2021 Porsche Cayenne Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cayenne years
- About as many complaints as other years 12th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Porsche Cayenne. That ranks 12th out of 23 Cayenne model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (6 complaints, 29%), typically at around 90,000 miles. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 21owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Porsche Cayenne problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 29% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 24% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 19% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 10% | 750 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 5% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 5% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Porsche Cayenne recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2019-2025 Cayenne, Cayenne E-Hybrid, 2020-2025 911, Taycan, 2024-2025 Panamera, and 2025 Panamera E-Hybrid vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the driver assistance software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ASB2. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 19, 2026.
Suspension:rear; tires
Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cayenne vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-271 (AMA9) were performed.
Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 10, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANA1.
Steering:column
Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Cayenne vehicles. The screw connection between the steering column and steering box may fail, which can result in a detached steering column.
Risk: A detached steering column can cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a new screw, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB4.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger; seats
Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Cayenne GTS, Cayenne GTS Coupe, 2020-2021 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S Coupe, Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe vehicles. The passenger seat back heating element was not installed and may impact the calibration of the Occupant Classification System.
Risk: The front passenger air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will install a heating element, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB0.
Suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly
Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne GTS, Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S Coupe, Cayenne Turbo Coupe, and Cayenne GTS Coupe vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lock nuts, free of charge. The recall began on June 18, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMA9.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2021 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front driver's side seat belt independently tightened and loosened. The emergency light illuminated, and a seat belt warning chime sounded continuously. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer…
On my 2021 Porsche Cayenne Base, which is equipped with the 3.0L V6 EA839 engine, I brought the vehicle to the dealership for a recall service. During inspection, the dealership found a leaking water pump and quoted $8,500 for repairs. There were no visible signs of a coolant leak on the ground…
Over approximately the past month, the leather covering on the dashboard of my 2021 Porsche Cayenne has rapidly begun lifting, buckling, and separating across a substantial portion of the dashboard. The deformation has become increasingly pronounced in a short period of time despite normal use and…
Battery completely discharged and the safety switch in the battery malfunctions and battery can not be charged again. There are many complaints seen online about the battery problems Porsche has. This strands the car and me the driver. The dealer and independent mechanics said the same. There were…
Vehicle Information: 2021 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid (VIN: [XXX]) Description of Defect: While operating the vehicle, the steering column bolt physically backed out and detached, causing an immediate, complete loss of steering control. This exact mechanical failure mirrors NHTSA Safety Recall 21V-493…
Other Porsche Cayenne years
← 2020 Cayenne · 2022 Cayenne →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cayenne | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 Cayenne | 5 | 2 |
| 2024 Cayenne | 5 | 4 |
| 2023 Cayenne | 5 | 1 |
| 2022 Cayenne | 4 | 2 |
| 2021 | 21 | 5 |
| 2020 Cayenne | 24 | 4 |
| 2019 Cayenne | 45 | 6 |
| 2018 Cayenne | 13 | 1 |
| 2017 Cayenne | 18 | 2 |
| 2016 Cayenne | 40 | 2 |
| 2015 Cayenne | 14 | 2 |
| 2014 Cayenne | 53 | 3 |
| 2013 Cayenne | 40 | 3 |
| 2012 Cayenne | 27 | 4 |
| 2011 Cayenne | 30 | 3 |
| 2010 Cayenne | 1 | 2 |
| 2009 Cayenne | 15 | 2 |
| 2008 Cayenne | 27 | 3 |
| 2006 Cayenne | 41 | 3 |
| 2005 Cayenne | 32 | 4 |
| 2004 Cayenne | 38 | 6 |
| 2003 Cayenne | 2 | 2 |
See all Porsche Cayenne problems by year, every Porsche model, or the Porsche VIN decoder.
Similar Porsche models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Porsche Cayenne?
Owners most often report electrical system, unknown or other, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Porsche Cayenne?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 Porsche Cayenne a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cayenne model years, the 2021 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.