2016 Porsche Cayenne Safety Report
2016 Porsche Cayenne Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Porsche Cayenne. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (36) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Air Bags,Unknown Or Other | Compare air bags,unknown or other issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2018 | Compare against the 2018 Porsche Cayenne with 12 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Porsche Cayenne before buying across this generation. |
Porsche Cayenne Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Porsche Cayenne years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Porsche Cayenne | 15 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Porsche Cayenne | 13 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Porsche Cayenne | 12 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Porsche Cayenne | 33 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Porsche Cayenne | 14 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Porsche Cayenne | 15 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Porsche Cayenne Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Porsche Cayenne, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Air Bags,Unknown Or Other
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags,Unknown Or Other issues Porsche onlyExterior Lighting
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Porsche onlyUnknown Or Other
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Porsche onlyPower Train
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Porsche onlyFuel/Propulsion System
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Porsche onlyAir Bags
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Porsche onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne
Reliability Score
The 2016 Porsche Cayenne receives a reliability score of 87 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bag Deployment Issues Dashboard leather shrinking and staples pulling out could prevent proper air bag deployment in an accident. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brake Issues Hydraulic pedal and linkages issues could affect braking performance and safety. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Oil Leak An oil leak caused by a broken aluminum bolt in the timing cover can lead to engine failure. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Headlight Issues Headlight condensation and water damage can impair visibility, especially at night. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Porsche Cayenne:
Issues with air bags include unknown deployment and dashboard leather shrinking.
Hydraulic pedal and linkages issues could affect braking performance.
Oil leaks and engine failure due to timing cover issues.
Oil leaks and engine failure due to timing cover issues.
Recall Details for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne by NHTSA:
Summary: 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. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all affected models and model years. The caps that cover the low-beam headlight horizontal adjustment screws are missing, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federa...
Consequence: Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the headlights for sealing caps and install missing caps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.
Summary: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
Consequence: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip, installing any missing circlips, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG02.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Porsche Cayenne with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
I noticed a hesitation when I Pressed the gas pedal, I also noticed the smell of Gasoline when I parked it in my Garage. I had my Certified mechanic look at it and he told me there was a recall on the Fuel sending unit, creating a transfer case failure, apparently the flange breaks and leaks gas. I googled it and it confirms it. I called the local dealer and they have not called me back?
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 and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.
passenger side leather covered dashboard delaminated making air bag deployment inpossible
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 tim...
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.
The dashboard leather has shrunk and the staples are beginning to pull out. I have read that this may keep the dashboard airbag from property deploying in the case of an accident. This is a common issue and the dealers are recommending replacement.
Porsche leather dashboard shrunk and staples pulled out. I was told by a Porsche service technician that if the vehicle was in an accident, the air bag might not deploy correctly. The Porsche dealer diagnosed it and recommended replacing it. This is a very common issue.
**Subject**: Urgent Safety Concern: Headlight Condensation and Water Damage in 2015-2018 Porsche Cayenne 958.2 Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a serious safety issue with the LED matrix headlights on my 2016 Porsche Cayenne GTS (958.2). The problem involves severe condensation buildup within the headlight assembly, leading to water damage and electrical failures. This defect has caused my hea...
Backup Camera Intermittent, Yes, available for inspection. Unexpected blackout of the screen. Cannot see pedestrians behind when backing out and expecting to see from the camera instead of rear view mirror. Yes, reproduced by the Dealer. Yes, by the Dealer representing the manufacturer. No warning of any kind. First appeared 9/19/23 Unknown.
Dear NHTSA, I am writing to express a serious safety concern regarding the dashboard of my 2016 Porsche Cayenne S. The leather on the dash has begun to shrink and is no longer fitted properly. This misalignment is causing me significant worry about the potential impact on airbag deployment in the event of an accident. Given the crucial role that the dashboard and its covering play in the proper ...
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
The contact owns a 2016 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that water had leaked inside the front driver's side and passenger's side headlamps. The contact stated that the failure caused the headlights to become foggy and significantly dim, reducing the visibility of the roadway. The contact stated that he had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V656000 (Exterior Lighting) and the v...
While driving vehicle, noticed some slippage/clunking when turning. Took vehicle to Porsche dealer, they said transfer case needed to be replaced. Car has 12,600 original miles on it. Dealer said there was an extended warranty on the transfer case that had expired. In researching, it became obvious that there is a Porsche design problem that affected several model years for the Cayenne. As a ...
car had a smell of gas diesel fumes inside cabin from air conditioning system. number of oil leaks over the years as well. now car at dealer for repair over 10 month. not fixed yet. number of problem with same diesel engine on line, even article i found . car was sold as CPO , it was new unregister, but they guaranteed us there will be no emission problems or leaking with this car. now warranty a...
At slow speed, under acceleration, the transfer case slips, and makes a thumping noise. Over time, the car has poor acceleration when trying to get up to speed with other cars. The dealer has confirmed that this is a problem with Porsche Cayennes. Thank you.
my car had a problem in the hybrid part, before doing the diagnosis they said 3 different problems, when they gave me the diagnosis they said they didn't know what it was but that to begin with “it could be “ the components $13,000 to fix. but my car is under the 8 years or 100,000mls hybrid system warranty, so i contacted porshe headquarters and they said the car was out of warranty. so i called ...
Headlight went out. Lane change assist not working
The contact owns a 2016 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that moisture was entering the headlights on both sides of the vehicle. Over time, the condensation in the passenger’s side headlight was burned out with a message on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The dealer gave the contact an estimate with...
The contact owns a 2016 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. On one occasion while driving, the failure occurred and nearly cause the vehicle to be rear ended by a vehicle speeding from behind. The vehicle was taken to the local...
Showing 20 of 36 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Opened 2021-09-17
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Porsche Cayenne
Has the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE have?
The 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE has 36 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. 2 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE?
The 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE involve air bags,unknown or other (6 complaints), exterior lighting (4 complaints), unknown or other (4 complaints). Other affected components include power train, fuel/propulsion system, air bags.
How many crash reports does the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE?
2 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 36 complaints, 2 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE are: 1. AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6 complaints), 2. EXTERIOR LIGHTING (4 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN (4 complaints), 5. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2 complaints). AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 6 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE?
Be cautious of air bag deployment issues and service brake problems. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent engine and fuel system failures. The 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE has 36 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE?
The 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE receives a reliability score of 87/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 36 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Air Bag Deployment Issues and Service Brake Issues.
What are the known issues with the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE?
Known issues with the 2016 PORSCHE CAYENNE include: Air Bag Deployment Issues, Service Brake Issues, Engine Oil Leak, Headlight Issues. These are based on patterns found across 36 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2016 Porsche Cayenne?
The most common issues are air bag deployment problems, service brake hydraulic pedal and linkages issues, engine oil leaks, and headlight condensation.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne?
Yes, Porsche has recalled vehicles for exterior lighting and service brakes, hydraulic pedal and linkages issues.
What should I do if I notice a smell of gasoline in my car?
Have your vehicle inspected by a certified mechanic to check for fuel leaks and ensure safety.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of air bag deployment issues and service brake problems. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent engine and fuel system failures.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Porsche Cayenne
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Porsche Cayenne. The data includes 36 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 2 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16