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2009 Porsche CayenneProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 15 owner complaints about the 2009 Porsche Cayenne, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-656 the manufacturer reports only 30% of affected cars repaired.

2009 Porsche Cayenne
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 30%Owner complaints150 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage50kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 16, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2009 Porsche Cayenne has problems

15 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train60
Electrical system40
Fuel/propulsion system20
Fuel system, gasoline20
Electronic stability control (ESC)10
Equipment10
Seats10
Exterior lighting10
Tires10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2009 Porsche Cayenne recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

30%repaired · 2024 Q3

Exterior lighting: headlights

Recall 22V-656 · Aug 30, 2022 · 222,858 vehicles · 67,551 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

38%repaired · 2020 Q4

Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)

Recall 19V-446 · Jun 12, 2019 · 99,665 vehicles · 38,215 repaired

Risk. If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Porsche.

Best & worst years

2009 vs. every other Cayenne year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cayenne median. How we score

'03'04'05'06'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2009 Porsche Cayenne safety ratings

2009 Porsche Cayenne 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What Cayenne owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

DRIVE SHAFT GOES OFF UNEXPECTEDLY RESULTING IN VIOLENT SHAKING OF VEHICLE AND LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION
Complaint 11230616 · Jul 10, 2019 · 67,500 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Complaint 10630319 · Sep 3, 2014 · 50,000 miles
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. WENT TO USE IT, OPENED DOOR TO DRIVERS SIDE, DASH READS IGNITION LOCK FAULT. WOULD NOT START, WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. TOWED TO DEALER (AFTER TOWING CO. DID EMERGENCY UNLOCK OF TRANSMISSION TO GET OUT OF GARAGE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT PORSCHE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK NOW,…
Complaint 10628959 · Aug 27, 2014 · 50,000 miles

Own a 2009 Cayenne?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.