2012 Porsche Cayenne S Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S, and owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
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…
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…
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
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.
6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 88,667 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 the”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 1, 2019 · Power train
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 28, 2019 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne (Cayenne S, Cayenne S Hybrid, Cayenne Turbo). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–20 / 22–24 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3/3.6/4.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8); Automatic 8-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Porsche Cayenne S model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Porsche Cayenne S model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Porsche Cayenne S | 9 | 4 |
| 2004 Porsche Cayenne S | 9 | 48 |
| 2005 Porsche Cayenne S | 4 | 10 |
| 2006 Porsche Cayenne S | 3 | 13 |
| 2007 Porsche Cayenne S | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 Porsche Cayenne S | 1 | 5 |
| 2009 Porsche Cayenne S | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 Porsche Cayenne S | 3 | 17 |
| 2012 Porsche Cayenne S | 2 | 6 |
| 2013 Porsche Cayenne S | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 Porsche Cayenne S | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 Porsche Cayenne S | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 Porsche Cayenne S | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 Porsche Cayenne S | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 Porsche Cayenne S | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 Porsche Cayenne S | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2012 Porsche Cayenne S
How do I know if my 2012 Porsche Cayenne S has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2012 Porsche Cayenne S; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Porsche dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 12V065000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Porsche models
- Cayenne503 complaints
- Taycan272 complaints
- Macan239 complaints
- Boxster164 complaints
- 911143 complaints
- Panamera114 complaints
- 911 Turbo79 complaints
- 911 GT359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.