Porsche Cayenne S: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Porsche Cayenne S: 15 model years scored from 187 NHTSA owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns. Worst year 2016, best year 2012.
Porsche Cayenne S: which years to avoid
Across 8 scored model years the Porsche Cayenne S ranges from 71/100 in 2016 to 95/100 in 2017 — a 24-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Unknown Or Other (24 of them).
Safest years: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2024 — 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.
Read the guide
Used Porsche Cayenne and Macan: what the federal record says — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
How the Cayenne S changed, run by run
The federal record falls into 2 stretches of years that behave alike. A redesign shows up here as a step in the complaint rate that then holds.
2011–2012
Mean score 88/100, about 3 complaints per year on the road. Owners of these years complain about Power Train more than anything else (33 complaints).
2019–2020
Mean score 88/100, about 4 complaints per year on the road. Owners of these years complain about Unknown Or Other more than anything else (7 complaints). 1 recall campaign(s) in this run touch fire, crash or stall risk.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2012 (score 91). Worst: 2016 (score 71, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,730 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 92 | BUY | $5,120 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | — | DATA PENDING | $5,010 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | DATA PENDING | $5,150 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,890 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 85 | BUY | $5,309 | 25 | 1 |
| 2019 | 90 | BUY | $5,170 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | — | DATA PENDING | $5,310 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 95 | BUY | $5,475 | 12 | 0 |
| 2016 | 71 | BUY | $5,915 | 66 | 1 |
| 2015 | — | DATA PENDING | $5,930 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 92 | BUY | $6,270 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | — | DATA PENDING | $6,410 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 91 | BUY | $6,594 | 33 | 2 |
| 2011 | 86 | BUY | $6,754 | 51 | 3 |
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 S sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Porsche Cayenne S
Across every Cayenne S 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 Train53 complaints across all Cayenne S years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other49 complaints across all Cayenne S years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Engine49 complaints across all Cayenne S years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Air Bags20 complaints across all Cayenne S years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Exterior Lighting15 complaints across all Cayenne S years · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement$360–$1,380
- Electrical System11 complaints across all Cayenne S years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
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 S years to buy?
2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2024 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2017 at 95/100, on 12 complaints and 0 recall campaigns.
Which Porsche Cayenne S years should I avoid?
The 2016 is the weakest year we score, at 71/100 (BUY), on 66 complaints and 1 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Porsche Cayenne S problem?
53 of the complaints filed against the Cayenne S 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