2012 Porsche Panamera Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Panamera years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Porsche Panamera. That ranks 3rd out of 17 Panamera model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (5 complaints, 38%), typically at around 79,280 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.

- 13owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Porsche Panamera 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 38% | 79,280 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 15% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 15% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 15% | 50 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 8% | 16,670 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 8% | 121,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Porsche Panamera recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: 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 adjustment screws are missing, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
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.
Fix: 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 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, 2004-2010 Cayenne, 2006 Cayenne Turbo S, 2010-2016 Panamera S, Panamera 4 S, Panamera Turbo, 2011-2016 Panamera, Panamera 4, 2012-2013 Panamera Turbo S, 2013-2016 Panamera 4 GTS, 2014-2016 Panamera 4 S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive, Panamera Turbo S G1 II, Panamera Turbo S Executive, 2013 Panamera 4 Platinum Edition, Panamera Platinum Edition, 2016 Panamera 4 Edition, Panamera Edition, Panamera Turbo S Executive Luxury Sports vehicles. The bushing that attaches the gear selector lever to the gearbox may degrade over time, causing the bushing to detach. This condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
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 risk of a crash.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. Owners are instructed to use the parking brake until their vehicle is repaired. The recall began August 9, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB1.
Electrical system
Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Panamera 4S and Panamera S, 2011-2016 Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera Turbo, 2012-2016 Panamera Turbo S and Panamera S E-Hybrid, 2013-2016 Panamera GTS, 2013 Panamera Platinum Edition and Panamera 4 Platinum Edition, 2014-2016 Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive and Panamera Turbo S Executive, 2015 Panamera Diesel and 2016 Panamera 4 Edition, Panamera Edition and Panamera Turbo S Exclusive Series vehicles. Water may enter the A/C blower control unit, causing an electrical short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of fire.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower control unit, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA7. Note: Porsche recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
Engine
Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Panamera S, Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo vehicles, 2011-2012 Panamera and Panamera 4 vehicles, and 2011 Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo vehicles. The affected vehicles have camshaft controllers that may come loose inside the engine, potentially resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fastening screws for the camshaft adjusters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2018. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH08.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the shaft fractures, oil may be drawn into the exhaust system, resulting in smoke and the increased risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
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.
vehicle high pressure fuel pump is attached to and a part of the left camshaft in the engine. Although a major and critical component of the engine and propulsion, the fuel pump seized, exploded and shredded itself and the camshaft at the connected point sending shards of metal chunks and pieces…
I was driving my car and as I was coming to a stop the engine sputtered then started to stall. The check engine light then came on.
The contact owns a 2012 Porsche Panamera. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V656000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…
Vehicle was parked and yellow smoke began billowing out from under glovebox on passenger side followed by fire flames between dash and window. And under glove box melting entire passenger side under glove box area abs floor. Fore reignited after being put out icompletely initially.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 PORSCHE PANAMERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SHOULDER, SHIFTED INTO PARK HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE…
Other Porsche Panamera years
← 2011 Panamera · 2013 Panamera →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Panamera | 1 | 2 |
| 2025 Panamera | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 Panamera | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 Panamera | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 Panamera | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 Panamera | 2 | 3 |
| 2020 Panamera | 5 | 1 |
| 2019 Panamera | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 Panamera | 12 | 6 |
| 2017 Panamera | 1 | 4 |
| 2016 Panamera | 3 | 4 |
| 2015 Panamera | 5 | 3 |
| 2014 Panamera | 14 | 3 |
| 2013 Panamera | 12 | 3 |
| 2012 | 13 | 5 |
| 2011 Panamera | 34 | 5 |
| 2010 Panamera | 5 | 1 |
See all Porsche Panamera 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 2012 Porsche Panamera?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Porsche Panamera?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Porsche Panamera a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Panamera model years, the 2012 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.