2020 Porsche Cayenne s problems

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The Porsche Cayenne is a series of automobiles manufactured by the German company Porsche since 2002. It is a luxury crossover SUV and has been described as both a full-sized and a mid-sized vehicle. The first generation was known internally within Porsche as the Type 9PA (955/957) or E1. It was the first V8-engined vehicle built by Porsche since 1995, when the Porsche 928 was discontinued. It is also Porsche's first off-road variant vehicle since its Super and Junior tractors of the 1950s, and the first Porsche with four doors. Since 2014, the Cayenne has been sold alongside a smaller Porsche SUV, the Macan.

The second-generation Cayenne (Type 92A or E2) was unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. The Cayenne shares its platform, body frame, doors and electronics with the similar Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7. It received a facelift in 2014 with minor external changes, and introduced a new plug-in E-Hybrid version, with its public launch at the Paris Motor Show. Since 2008, all engines have featured direct injection technology. The third generation (Type PO536) was unveiled in 2017 at Stuttgart.

First generation (E1 9PA; 2002)

The original Porsche Cayenne entered into the global market to a mixed reception, but it proved itself to have excellent performance for an SUV and had comparably good handling as well as powerful engines. The lineup initially consisted of the V8-powered Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo. Later in the model cycle, VR6 and diesel-powered versions joined the lineup. In the eight model years of the E1 generation, a total of 276,652 units were produced.

The base model Cayenne is powered by a 3.2-L VR6 engine producing 250 PS (184 kW; 247 hp). The intake manifold is unique to Porsche, but otherwise the engine is largely the same as the VW engine. Acceleration from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) is 9.1 seconds with the manual transmission and 9.7 seconds with the Tiptronic S.

2020 Porsche Cayenne s

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Common 2020 Porsche Cayenne s problems

The 2020 Porsche Cayenne S is a luxury SUV that has been praised for its performance and features. However, like any vehicle, it can experience certain problems. Here are some common issues reported by owners of the 2020 Porsche Cayenne S:

  • Transmission Oil Pipe Insufficient Weld: The 2020 Porsche Cayenne has been recalled due to an insufficient weld on a transmission oil pipe, which may cause the vehicle to leak automatic transmission fluid. If transmission fluid leaks while driving, the road surface may become slippery, increasing the risk of a crash. Porsche will inspect the transmission oil pipe and replace it if necessary, free of charge.
  • Brake System Warning: The 2017-2020 Porsche Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne Turbo Coupe, and Cayenne S Coupe vehicles have been recalled due to an issue with the instrument cluster, which may not provide a visual warning when the brake pads are worn out
  • Charging System Overheating: The 2023 Porsche Cayenne and other models have been recalled due to a potential issue with the industrial 220V/240V plug at the 100% charge setting. When using this setting, some home power outlets may be incapable of handling the electrical current required to utilize the compact charging system, causing the outlet or charging cable to overheat. An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire. Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable with an incorporated temperature sensor, free of charge.
  • Passenger Seat Back Heating Element: The 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS, Cayenne GTS Coupe, 2020-2021 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S Coupe, Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe vehicles have been recalled due to a missing passenger seat back heating element. This can impact the calibration of the Occupant Classification System, which may cause the front passenger air bag to fail to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will install a heating element, free of charge.
  • Engine Failure: Some owners of the 2020 Porsche Cayenne S have reported engine failure, which may be caused by inadequate maintenance or a component failure. In one case, a 2020 Cayenne Base experienced engine failure at 38,000 miles, with metallic debris in the oil and a lack of compression. The warranty did not cover the repair because the service was not done at the specified intervals.

It is important to note that these issues are not necessarily widespread and may only affect a small percentage of 2020 Porsche Cayenne S vehicles. If you are considering purchasing a 2020 Porsche Cayenne S, it is recommended to have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic to ensure that it is in good condition and to address any potential issues before they become more serious.

2020 Porsche Cayenne s engine

What are the main problems with Porsche Cayenne?

Porsche Cayenne Problem Counts by Year

These are the most common problems reported by owners on platforms such as carproblems.com, carcomplaints.com, and Car Talk Community. The most frequently reported issues are engine failures, electrical problems, and broken plastic coolant lines.

Is Porsche Cayenne high maintenance?

Yes, Porsches are expensive to maintain compared to most automakers' vehicles. Estimates from RepairPal show maintaining a Porsche costs an average of about 83% more than the industry average.

What is the difference between Porsche Cayenne and Cayenne S?

If you opt for the base Cayenne, your SUV will draw 335 horsepower from its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. The Cayenne S steps it up with its turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine. This engine produces 434 horsepower. It also has speed-sensitive steering for an additional performance boost behind the wheel.

How many miles does a Porsche Cayenne S last?

We've mentioned that a standard Porsche Cayenne will last 200,000-250,000 miles if taken care of on the go. Thus, high mileage for a Porsche Cayenne is anything around or above 150,000. Once you hit this number, you will encounter more issues than before, and it is nearing the point where serious troubles may appear.

2020 Porsche Cayenne s car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Porsche Cayenne s problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Power train problems
  • Service brakes problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Unknown or other problems
  • Vehicle speed control problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2020 Porsche Cayenne s vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2020 Porsche Cayenne s complaints

The NHTSA has received 10 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2020 Porsche Cayenne s.

2024-10-22

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-07-01
  • VIN: WP1BA2AY4LD
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
  • Summary: The car is very jerky, I bought in for engine or transmission mount because the idle shakes the whole car. They said its normal. Which I don't think it's normal.
2024-05-28

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1999-10-12
  • VIN: WP1AA2AY7LD
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: hello i have cayenne 2020. this car has 360 surround view camera but its not working correctly. sometime its working sometimes some comeras not working maybe front maybe rear meybe both. as i read rennlist this is porshe forum everyone has same problem porshe in warranty replace modules or cameras but its not working i think its recall issue please help us.
2023-01-06

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-10-12
  • VIN: WP1AA2AY1LD
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: When downshifting and just before Coming to a complete stop and vehicle lurches/surges forward even though my foot is on the brake pedal. This happens in every drive mode with or without Autostart/stop engaged. It is Significantly challenging in stop and go traffic because it’s difficult to gage when the car will come to a complete stop. I have to make accommodation for the car lunging forward which is unpredictable because sometimes it’s a subtle surge forward and other times I have no control or idea how far forward the car is going to move. This makes this is especially dangerous when cars are quickly changing lanes in front of me in stop and go traffic during rush hour. Emergency braking DOES not help this! I have experience this. The collision warning Went off in the car and emergency braking was engaged just at the Knick of time! Adverse weather conditions could have easily made that a very bad accident. I should be able to Do normal every day driving And stopping, for example stopping to a red light, or stop and go traffic without having to activate emergency functions in my car and putting myself at unnecessary risk because of a “glitch” with Porsche. This normal every day driving. I returned my car to the dealership who told me it’s normal performance for this car along with. I along with many other owners have researched this and found out that software upgrades have been done to correct this problem which are not available yet in the United States. This issue needs to be resolved immediately to prevent potential accidents.
2022-12-05

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-08-07
  • VIN: WP1AA2AY5LD
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: beginning in August 2022, I have had repeated problems with the battery in my 2022 Cayenne. if the car is left sitting for approximately 48 hours, the battery dies and must be jumpstarted. we reported this issue to Porsche immediately and my car has been in with the Porsche service technicians at least three times (August 9, Sept 13, Nov 7) this fall with no success at fixing the problem. (we also had a call telling us to take the car outside for a "software update," which did not work.) we are told this is a problem somewhere in the electrical system and it is affecting other 2020 Cayennes and some 911s. But Porsche has not offered a solution, nor is it being at all proactive in offering assistance or support. we have compensated for the last four months by parking the car in a garage and keeping it on a trickle charger if we are not driving it regularly. However, we were out of town for two weeks over Thanksgiving and the car battery died in spite of being connected to the trickle charger. we had to jump start the car and reset all the car settings. in addition we have had sporadic issues with unlocking and locking the car doors via hand touch. Porsche has been treating this issue as an "inconvenience" rather than what it is - a serious life safety issue. One of the service technicians told me "the car was meant to be driven every day"! I hesitate to drive my car at night because I do not have confidence that the car will start for me on a dark street at night. every day when I come down to drive my car I allow extra time as the car may not start. I have more confidence in my 2013 Toyota Tacoma than in this car in terms of reliability. this is a problem where Porsche has not offered remediation or assistance, nor has it offered a any assistance (I.e., loaner car or any alternative) while my car either been in the shop (for a total of at least two weeks) or has been operating with the (acknowledged) defect.
2022-05-09

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-04-11
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: WP1BF2AY3LD
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? -THE TRUNK How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON, THE KEY WAS ON TEH VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE TRUNK POPPED OPEN ON IT'S OWN. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? -NO Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? -NO Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? -NO
2022-01-26

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-01-09
  • VIN: WP1BE2AYXLD
  • Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: I applied the gas pedal & the pedal seemed to stick . The vehicle kept accelerating after I took my foot off that pedal to apply brake . Car would slow when brake applied but immediately accelerated and kept increasing (speed was well over 90 mph & climbing ) when brake was released . This happened 3 times before the “stuck”pedal released. Another driver (retired mechanic) had driven the car and had similar experience a week prior and mentioned their experience. I didn’t realize how serious the incident could be. I called dealership but first available service appointment (scheduled) is Feb. 23,2022
2021-11-19

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-10-19
  • VIN: WP1BB2AY9LD
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Porsche Cayenne S. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, there was a rough hard deceleration. The contact stated that the vehicle lurched forward causing the driver to apply the brakes. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the contact was informed that there might be a possible software patch soon. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,100.
2021-07-29

BACK OVER PREVENTION PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2020-08-26
  • VIN: WP1AB2AY5LD
  • Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION
  • Summary: The back up cameras and surround view have failed multiple times since August 2020. Back up cameras were made mandatory safety equipment requirements for all new cars manufactured after 2018 due to safety concerns. The federal government mandated the cameras to prevent “back over” accidents of young children who are not otherwise visible to the driver. There have been multiple attempts to repair the cameras on this vehicle, including replacing all cameras, replacing all wiring harnesses/pigtails, replacing the coax cable for the cameras as well as module/software updates. The vehicle has been at the authorized service center multiple times with it being there 105 out of the past 112 days; the vehicle was "fixed" for 4 days before the back up camera failed again. The manufacture has been unable to repair the vehicle to have reliable working cameras. We have spoken with others about the same failure of the back up camera system.
2021-04-29

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-04-26
  • VIN: WP1AB2AY9LD
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: MY PORSCHE 2020 S HAS BREAKING ISSUES WHEN IN SPORT MODE. WHEN THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR, AND 2ND TO 1ST GEAR, THIS IS A SUDDEN JOLT FORWARD OR "LURGING" THAT OCCURS EVERY TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AS THE CAR CAN SUDDENLY JUMP FORWARD A FEW FEET MORE THAN INTENDED BY NORMAL BREAKING. EVEN WHEN DRIVING AND BREAKING EXPLICITLY TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS TRANSMISSION / BREAKING DEFECT, THE LURGING ISSUE CANNOT BE AVOIDED. THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID THIS ISSUE IS TO (A) BREAK HARD FROM 3RD TO 1ST GEAR (SO FROM A FAIRLY HIGH SPEED DOWN TO 0, WHICH LENDS ADDITIONAL BREAKING SAFETY RISKS IN NON-IDEAL WEATHER CONDITIONS SUCH AS BREAKING DOWNHILL OR ON WET / ICY ROADS), OR (B) TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR IN ONE OF THE TWO DRIVING MODES OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS THERE IS NO ISSUE, BUT SOME QUICK GOOGLE SEARCHES SHOW THIS ISSUE IS EXPERIENCED WIDELY AND WELL DOCUMENTED, AND A SOFTWARE FIX HAS BEEN ROLLED OUT OVERSEAS THAT ISN'T AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA
2021-03-23

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-02-27
  • Number Of Injuries: 1
  • VIN: WP1AA2AY3LD
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: THE CAR CAME WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED TOW SYSTEM. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND IT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I WAS SHOCKED PLUGGING IN A TESTER TO THE 7 WAY CONNECTOR. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT I WAS NOT SHOCKED AND STATES THAT THE LIGHTS STATING THE 7 WAY CONNECTOR IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. WHEN I CONNECT A DIGITAL BREAK CONTROLLER OR 7 PIN CABLE WITH A TRAILER THE CAR DOESN'T NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE BREAK CONTROLLER. THE BREAK CONTROLLER EXPERT STATED THAT SINCE NO DIODE WAS SHOWING WHEN I PLUG THE CAR IN THAT THIS INDICATES THE BRAKES ARE NOT WIRED CORRECTLY. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS SINCE ANOTHER CAR WORKS THE SAME AS MINE THEY DON'T THINK IT IS A ISSUE. CORPORATE PORSCHE IS UNABLE TO ADVISE ON TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OR INFORMATION ON A WIRING HARNESS TO ENABLE A WIRED BREAK CONTROLLER. I TOOK THE CAR OVER TO UHAUL AND DID REMOTE CALLS WITH THE BRAKE CONTROLLER MANUFACTURER. ALL STATE THAT IT IS SOMETHING WITH THE MANNER IT IS WIRED WITH A 'OPEN GROUND'. THIS IS UNSAFE AS I HAVE NO WAY SAFELY BRAKE OR UTILIZE A BRAKE CONTROLLER. SINCE OTHER 2020S BEHAVE THE SAME WAY THIS IS A SYSTEMWIDE ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT TAKING ACTION SO IT SHOULD BE EVALUATED BY ENGINEERING.

2020 Porsche Cayenne s recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2020 Porsche Cayenne s.

2021-05-05
  • Manufacturer: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
  • Components: SEATS
  • Summary: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Cayenne GTS, Cayenne GTS Coupe, 2020-2021 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S Coupe, Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe vehicles. The passenger seat back heating element was not installed and may impact the calibration of the Occupant Classification System.
  • Consequence: The front passenger air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
  • Remedy: Dealers will install a heating element, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB0.
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2020 Porsche Cayenne s problems:

2020 Cayenne base engine failure with 39K miles - Rennlist ...
2020 Cayenne base engine failure with 39K miles - Rennlist ...
https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-9y0-2019/1352003-2020-cayenne-base-engine-failure-with-39k-miles.html

Jun 7, 2023 ... 4. Is there any possibility of escalating the warranty case outside of Porsche North America? Thank you ...

Known Porsche Cayenne issues? : r/Porsche
Known Porsche Cayenne issues? : r/Porsche
https://www.reddit.com/r/Porsche/comments/175jfkf/known_porsche_cayenne_issues/

Oct 11, 2023 ... Took the car (2020 Cayenne Base) to the dealership today, due to a really loud brake squeal. Shop foreman comes out, says yep, ...

2020 Porsche Cayenne Problems | Kelley Blue Book
2020 Porsche Cayenne Problems | Kelley Blue Book
https://www.kbb.com/porsche/cayenne/2020/common-problems/

How reliable is the 2020 Porsche Cayenne? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 ...

Which Used Year Models of Porche Cayenne to Avoid - CoPilot
Which Used Year Models of Porche Cayenne to Avoid - CoPilot
https://www.copilotsearch.com/posts/which-year-models-of-porche-cayenne-to-avoid/

Feb 26, 2024 ... Problems include plastic coolant lines breaking, the center carrier bearing of the driveshaft failing, and, in some cases, the vehicle refusing ...

Other years of Porsche Cayenne s

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Cayenne s 2003
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2020 Porsche Cayenne s photo