Porsche Cayenne Diesel: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Porsche Cayenne Diesel: 4 model years scored from 83 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns. Worst year 2016, best year 2013.
Porsche Cayenne Diesel: which years to avoid
Across 4 scored model years the Porsche Cayenne Diesel ranges from 87/100 in 2016 to 94/100 in 2015 — a 7-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Unknown Or Other (12 of them).
Safest years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2013 (score 88). Worst: 2016 (score 87, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 87 | BUY | $5,152 | 33 | 0 |
| 2015 | 94 | BUY | $5,402 | 13 | 1 |
| 2014 | 92 | BUY | $5,520 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 88 | BUY | $6,414 | 37 | 1 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Cayenne Diesel sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Porsche Cayenne Diesel
Across every Cayenne Diesel model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Power Train26 complaints across all Cayenne Diesel years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other20 complaints across all Cayenne Diesel years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Engine14 complaints across all Cayenne Diesel years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Air Bags11 complaints across all Cayenne Diesel years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Fuel/Propulsion System10 complaints across all Cayenne Diesel years · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement$680–$1,620
- Exterior Lighting9 complaints across all Cayenne Diesel years · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement$360–$1,380
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Porsche Cayenne Diesel years to buy?
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2015 at 94/100, on 13 complaints and 1 recall campaigns.
Which Porsche Cayenne Diesel years should I avoid?
The 2016 is the weakest year we score, at 87/100 (BUY), on 33 complaints and 0 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Porsche Cayenne Diesel problem?
26 of the complaints filed against the Cayenne Diesel across all its model years sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04