Porsche Panamera S: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Porsche Panamera S: 5 model years scored from 13 NHTSA owner complaints and 17 recall campaigns. Worst year 2015, best year 2013.
Porsche Panamera S: which years to avoid
Across 5 scored model years the Porsche Panamera S ranges from 51/100 in 2015 to 88/100 in 2013 — a 37-point spread, so which year you buy matters more than whether you buy a Panamera S at all. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Electrical System (4 of them).
Safest years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 — scored 70 or better.
Check carefully: 2015.
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: 2015 (score 51, CAUTION).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 51 | CAUTION | $5,546 | 10 | 3 |
| 2014 | 88 | BUY | $5,670 | 0 | 3 |
| 2013 | 88 | BUY | $6,211 | 1 | 3 |
| 2012 | 87 | BUY | $6,350 | 1 | 4 |
| 2011 | 87 | BUY | $6,490 | 1 | 4 |
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.
Panamera S sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Porsche Panamera S
Across every Panamera 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.
- Electrical System5 complaints across all Panamera S years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Engine4 complaints across all Panamera S years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Vehicle Speed Control3 complaints across all Panamera S years · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement$520–$1,150
- Unknown Or Other2 complaints across all Panamera S years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Air Bags2 complaints across all Panamera S years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Wheels1 complaints across all Panamera S years · typical job: Wheel bearing or hub replacement$460–$920
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 Panamera S years to buy?
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2013 at 88/100, on 1 complaints and 3 recall campaigns.
Which Porsche Panamera S years should I avoid?
The 2015 is the weakest year we score, at 51/100 (CAUTION), on 10 complaints and 3 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Porsche Panamera S problem?
5 of the complaints filed against the Panamera S across all its model years sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04