2005 Porsche Cayenne recalls and problems

The 2005 Porsche Cayenne has 4 recalls and 32 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is fuel system.

2005 Porsche Cayenne
Photo: 2005 Porsche Cayenne by Liam Walker, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2005 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 23 Cayenne model years — 7th most.

4recalls
32complaints
1crashes
1fires
1injuries
66,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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4 recalls

Exterior Lighting

Aug 30, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V656000 · 222,858 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Power Train

Jun 12, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V446000 · 99,665 vehicles

Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, 2004-2010 Cayenne, 2006 Cayenne Turbo S, 2010-2016 Panamera S, Panamera 4 S, Panamera Turbo, 2011-2016 Panamera, Panamera 4, 2012-2013 Panamera Turbo S, 2013-2016 Panamera 4 GTS, 2014-2016 Panamera 4 S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive, Panamera Turbo S G1 II, Panamera Turbo S Executive, 2013 Panamera 4 Platinum Edition, Panamera Platinum Edition, 2016 Panamera 4 Edition, Panamera Edition, Panamera Turbo S Executive Luxury Sports vehicles. The bushing that attaches the gear selector lever to the gearbox may degrade over time, causing the bushing to detach. This condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.

Risk: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. Owners are instructed to use the parking brake until their vehicle is repaired. The recall began August 9, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB1.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Fuel System

Sep 20, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V576000 · 50,145 vehicles

Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo vehicles, 2004-2006 Cayenne vehicles, and 2006 Cayenne S "Titanium" Edition vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy & notes

Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel filter flanges with new filter flanges that have a protective film, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH10.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seat Belts

Dec 15, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V593000 · 31,000 vehicles

Problem: Certain passenger cars fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." all three rear seat positions and the front passenger position are equipped with seat belt retractors that have a locking feature which converts the retractor from an emergency locking retractor (elr) mode to an automatic locking retractor (alr) mode for the purposes of child restraint installation. The belt May deactivate the alr mode with certain child restraints.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." ALL THREE REAR SEAT POSITIONS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER POSITION ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT HAVE A LOCKING FEATURE WHICH CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR FROM AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) MODE TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) MODE FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLATION. THE BELT MAY DEACTIVATE THE ALR MODE WITH CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINTS.

Risk: When involved in a crash, the child restraints May not be properly secured increasing the risk of injury or death to the seat occupant.

Original NHTSA wording

WHEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE CHILD RESTRAINTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will permanently install a clip in either of the affected rear outboard seat belts and provide an owner's manual insert. The clips will prevent unwarranted conversion from alr to elr mode with child seat installation. The recall began May 17, 2005. Owners should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.

Porsche recall no. A506.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2004: 1 complaints20042005: 2 complaints2006: 1 complaints20062007: 2 complaints2011: 4 complaints20112012: 1 complaints2013: 1 complaints20132017: 1 complaints2018: 9 complaints201892019: 3 complaints2020: 1 complaints20202022: 3 complaints2024: 2 complaints20242025: 1 complaints20251

NHTSA investigations

SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION

EA06005 · opened Mar 15, 2006 · closed Mar 12, 2007
Summary

PORSCHE IS INITIATING A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION ACTION TO ADDRESS A CONDITION RELATED TO A FAULTY OR LOOSE CONNECTOR IN THE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM.PORSCHE'S TESTING HAS SHOWN THAT THE FAULTY CONNECTOR WILL NOT PREVENT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.THE FAULTY CONNECTOR WILL CAUSE THE CIRCUIT RESISTANCE TO EXCEED THE THRESHOLD FOR ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT.PORSCHE HAS REPORTED A LARGE NUMBER OF WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND MANY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SERVICED TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION AS DESCRIBED IN THE CAYENNE TECHNICAL INFORMATION BULLETIN: GROUP 6, #11/04 AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED.PORSCHE WILL PERFORM THIS SERVICE TO ALL REMAINING UNCORRECTED VEHICLES UNDER A NEW PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN STARTING AT THE END OF APRIL 2007.ALL OWNERS OF A SUBJECT VEHICLE BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2004 WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PORSCHE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO RECEIVE THE FREE MODIFICATION.VEHICLES BUILT AFTER NOVEMBER 2004 DO NOT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT CONNECTOR.IN ADDITION, PORSCHE REPORTS THAT A SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BUILT IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2003, MAY CONTAIN AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED SIDE AIRBAG MODULE.THIS MAY ALSO PRODUCEILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT THAT WOULD BECOME EVIDENT SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO SERVICE.WARRANTY DATA INDICATES THAT THESE MODULES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED AND NO LONGER PRESENT A RISK.PORSCHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REPORT OF NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIRBAG.THE ACTION TAKEN BY PORSCHE IS SUFFICIENT T…

SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION

PE05060 · opened Nov 10, 2005 · closed Mar 15, 2006
Summary

DURING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PHASE, ODI IDENTIFIED 76 OWNER COMPLAINTS AND 6,582 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION FROM EITHER A FAULTY SIDE-IMPACT AIRBAG MODULE OR WIRING HARNESS.TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO ALLEGATION OF CRASH, INJURY OR DEATH REPORTED.PORSCHE REPORTS THAT A BAD BATCH OF MODULES WAS PRODUCED DURING MID-NOVEMBER TO MID-DECEMBER, 2003.HOWEVER, PORSCHE?S WARRANTY DATA INDICATES THAT MOST OF THE MODULES REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WERE ON VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE AND AFTER THIS PERIOD INDICATING THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE MORE WIDESPREAD.PORSCHE REPORTS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MALFUNCTION IS DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTOR LEADING TO THE AIRBAG MODULE AS A RESULT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND MECHANICAL STRESS.IN JUNE AND NOVEMBER OF 2004, PORSCHE ADDED A PROTECTIVE COAT OF LUBRICANT GEL TO THE CONNECTOR AND REROUTED THE HARNESS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON ALL FUTURE PRODUCTION.PORSCHE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL CAMPAIGN, BUT IT HAS CIRCULATED TO ITS DEALERS TWO SERVICE BULLETINS, BOTH IN SEPTEMBER 2004 TO ADDRESS THE ABOVE ISSUES.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-005) AND WILL INCLUDE MY 2006 VEHICLES.

2005 vs. other Porsche Cayenne years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2005. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2005 Porsche Cayenne have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2005 Porsche Cayenne, the latest from Aug 30, 2022 (exterior lighting). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Porsche Cayenne?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention fuel system (16), engine (8), air bags (4). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.