Last updated: 2026-03-14

2018 Porsche Cayenne Reliability Report
The 2018 Porsche Cayenne scores 62/100 ("Good"). With 1 recall and 13 owner complaints, reliability is acceptable but not class-leading.
Recalls
1
Complaints
13
Complaint Rate
11.7
per 10k sold
Est. Annual Cost
$1231
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Acceptable reliability — worth considering with a pre-purchase inspection.
Top Issues to Watch
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)
- AIR BAGS (2)
- POWER TRAIN (1)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2018 is the last model year of the Second generation (92A).
- Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
- 4 years after the last refresh (2014).
- 2nd generation Cayenne (US).
What this means for buyers
Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.
2011: Second generation (92A) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2014: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2018: This Model Year
2018 is the last model year of the Second generation (92A).
Should You Buy the 2018 Porsche Cayenne?
The 2018 Porsche Cayenne scores 62/100 ("Good"), placing it in acceptable but not class-leading territory. 2018 is the last model year of the Second generation (92A).
With 13 owner complaints, some reported issues may need attention, but we don't yet see evidence of a single dominant failure mode.
A pre-purchase inspection is recommended for used examples, with particular attention to electrical system (3). An extended warranty may provide additional peace of mind.
Compared to the 2019 Porsche Cayenne, which scored 6 points lower.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +Low recall count
- +Below-average complaint rate for SUV
Cons
- −Above-average repair costs for its class
- −Frequent unscheduled repairs
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Charging cable's protective sheath experiencing possible electrical or fire... (3 complaints)
Compare 2018 Porsche Cayenne With

2018 BMW X5
Reliability: 59/100

2018 Audi Q7
Reliability: 58/100

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Reliability: 69/100

2018 Lexus GX
Reliability: 77/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)
- AIR BAGS (2)
Recall Overview
1
recall on record
The 2018 Porsche Cayenne has 1 recall on record. This is a low count. Recalls are manufacturer-initiated fixes for safety or compliance issues and are repaired at no cost to the owner at authorized dealerships.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
11.7
per 10k soldSegment avg: 24.4
Safety Incidents
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2018 Porsche Cayenne Recall Details
1 recall has been issued for the 2018 Porsche Cayenne. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
EQUIPMENT
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid, Cayenne GTS, Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid Platinum Edition, Macan Turbo and Macan GTS vehicles, 2017-2018 Cayenne S, Macan, Cayenne Platinum Edition and Macan S vehicles and 2018 Cayenne vehicles equipped with the optional ski bag. The ski bag fastening strap may have been sewn with incorrect thread, possibly resulting in the strap seams tearing and the ski bag being unsecured in the event of a crash.
Consequence
If the ski bag detaches during a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ski bags, free of charge. The recall began January 10, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ12.
2018 Porsche Cayenne NHTSA Safety Ratings
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 0.0%
Safety Technologies
HEV Powertrain
Rollover risk: 0.0%
Safety Technologies
Porsche Cayenne Repair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
1.5Maintenance rating: 1.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$1231
vs $807 avg for luxury midsize SUVs
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
1.1
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
21%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2018 Porsche Cayenne.
Inspect charging cable for melted plastic or fire damage
Check for dashboard leather peeling, especially near airbags
Test for engine overheating and burnt smell during operation
Verify headlight functionality and check for water intrusion
Ensure forward collision avoidance system operates correctly
Test acceleration from a stop to check for hesitation or lurching
Buying a 2018 Cayenne? Check Its History First
Every 2018 Porsche Cayenne has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
2018 Porsche Cayenne Common Problems by Component
13 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 complaintsOwners of the 2018 Porsche Cayenne commonly report issues related to the electrical system, particularly involving the charging cable's protective sheath experiencing possible electrical or fire damage. This damage often results in melted plastic near the plug and shorting of the power outlet, with no warning lights illuminating to indicate the problem. Complaints frequently mention that these issues occur during charging, with one report specifying a failure mileage of 54,000. Additionally, there are reports of engine overheating accompanied by a burnt smell and loud warnings, which have led to safety concerns as one owner described needing to stop abruptly on the highway. These patterns suggest potential safety implications, including the risk of fire or loss of vehicle control.
AIR BAGS
2 complaintsOwners of the 2018 Porsche Cayenne frequently report issues with the leather dashboard peeling or delaminating over time, which may impede the proper deployment of the passenger airbag. Symptoms described include visible separation of the leather from the dashboard surface, potentially affecting airbag functionality. While specific mileage ranges are not provided, the problem is noted in vehicles less than eight years old. Safety implications are highlighted, as improper airbag deployment could occur during an accident. Used car buyers should be aware of this potential defect, especially for vehicles with leather dashboards, as repair costs are reported to be significant.
POWER TRAIN
1 complaintDriving through a parking lot, less than five miles an hour, and suddenly heard a horrible knocking sound. Stopped and looked under the car. Nothing. Drove it very slowly to mechanic less than a mile away. Front drive shaft had collapsed and fallen down, according to the mechanic.
TIRES (1 complaints)
TIRES
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2018 Porsche Cayenne equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: Latitude Sport, Tire Size: 295/35/R21, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front passenger’s side of the vehicle, and the front passenger’s side tire started deflating. The vehicle was driven to the side of the road and was later towed to the local dealer who determined that the front passenger’s side tire sidewall had blown out. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the vehicle had not driven over any object to cause the failure. The tire manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING (1 complaints)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaintOur 2018 Porsche Cayenne has a problem with the headlights and water intrusion that is affecting the functioning of the headlights. I took it to someone to look at and they said this should not be happening, that it is a manufacturer defect. I googled my car / year and there is a recall for headlight issues but for some reason my VIN is not included. It should be. How do I go about having Porsche North America fix this issue for me?
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaint2018 PORSCHE CAYENNE: AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RANDOMLY A SERIOUS UNSAFE TO OPERATE 'SERVICE NECESSARY' WARNING APPEARS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. WITH THE SERVICE NECESSARY WARNING INDICATED, THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE WITH CRUISE CONTROL FOR APPROXIMATELY THE NEXT HOUR. THIS BREAKDOWN IS KNOWN TO PORSCHE (VIA THEIR COMMUNICATIONS WITH ME) AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE ERROR. IN A 2020 PORSCHE CAYENNE THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN RECTIFIED. ATTACHED, INVOICES FROM FIVE VISITS TO PORSCHE DEALERSHIPS, ALL DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. ATTACHED ALSO PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN ON VARIOUS DAYS, TIMES AND SPEEDS, AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS OF THE SERVICE NECESSARY WARNING ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaintWHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCE WHAT FEELS LIKE A DEAD SPOT IN THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN LURCH FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN REPORTED ON NUMEROUS COMPLAINT SITE CONCERNING VARIOUS PORSCHE VEHICLES AND SPECIFICALL CONCERNING PORSCHE CAYENNE DEALER SAYS CAR IS FINE.UNSAFE TO DRIVE SINCE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL ACCELERATE.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1 complaints)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaintTHE CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING, THE ROAD WAS THE GARDEN STAT PARKWAY IN NEW JERSEY , HAPPENED IN MID NIGHT
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintINTERMITTENT LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN TAKING LEFT TURNS FROM A DEAD STOP. CAR WAS A DEALER LOANER WITH 9000 MILES ON SPEEDOMETER. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN AUGUST, 2018. WITHIN THE FIRST 1000 MILES AND IN LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS I EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS LACK OF ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DRIVER ERROR CAUSED BY OPERATING THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR USING BOTH FEET. I DO NOT DRIVE AN AUTOMATIC CAR USING TWO FEET. ALSO, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THEY CHECKED WITH PORSCHE AND THERE ARE RECORDS OF THIS TYPE OF EVENT. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS DATING BACK SEVERAL YEARS. THIS LACK OF ACCELERATION HAS OCCURRED FOUR MORE TIMES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE AND KEPT MY VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS TO TRY AND DUPLICATE THE EVENT TO NO AVAIL. ON ONE OF THESE OCCASIONS THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY, THE DEALER CALLED IN THE PORSCHE ZONE MANAGE WHO I AM TOLD WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS CONDITION AND REFERRED TO IT AS A SAFETY FEATURE TO PREVENT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. HE CLAIMED THAT THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL OPERATION. I CALL IT A SAFETY HAZARD. IN FOUR MONTHS I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR 3200 MILES. THIS SO-CALLED SAFETY FEATURE HAS ENGAGED ON ONLY SIX OCCASIONS, ALWAYS ON LEFT HAND TURNS FROM A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE ACCELERATION WILL CUT OUT OR HOW LONG I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE. UP TO NOW, THE FEATURE HAS NEVER ENGAGED IN RIGHT HAND TURNS, IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. I HAVE CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL CAREFULLY AND THERE IS NO MENTION OF "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" NOR IS THERE ANY MENTION OF A SAFETY FEATURE PROGRAMMED IN THE CAR. I HAVE REQUESTED THE DEALER TO BY PASS OR ELIMINATE THIS FEATURE BUT THET SAY PORSCHE WON'T ALLOW IT.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (1 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 complaintPASSENGER WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME OFF SUDDENLY IN USE WHILE ON HIGHWAY SPEED. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CAR WASH AS DEALER THINKS AND HAS ONLY SIX MONTHS IN SERVICE.THE FORCE BENT SLIGHTLY THE ARM ITSELF AS IT RIPPED OFF.
When Do 2018 Porsche Cayenne Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Porsche Cayenne Years
Comprehensive reliability analysis based on NHTSA data, owner complaints, and historical performance.
Best Porsche Cayenne Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreThe best Porsche Cayenne year is 2018 with a reliability score of 62/100, rated good. Other strong picks include 2025 (61/100) and 2023 (61/100).
2018
(Current Model)
2025
2023
Porsche Cayenne Years to Avoid
No Porsche Cayenne years are statistical outliers in our data.
All model years score consistently well. The Porsche Cayenne maintains one of the highest industry standards for long-term durability across its entire production span.
Porsche Cayenne Reliability Score Trend
Porsche Cayenne reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 59/100.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 62/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 56/100 | Mixed |
| 2020 | 58/100 | Mixed |
| 2021 | 58/100 | Mixed |
| 2022 | 60/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 61/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 57/100 | Mixed |
| 2025 | 61/100 | Good |
Porsche Cayenne Reliability Compared to Other Years
2018 Porsche Cayenne Reliability by Powertrain
The 2018 Porsche Cayenne is available with 2 powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.
| Powertrain | Complaints | Recalls | Incidents* | Crash Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 12 | 1 | 0 | N/T |
| HEV | 1 | 0 | 0 | N/T |
| Total | 13 | 1 | 0 |
NHTSA tracks complaints separately for each powertrain configuration. Totals reflect the sum across all variants. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.
* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2018 Porsche Cayenne reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Porsche Cayenne?
How many recalls does the 2018 Porsche Cayenne have?
Is the 2018 Porsche Cayenne expensive to maintain?
Don’t buy a 2018 Porsche Cayenne without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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