2016 Porsche Cayenne S: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
66 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Read the guide
Used Porsche Cayenne and Macan: what the federal record says, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 66 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 6.6
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Porsche dashboard leather shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told that if the vehicle was in an accident the airbag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer looked at it and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.
Engine oil leak detected in 2021 @33,195 miles caused by broken aluminum bolts in upper part of timing cover. Repaired by dealer on a “good will” basis for what I was told would have cost me approximately $9-10,000. Oil leak reappeared in 2023 @44,657 miles (less than 12,000 since first leak) caused again by broken aluminum bolts in the lower, upper oil pan, and timing cover. Repair done this time by independent sho…
Porsche cayenne leather dashboard shrunk and peeling out. I was told that if the car was in an accident, the airbag might not deploy correctly. This is a common issue.
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 22V656000 | Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact premium car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 19 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $4,000
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Unknown Or Other24 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train14 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Air Bags12 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Exterior Lighting12 complaints · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$1,380
- Engine10 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Fuel/Propulsion System8 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Porsche Cayenne S years
Porsche Cayenne S years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Porsche Cayenne S?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Unknown Or Other (24 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Porsche Cayenne S a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 71/100, computed from 66 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Porsche Cayenne S's most common problem?
24 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Porsche Cayenne S sit in the Unknown Or Other group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is diagnosis and mixed repair: about 2.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $360–$940 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2016 Porsche Cayenne S cost to run per year?
About $6,195 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $30,975 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2016 Porsche Cayenne S have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne S, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 30/08/2022. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other luxury compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Porsche Cayenne S really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 66 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 66 NHTSA complaints on record (6.6/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (3.4/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems