The Porsche Cayenne is an iconic luxury SUV with a sleek and powerful design. It has been on the market since 2003, offering drivers an impressive ride and superior performance.
Quick Answer: Avoid Porsche Cayenne Year Models 2004 and 2011
However, not all years are created equal when it comes to choosing a used Porsche Cayenne. Here’s a look at which years you should avoid when shopping for your next car.
Which Year Models of Porsche Cayenne to Avoid:
Even though there are a lot of safe Porsche Cayenne models to choose from, we suggest you stay away from the 2004 and 2011 versions. Compared to other years, there are more reports and they are worse this year.
- 2004 Porsche Cayenne
- 2011 Porsche Cayenne
The 2004 Porsche Cayenne has problems with its cooling system, engine, and electrics. Plastic coolant lines have broken on more than one car, and the center carrier bearing on the driveshaft has broken on more than one car.
Some complaints have been so bad that the car wouldn’t even start, but even the less serious ones are annoying and can cost as much as $3,000 to fix.
The model from 2011 is even worse. It has had the same number of customer complaints as the 2004 model, but these problems are worse. People have said that the engine overheated at 15,000 miles, and the whole thing broke down at less than 40,000 miles.
Another known problem is that the brakes wear out too soon. This can happen as early as 21,000 miles and costs $3,000 to fix.
Overall, we think you should avoid the 2004 and 2011 models because they will cause you extra stress that other models won’t.
Which used Porsche Cayenne models year are safe to buy?
The Porsche Cayenne has been around for almost 20 years, and most of the models from those years are safe to buy without having to worry about major problems.
This luxury crossover SUV will drive smoothly in the city and off-road, but you should also make sure you can trust it.
We think the following used Porsche Cayenne models from the following years are the least likely to give you problems.
- 2003 Porsche Cayenne
- 2005 Porsche Cayenne
- 2006 Porsche Cayenne
- 2007 Porsche Cayenne
- 2008 Porsche Cayenne
- 2009 Porsche Cayenne
- 2010 Porsche Cayenne
- 2012 Porsche Cayenne
- 2013 Porsche Cayenne
- 2014 Porsche Cayenne
- 2015 Porsche Cayenne
- 2016 Porsche Cayenne
- 2017 Porsche Cayenne
- 2018 Porsche Cayenne
- 2019 Porsche Cayenne
- 2020 Porsche Cayenne
None of these Porsche Cayenne models from these years have major problems, so it should be safe to buy any of them. No one has said anything bad about the models from 2003, 2007, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, so these are your best bets.
Next, we suggest the models from the years 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2016. All of these have had very few problems recorded, and when they do, they usually show up after 80,000 miles and aren’t too expensive to fix. Prices range from about $1,000 to $2,000.
Lastly, we still suggest the 2013 and 2014 Porsche Cayennes, but they aren’t as reliable as the ones we’ve already talked about. They might have one or two small problems that need to be fixed before they reach 40,000 miles.
Common Porsche Cayenne Problems
RepairPal gave the Porsche Cayenne a 1.5 out of 5 for reliability, making it the worst of 14 luxury midsize SUVs. If you want to buy a used Porsche Cayenne, watch out for the following problems:
Problems with the engine: Owners say that the engine is one of the worst things about the Cayenne. Usually, the check engine light comes on, the car makes loud noises, and the engine shuts off suddenly while driving. Most of the time, the engine has to be replaced.
Problems with the drivetrain: If there are problems with the drivetrain, the car may become hard to handle and act in strange ways. Several SUV drivers have said that the transfer case on their vehicles broke without warning.
Some other reports said that the driveshaft’s center bearings wore out and that it finally broke.
Coolant system problems: Some owners of the first generation of Cayennes had problems with the cooling system, which was mostly caused by the plastic lines.
It seems that the high temperatures are too much for the plastic coolant lines, which will break or leak. If the liquid leaks, it could hurt other important parts.
Failed start-up: Some Cayenne owners were upset that the fuel pump was prone to failing. If the fuel pump is broken, the car might not start or keep stalling, and you would need to repair it.
Conclusion
If you’re shopping for a used Porsche Cayenne, there are several years you should avoid due to reliability and safety concerns.
If you follow these tips, you can find an excellent used Porsche Cayenne that meets your needs without sacrificing quality or reliability!