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2003 Porsche Cayenne Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2003 Porsche Cayenne, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
2
owner complaints to NHTSA
14
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Headlights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 22V656000 Reported 222,858 vehicles potentially affected Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

    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…

  2. Seat belts

    NHTSA 04V593000 Reported 31,000 vehicles potentially affected PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Porsche Cayenne have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 49,350 miles. Complaints peaked in 2012 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 porsche cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v576000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The co”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 11, 2018 · Fuel system, gasoline

“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 porsche cayenne. The contact stated the drive shaft would vibrate excessively when driving at any speed. The contact stated the vibration went from a part time occurrence t”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 25, 2012 · Power train

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne (Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined14 mpg
City / Highway12 / 17
FuelPremium
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
Engine8 cyl, 4.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Compare Porsche Cayenne model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Porsche Cayenne model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2003 Porsche Cayenne22
2004 Porsche Cayenne638
2005 Porsche Cayenne432
2006 Porsche Cayenne341
2008 Porsche Cayenne327
2009 Porsche Cayenne215
2010 Porsche Cayenne21
2011 Porsche Cayenne330
2012 Porsche Cayenne427
2013 Porsche Cayenne340
2014 Porsche Cayenne353
2015 Porsche Cayenne214
2016 Porsche Cayenne240
2017 Porsche Cayenne217
2018 Porsche Cayenne113
2019 Porsche Cayenne645
2020 Porsche Cayenne424
2021 Porsche Cayenne521
2022 Porsche Cayenne24
2023 Porsche Cayenne15
2024 Porsche Cayenne45
2025 Porsche Cayenne25
2026 Porsche Cayenne14

Checking a specific 2003 Porsche Cayenne

How do I know if my 2003 Porsche Cayenne 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 2003 Porsche Cayenne; 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 04V593000).

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

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.