Coscienzios

Model years to avoid

Porsche Cayenne

22 model years on record, 1,773 complaints filed.

Which generation to buy

A nameplate is not one car. Measured on recalls, not complaints: this comparison spans a decade, and complaints pile up with age and with sales, so they would rank the oldest generation worst whatever the cars were like. A recall is issued once, by the manufacturer, conceding a defect. Each generation is scored against the median for model years of the same age.

The one to buy: the 2005–2010 car — and within it, 2007, which carries no recalls.

  1. 2005–2010

    About as many recalls as its age-peers

    Median 2.5 recalls a model year, against 3 for cars the same age — 0.83×. Best year 2007 (0), worst 2005 (4).

  2. 2011–2018

    About as many recalls as its age-peers

    Median 3 recalls a model year, against 3 for cars the same age — 1×. Best year 2018 (1), worst 2011 (5).

  3. 2019–present

    More recalls than its age-peers

    Median 4 recalls a model year, against 2 for cars the same age — 2×. Best year 2023 (2), worst 2019 (8).

The years to look at closely: 2021 (forward), 2020 (every), 2016 (common issue), 2013 (low), 2012 (transfer case), 2011 (camshaft). Everything else drew a normal number of complaints for this model.

What owners report, and when

Faults that dominated the complaints of more than one model year. Not the same question as which year to avoid — a car can have an ordinary number of complaints every year and have most of them be about the same thing.

  • cover 2017, 2020 peak 42.1% of that year's complaints
  • fuel 2005, 2006 peak 38.2% of that year's complaints
  • almost 2005, 2019 peak 30.4% of that year's complaints
  • control 2019, 2021 peak 24.2% of that year's complaints
  • causing 2008, 2021 peak 24.2% of that year's complaints

Every year

  1. 2026 1 recall 3 complaints
  2. 2025 2 recalls 6 complaints
  3. 2024 5 recalls 5 complaints
  4. 2023 2 recalls 20 complaints
  5. 2022 3 recalls 6 complaints
  6. 2021 forward 153 complaints
  7. 2020 every 194 complaints
  8. 2019 8 recalls 92 complaints
  9. 2018 1 recall 14 complaints
  10. 2017 2 recalls 107 complaints
  11. 2016 common issue 238 complaints
  12. 2015 3 recalls 92 complaints
  13. 2014 3 recalls 53 complaints
  14. 2013 low 225 complaints
  15. 2012 transfer case 165 complaints
  16. 2011 camshaft 208 complaints
  17. 2010 2 recalls 1 complaints
  18. 2009 2 recalls 15 complaints
  19. 2008 3 recalls 42 complaints
  20. 2007 nothing on record 1 complaints
  21. 2006 3 recalls 55 complaints
  22. 2005 4 recalls 78 complaints

What does a Porsche Cayenne say about you?

Loading comments…

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations, retrieved . A year is flagged when it drew at least 2.5× this model's median and at least 50 complaints — compared against itself rather than against other cars, so popularity and age do not decide the answer.