Short answer
Among Porsche Cayenne model years through 2024, 2018 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2003 and 2004 have the most (9). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Porsche Cayenne: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 23 (2003–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 36
- Fewest recalls
- 2018 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2003 and 2004 (9)
- Most recalled system
- Exterior lighting (17)
Porsche Cayenne Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2024 | 5 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2023 | 2 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2022 | 3 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Suspension |
| 2021 | 7 | Not rated | Suspension, Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2020 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags, Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2019 | 8 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Service brakes, Electrical system |
| 2018 | 1 | Not rated | Equipment |
| 2017 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Exterior lighting |
| 2016 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2015 | 3 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic, Suspension |
| 2014 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2012 | 5 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2011 | 5 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Engine, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Power train |
| 2009 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Power train |
| 2008 | 3 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2006 | 3 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2005 | 4 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2004 | 9 | Not rated | Power train, Seat belts, Electrical system |
| 2003 | 9 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts, Electrical system |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20252 recalls
- 20245 recalls
- 20232 recalls
- 20223 recalls
- 20217 recalls
- 20206 recalls
- 20198 recalls
- 20181 recall
- 20172 recalls
- 20162 recalls
- 20153 recalls
- 20143 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20125 recalls
- 20115 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20092 recalls
- 20083 recalls
- 20063 recalls
- 20054 recalls
- 20049 recalls
- 20039 recalls
Porsche Cayenne: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Porsche Cayenne recalls are exterior lighting (17), fuel system, gasoline (11), electrical system (10), power train (9) and back over prevention (8). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Porsche Cayenne Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Porsche Cayenne?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2018 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Porsche Cayenne model years have the most recalls?
2003 and 2004 have the most, with 9 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Cayenne", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy