2012 Porsche Cayenne S recalls and problems

The 2012 Porsche Cayenne S has 2 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Porsche dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

1 / 1

Injuries / deaths

0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2012 Porsche Cayenne S vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2012 Porsche Cayenne S recalls

Recall 22V-656: Exterior Lighting

Reported Aug 30, 2022 · 222,858 vehicles affected · Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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.

Fix: 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 12V-065: Exterior Lighting

Reported Feb 21, 2012 · 20,278 vehicles affected · PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: 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.

Risk: A detached headlight could lead to loss of visibility and an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

2012 Porsche Cayenne S problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Power Train	5
Engine	1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 85,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2012 Porsche Cayenne S complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Power Train · reported Mar 1, 2019

When driving car, it feels rough and is hard to accelerate so I took it to the dealer and was told it was the transfer case. The transfer case seems to be a manufacture problem and is common among these cars. It's unsafe and almost impossible to drive on the highway .

Power Train · at 102,000 miles · reported Feb 28, 2019

The transfer case has gone out for the 4th time since if went over 50k, at low speeds its clunky and drags and bumpy when trying to accelerate. I found other individuals having the same problem mutli times as myself and this is not cheap to fix. The dealer knows this is a problem but will not help with cost

Power Train · at 85,000 miles · reported Dec 10, 2018

The porsche dealer informed me the bumping noise while accelerating is the transfer case. It is a common problem on all 2012 cayenne cars. The transfer case will make the bumping noise when accelerating. It will eventually slip to the dangerous point. This is when you accelerate into traffic and the transfer case only slips and leaves the sitting in traffic unable to move. The repair is $5000 and replaces the transfer case. The new transfer case corrects the design flaw. The flaw was in the transfer case vents that would allow water to build up in the case. The new case comes with vent tubes…

Engine · reported Dec 13, 2017

The contact owns a 2012 porsche cayenne s. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v368000 (Engine). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Other Porsche Cayenne S years

2024 2021 2020 2019 2015 2014 201320122011 2009 2008 2006 2005 2004 2003

Compare all Porsche Cayenne S years · All Porsche models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S: 22V-656 (exterior lighting), 12V-065 (exterior lighting). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S?

Owners report power train problems most often (5 reports), followed by engine (1). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 85,000 miles.

Are Porsche recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Porsche dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.