RecallMyCar

2012 Porsche Cayenne Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2012 Porsche Cayenne, and owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
27
owner complaints to NHTSA
17–21
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 2012 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. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 16V169000 Reported 88,300 vehicles potentially affected Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

    Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.

    Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip, installing any missing circlips, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at…

  3. Turbo/supercharger (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 12V329000 Reported 270 vehicles potentially affected PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Porsche is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 panamera turbo, 2012 panamera turbo s, and 2012 cayenne turbo vehicles. The turbine wheel of a turbocharger may fracture due to a casting defect. If a fracture occurs, vehicle performance will be decreased and the turbine shaft may fracture.

    Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the turbine wheels, free of charge. The recall began on august 31, 2012. Owners may contact porsche at 1-800-767-7243.

  4. Headlights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 12V065000 Reported 20,278 vehicles potentially affected PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2012 Porsche Cayenne have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 59,028 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 9 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Porsche Cayenne. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale from Facebook Market Place. At the time of purchase”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 7, 2026 · Electrical system

“Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out around passenger side airbag. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 28, 2024 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2012 Porsche Cayenne (Cayenne S, Cayenne S Hybrid, Cayenne Turbo). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–21 mpg
City / Highway15–20 / 22–24
FuelPremium
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine6/8 cyl, 3/3.6/4.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S8); Automatic 8-spd; Manual 6-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 2012 Porsche Cayenne

How do I know if my 2012 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 2012 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 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

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.