayenne Turbo 4.8L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed All-wheel drive 15 22 17 MPG $4700

Specs and fitment

Second generation (92A), 2012–2018
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30 or 5W-40 (Porsche-approved; ~7.2 qt with filter on typical fills) , 7.2 qt capacity
Tire size 255/55R18, 265/50R19, 275/45R20 or 295/35R21 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA recall 16V-169 covers certain 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles whose brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pedal to dislodge; Porsche installs the circlip and inspects the assembly. Recall 22V-656 covers certain 2003-2020 Cayenne (and other Porsche) vehicles whose low-beam headlight horizontal adjustment screw caps may be missing, so the lamps can be mis-aimed (FMVSS 108); dealers inspect and install missing caps.

Compare

Next year 2013 Porsche Cayenne See every Porsche Cayenne model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Porsche Cayenne reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Porsche Cayenne holds 36 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Cayenne years here — under the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Headlights, Pedals and linkages, and Turbocharger.

What are common problems with a 2012 Porsche Cayenne?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (18 of 36), then Engine (6) and Electrical system (3). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports a fire.

Is the 2012 Porsche Cayenne more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Cayenne has 40 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Porsche Cayenne been recalled?

The 2012 Porsche Cayenne has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Porsche Cayenne?

Owners have filed 36 complaints about the 2012 Porsche Cayenne with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Porsche Cayenne get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne is 18.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Porsche Cayenne use?

92A models commonly list Porsche-approved 0W-30/0W-40/5W-30/5W-40 (~7.2 qt); 9YA models commonly list 0W-20/0W-30/5W-30 (~7.6–8.0 qt by engine).

What tire sizes does a Porsche Cayenne use?

OEM sizes commonly span 18–21 inch packages such as 255/55R18 through 295/35R21 (92A) and 255/55R19 through 315/35R21 (9YA).

What brake-pedal recall covers certain Cayenne models?

NHTSA recall 16V-169 covers certain 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles whose brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip; Porsche installs the circlip and related hardware.