Cayenne

Porsche Macan vs Cayenne

March 15, 2022 by porsche Leave a Comment

The Cayenne is the original Porsche mid-size SUV, with its production dating back to 2002. As demand for mid-size SUV’s grew, Porsche expanded their line in 2014 with the Macan. The Macan was originally named the “Cajun” which stood for Cayenne Junior. Both Porsche’s are still in production today, with the Cayenne currently in its third generation, while the Macan is still in its first.

The Cayenne currently has about 10 different models, ranging from the base model, to the Platinum, S, Turbo, Turbo S, Turbo GTS, and so on. Additionally, there are also a number of Hybrid electric models as well. And to make things more confusing, it is also produced in a “Coupe” version which is slightly smaller and more sleek than the SUV versions. The Macan on the other hand is a bit more simplistic with 4 four models: base, T, S, and GTS.

With multiple generations and dozens of different models, which is better? The Porsche Macan or the Cayenne? This guide will discuss the difference between the Macan and Cayenne, pricing, engine options, performance, reliability, and everything in between.

Porsche Macan vs Cayenne – What’s the Difference?

Before we jump into more details, we want to lay the landscape on the primary differences between the Cayenne and Macan. With all the different models, generations, and engine options things can get a little confusing. So let’s discuss the high-level differences between the two.

Size

The Macan is a slightly smaller and more affordable version of the Cayenne. In comparable terms, it is similar to an X5 vs X3 for BMW’s. The Macan was designed to be a bit sportier than the Cayenne, which was intended to be more of a luxury offering.

Both vehicles have the same number of seats, so the sizing difference is most noticeable in legroom, headspace, and trunk space. The back seats in the Macan are going to offer slightly less room for big and tall adults, as well as less head clearance since the Macan is more sleek and compact. However, for young children and teenagers, space shouldn’t be a huge issue. The Macan does have slightly less trunk space but it’s also not a huge difference.

Until 2018 it was a trade-off between space and looks. The Cayenne has more space but the Macan has a more sleek and sporty appeal. However, for the 3rd Gen Cayenne’s, Porsche released a Coupe version. The Cayenne Coupe’s are just barely bigger than the Macan while also offering a lot more in the way of performance.

If you have a big family a need the space, the Cayenne is the way to go. If you want a sportier, more sleek looking SUV and space isn’t the issue then the Macan (or a Cayenne Coupe) is a good option.

Cayenne vs Macan Performance

Despite the Cayenne being a larger and more luxurious vehicle, it also offers more performance than the Macan. Current base model Macan’s use a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine whereas the Cayenne base models uses a 3.0L turbo 6-cylinder. The top model Macan Turbo uses a 3.6L twin-turbo 6-cylinder, whereas the top model Cayenne Turbo GTS has a 4.0L twin-turbo 8-cylinder that produces nearly 650hp.

Additionally, the 0-60mph time on the Macan GTS are 4.3 seconds. This is actually in line with the Cayenne GTS which clocks 4.5 seconds for the SUV version, and 4.2 seconds with the Coupe version. The reason the Macan keeps up is because it is about 500lbs lighter. However, the difference is that the Macan maxes out at 4.3 seconds whereas the Cayenne Turbo GT can log a 3.1 second 0-60mph. The caveat being the Turbo GT is about $100,000 more expensive than the Macan GTS.

Overall, all new Cayenne models have bigger engines and more horsepower than their equivalent Macan models. The one caveat is that a Macan will offer better performance than a first gen Cayenne unless you get the Turbo or Turbo S version. All Macan models are turbocharged which makes them more tunable and power-capable compared to the earlier, naturally-aspirated Cayennes.

Price

Price point is probably the biggest difference between the two. For the third-generation 9YA, the Cayenne now comes in a Coupe format. This coupe style is a bit more sleek and sporty, similar to the Macan. So, if you want the sharper and sportier looking Porsche, you now have two options with the Cayenne Coupe and Macan. However, which is the best for you is going to be dependent on budget as the Cayenne’s are a good bit more expensive.

A Macan starts around $55,000 for a base model, and $80,000 for its most expensive model, the GTS. A Cayenne base model starts around $69,000 and ranges upwards of $180,000.

Overall: the Macan is a smaller, sportier but less powerful, more affordable version of the Cayenne.

Macan and Cayenne Generations

Despite the Macan being more affordable, you can find a Cayenne for a lower price than a Macan. This is because the Cayenne has been around for 20 years and the Macan has only been around for 8. Therefore, when choosing between the two, the big question is do you get an older Cayenne, or a newer Macan at the same price point?

Understanding the different generations is helpful in determining what the best fit for you is.

Cayenne Generations:

1st Generation 955/957 Cayenne
- Base, S, GTS, Turbo, Turbo S, and Diesel
2nd Generation 958 Cayenne
- Base, S, S Hybrid, S E-Hybrid, Turbo, Turbo S, Diesel, S Diesel
3rd Generation 9YA Cayenne
- Base, E-Hybrid, S, GTS, Turbo, Turbo S, Turbo S E-Hybrid, Turbo GT
- Available in both SUV and Coupe versions, various special editions like the Platinum

Macan Generations

1st Generation 95B Macan
- Base, S, T, GTS, Turbo, GTS
- Turbo model was discontinued in 2021 and replaced by the GTS as the new top model

Between all of the generations and various models, there are tons of options to choose from with Cayenne’s. Which makes it a bit difficult to specifically compare the Cayenne to the Macan. However, we’re going to do our best to differentiate your options by price point.

Macan vs Cayenne Options by Price

Cayenne’s are more expensive brand new. However, a 2002 Cayenne will be a lot cheaper than any Macan available. We’re going to list out what your options are when it comes to price point. These are more general price points. You can get a first gen Cayenne for $20,000, but you aren’t getting a first gen Turbo S for $20,000 so keep that in mind.

$20,000 and Under Budget

Unfortunately, the entry level price any Porsche isn’t necessarily the most affordable. $20,000 isn’t going to give you a whole lot of options for a Cayenne (and zero options for a Macan). Here are your options at this price point:

1st Gen 955 Cayenne
- Base models in the $10k-$15k price point (usually ~100k miles)
- S models in $15k-$20k price point (usually ~100k miles)
- Might get lucky and get a GTS for ~$20k

Unfortunately, out of 157 Cayenne’s within 500 miles of me, there are only 8 that fall under the $20k price point. Most are base and S models from 2006-2009 that have 100k or more miles. If I expand my search nationwide, you can find some sub $10k Cayenne’s but they are all 2004-2006 models with 200k+ miles on them which will be a money pit.

Ultimately, at the $20k budget you will be looking at an old, high mileage Cayenne. Not the worst thing, but keep in mind repairs and maintenance on Porsche’s are expensive and anything over the 100k and 15 year age mark is when a lot of common repairs start popping up.

$35,000 and Under Budget

$30k is about the entry price for a Macan. A few can be found in the $25k-$30k price point but expect 100,000+ miles on them.

1st Gen 955 Cayenne
- Just about any first gen model at this price point (Turbo and Turbo S models will be high mileage)
2nd Gen 958 Cayenne
- Base, S, and Diesel models with reasonable mileage
- GTS and Turbo models with 100k+ miles
95B Macan
- Mostly 2014-2016 Base models
- Base models can be found with 40,000-70,000 miles on them at this price
- A few Macan S models available but all will have 70,000+ miles

$60,000 and Under Budget

Jumping from $35k to $60k is a big jump. There are a lot of options in between like newer lower mileage cars, or higher trim’s and so on. However, $60k is about the price point where you can get a new Macan, but not a new Cayenne.

New 95B Macan
- New Macan’s start at $54k. So you could theoretically get a new one for under $60k, albeit without really any options.
Used 95B Macan
- 1-2yr old low mileage base models
- 2-4yr old low mileage S and GTS models
- Turbo models with slightly higher mileage (60k+)
1st Gen 955 Cayenne
- Just about anything you want
2nd Gen 958 Cayenne
- Just about anything you want
- Newest 958’s in highest trims like Turbo/Turbo S will have more miles on them
3rg Gen 9YA Cayenne
- Base models with mileage ranging from 30k-100k

Getting a 3rd gen Cayenne in the S trim or higher is going to run you beyond the $60k price point. However, at this price point you have tons of options both in the Cayenne and Macan markets. It mostly comes down to whether you want an almost new Macan, or a slightly older but higher trim Cayenne.

$80,000 Budget and Beyond

The last budget we’ll discuss here is the $80k price point, and from there we are calling it “beyond”. Considering a new Turbo GT starts at $180k, there are a lot of options in between $80k and the top of the market. However, if you are shooting beyond the $80k mark you’re probably looking for a Cayenne only considering you can get a new Macan at any trim level in this price point.

The Macan GTS starts brand new at $79,900. So you probably aren’t getting a well-optioned new GTS for $80k. But if you look at 1yr old, almost new options you can get whatever you want.

At this price point it’s either get a new Macan S with a good amount of options, get a 1yr old Macan GTS, or get a new base model Cayenne. Or you could obviously look at getting a gently used 9YA Cayenne S, or any 958 Cayenne you want. Unfortunately if you want a 9YA in a trim higher than the S you’re going to need to up the budget.

Macan vs Cayenne Reliability

Reliability between the Cayenne and Macan is tough to judge since there are so many different generations, and each generation uses like six different engines. Fortunately, we’ve done our research and have already written reliability and problems guides for the Macan and the first two generations of the Cayenne.

Summarizing the below two sections, the Macan’s get an above average grade for reliability. Just be careful once the vehicle gets over the 100k mile point as maintenance history is crucial. The first two generations of Cayenne’s get average reliability ratings. First gens will be less reliable and more costly to own due to age. Second gens are a toss up, some will be more reliable since they are newer, but they also log more common problems than the first gens. Third gen Cayenne’s appear to get an above average rating so far.

Macan’s are more reliable than 955, 957, and 958 Cayenne’s. The 9YA Cayenne and Macan’s are about equivalent in terms of reliability. Both can surpass the 150,000 mile mark, but proper maintenance and care is the biggest factor.

Macan Reliability

The Macan’s have generally been problem free since their inception. The biggest issues are with the PDK transmission. Outside of the PDK, most problems it has experienced are general wear and tear items that need to be replaced eventually. However, the PDK issue is somewhat overhyped and not as common of a problem as it appears to be.

The Macan did introduce 2 new engines (2.9L twin-turbo and 3.0L singe turbo) that haven’t been on the road long enough to determine common problem areas. Fortunately, there haven’t been any major issues reported so far.

The one caveat to Macan reliability is that the diesel engines are a bit less reliable than the gas engines. Fueling and emissions components tend to be problematic in these cars, although newer models have addressed and fixed a number of these issues.

Overall, 150,000 to 200,000 miles out of a Macan is possible, but maintenance is key.

Porsche Macan Common Problems Guide

Cayenne Reliability

Age of the engine is a bigger factor for the Cayenne. With some of these cars pushing 20+ years old, you should expect a decent amount of maintenance and repairs out of first gen Cayenne’s, especially if they are high mileage.

Second gen 958 Cayenne’s actually get a worse reputation for reliability than the first gens. They have a few additional common problems that give them a mediocre rap. However, newer 958’s seem to hold up well and generally easier to maintain since they are newer. The first few years of 958’s (2010-2012) will be more expensive to maintain than later model years.

The third gen 9YA’s have so far received an above average rating for reliability. They will experience the same PDK issues as the Macan but outside of this there aren’t a ton of major common problems to be aware of.

Porsche Cayenne 955/957/958 Problems Guide

Cayenne vs Macan Summary

Hopefully this guide was helpful. There is a lot to decipher between the two Porsche’s considering the Cayenne has been around for so long. The Macan was introduced to be a more budget-friendly and slightly smaller version of the Cayenne. People’s preference for the sleeker and sportier look of the Macan led Porsche to create a Coupe version of the Cayenne for folks who want maximum performance in a similar small and sporty package like the Macan.

The Cayenne is more expensive and generally offers better performance. However, a GTS Macan is about $30k less than a Cayenne GTS and clocks the same 0-60mph times despite 20hp less as it weighs about 500lbs less. However, the GTS is the fastest Macan you can get whereas there are higher trim options on the Cayenne that offer up to about 650hp and a 3.1 second 0-60. On the contrary, a base model Macan only generates 261hp whereas a base Cayenne generates 335hp.

When talking new, the biggest difference between the two is price point. The Cayenne is significantly more expensive but is bigger, more spacious, and offers a few more luxury features compared to the more compact Macan. When buying used, there are a lot of different options at every price point. But, the decision usually comes down to whether you want a newer, lower trim Macan or a slightly older higher trim Cayenne.

Ultimately, both the Cayenne and Macan are great cars. At the end of the day which is better really depends on your price point and whether you are looking for space, luxury, and performance or whether you want something more affordable and sporty at the sacrifice of performance.

The 6 Most Common Porsche 955/957/958 Cayenne Engine Problems

November 1, 2021 by porsche 3 Comments

Porsche’s Cayenne made its introduction back in 2002 and is still being produced today. There have been three generations since its introduction. The first-generation, often referred to as the 9PA Cayenne or the Porsche 955, was built on the Volkswagen Group PL71 platform and ran from 2003 – 2010. The second-generation, often referred to as the 92A Cayenne, was built on the Volkswagen Group PL72 platform and ran from 2011 – 2018. And lastly, the third-generation, often referred to as the 9YO Cayenne, was built on the Volkswagen Group MLB Evo platform and started production in 2018 and is still being produced today.

An interesting fact about the Porsche Cayenne, is that it holds a Guinness World Record for the heaviest aircraft, 265-ton Air France Airbus A380, pulled by a production car. As many can imagine, Porsche produced many trims of the Porsche Cayenne: Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne S Hybrid, Cayenne S E-Hybrid, Cayenne GTS, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Turbo S, Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, Cayenne Turbo GT, Cayenne Diesel, and Cayenne S Diesel. With all of these trims, there are also many different engines.

First Generation Porsche 955/957 Cayenne Engines

The first generation came with 11 different engines but we will try to compact the information as much as possible. The Base Cayenne came with a 3.2L VR6 engine that put down anywhere from 247hp – 286hp & 229lb-ft – 284lb-ft of torque. The S came with a 4.5L V8 engine that put down 335hp – 399hp & 310lb-ft – 369lb-ft. The GTS came with a 4.8L V8 that put down 399hp and 369lb-ft of torque. The Turbo came with a twin-turbo 4.8L V8 & a twin-turbo 4.5L V8 that put down anywhere from 444hp – 493hp & 457lb-ft – 516lb-ft of torque. The Turbo S featured a twin-turbo 4.5L V8 that put down anywhere from 513hp – 542hp & 531lb-ft – 553lb-ft of torque. Lastly, the diesel featured a 3.0L V6 engine that put down 237hp & 406lb-ft of torque.

Second Generation Porsche 958 Cayenne Engines

The second generation came with even more engines coming in at 16. The Base Cayenne came with a 3.6L VR6 engine that put down anywhere from 296hp & 295 lb-ft of torque. The Cayenne S came with a 4.8L V8 NA engine that put out 395hp and 369lb-ft of torque and a twin-turbo 3.6L V6 that put down 414hp & 369lb-ft. The GTS featured a NA 4.8L V8 that put down 414hp & 380lb-ft and a twin-turbo 3.6L V6 that put down 434hp & 443lb-ft of torque. The Turbo and Turbo S featured a twin-turbo 4.8L V8 that put down anywhere from 493hp – 562hp & 516lb-ft – 590lb-ft of torque. The Diesel had a single-turbo 3.0L V6 that put down anywhere from 237hp – 258hp & 406lb-ft – 428lb-ft of torque. Lastly, the Cayenne S Diesel featured a twin-turbo 4.1L V8 that put down 380hp & 627lb-ft of torque.

Third Generation Porsche 9YA or P0536 Cayenne Engines

And finally, the third generation had fewer engines. The base Cayenne features a single-turbo 3.0L V6 that puts down 335hp & 332lb-ft of torque. The Cayenne S featured a twin-turbo 2.9L V6 that puts down 434hp & 406lb-ft of torque. The GTS & Turbo features a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 that puts down anywhere from 434hp – 454hp & 406lb-ft – 457lb-ft of torque. The Turbo S E-Hybrid features a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 PHEV that puts down anywhere from 671hp – 690hp & 642lb-ft – 664lb-ft of torque. Lastly, the all-new Cayenne Turbo GT features a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 that puts down 631hp & 626lb-ft of torque.

Common Porsche Cayenne Engine Problems

Before getting into the Porshe Cayenne engine problems, we want to preface that since there are a lot of engines, we will try to differentiate which generation has the most common problem listed below. Also, for the replacement parts linked below, please make sure they fit your vehicle if you have to order them. If not, let us know in the comments and we will assist in any way possible.

Ignition coil or spark plug failure
Faulty fuel pump
Thermostat failure
Plastic coolant lines – 2011-2019 V8
Transfer case failure
Cam adjuster bolt failure – 2010 – 2012 V8

1. Ignition Coil or Spark Plug Failure

Premature ignition coil or spark plug failure is common in many Porsche engines. Therefore, this problems is not solely associated to a specific Cayenne. Spark plugs need high voltage electricity to be able to create a “spark” in the combustion chamber initiating engine combustion. Ignition coils receives lower voltage electricity from the battery and transforms it into the higher voltage spark plugs need.

There are two main reasons why ignition coils and spark plugs fail: normal wear and tear or modifying an engine. Modifying an engine and creating more power will put more heat and stress on the coils and plugs, which often will cause a couple to fail instantly. When they do fail, there will be misfires in the specific cylinder with the faulty coil or plug. Most ignition coils and spark plugs SHOULD last 60,000 miles or more. However, we’ve seen some last 5,000 miles and some last 80,000 miles.

Symptoms of Ignition Coil or Spark Plug Failure:

CEL/MIL illuminating
Engine misfires with fault codes P0300 – P0308
Poor engine performance
Issues starting the engine
Engine surging or stalling

Ignition Coil and Spark Plug Replacement Options:

When an ignition coil or spark plug does happen to go out, we advise replacing all of them while you’re at it to avoid future misfire headaches down the road. Ignition coil and spark plug replacement is not the toughest DIY if you have the proper tools and know the location of the coils. A mechanic or local dealer would likely charge anywhere from $450 – $600 to replace both the coils and spark plugs.

Ignition Coil Pack Replacement: https://amzn.to/3mwwEuH
DIY Difficulty: Easy

2. Faulty Fuel Pump

When we mention fuel pumps, we’re referencing both older low pressure fuel pumps and newer high-pressure fuel pumps, or HPFP. Older 955 Cayenne’s have two pumps low pressure (in-tank) fuel pumps, while newer 958/9YA Cayenne’s have a HPFP (or high-pressure fuel pump) because of direct injection. Low pressure fuel pumps are located in the fuel tank, while the HPFP is typically mounted on the left side cam. A fuel pump pumps fuel from the fuel tank and sends it to the engine. A HPFP on newer Cayenne’s pumps high-pressure fuel into the direct injection system.

The low pressure fuel pumps tend to fail because the pump itself tends to overheat and shut off. The HPFP tends to fail because something inside the pump comes apart or the valve on top of the pump can fail. When either fail, expect engine sputters, misfires, and poor engine performance. Typically, fuel pumps fail at least once in a vehicle’s lifecycle.

Symptoms of Fuel Pump Failure:

Whining noise coming from the fuel tank
Difficulty starting the engine
Engine surges, sputters, or stalls
Engine dying
Decreased fuel economy
Poor engine performance while accelerating

Fuel Pump Replacement Options:

When a fuel pump, whether it be the low pressures or high pressure, goes bad, 9/10 times they will have to be replaced. There are times when you can just replace a gasket on the HPFP if it is leaking, but this is not too common. If a low pressure fuel pump happens to go out, we highly suggest replacing both and the associated filter. Replacing either the HPFP or the low pressure fuel pumps is not the easiest DIY unless you know where they are located. A mechanic will likely charge around $1,200 depending on which pumps are being replaced.

DIY Difficulty: Difficult

3. Thermostat Failure

Thermostat failure, like ignition coils and spark plugs, is common in many other Porsche engines. A thermostat controls the amount of coolant that is recirculated back into the engine and how much coolant is cooled by the radiator before recirculating. There are a few reasons why a thermostat can fail: being stuck ope, being stuck closed, or gasket failure. When it does fail, the engine temps will be high, which will lead to the engine overheating.

Symptoms of Thermostat Failure:

High engine temps
Low coolant indicator illuminating
Engine overheating
Sporadic temperature readings on the dash
Improper coolant flow

Thermostat Replacement Options:

Typically when a thermostat fails, we would advise replacing the water pump as well because typically these go out around the same time. Also, because they are right next to each other. We classified the DIY as difficult, because both the thermostat and water pump are rather hard to get to. However, there are many video tutorials online if you are trying to save some labor costs. A mechanic or dealer will more than likely charge $1,000 to replace only the thermostat.

DIY Difficulty: Difficult

4. Plastic Coolant Lines or Epoxy Failure

For some reason, Porsche decided to put plastic coolant pipes in Cayenne engines. Specifically, there is a lawsuit against Porsche for all 2011 – 2019 V8 958 Cayenne’s. Coolant pipes moves coolant from the radiator to the hottest part of the engine and back to the radiator to cool off before going through the same process over and over again.

The coolant pipes are located below the intake manifold, which is not the coldest place for plastic components to be. The pipes and epoxy tend to fail over time because of all the heat they endure. When they do fail, whether it be the epoxy or the pipes, steam will more than likely start coming out of the engine and the engine could die.

Symptoms of Plastic Coolant Lines or Epoxy Failure:

Low coolant indicator illuminating
Steam coming from the engine
Difficulty starting the engine
Engine overheating
Loss of engine power
Engine dying

Plastic Coolant Lines Replacement Options:

When the epoxy degrades over time or the plastic coolant pipes start to wear, the only thing to do is to replace them. You can try adding more epoxy on the ends, but we highly don’t recommend doing so. When replacing, we highly advise using aluminum pipes to avoid the plastic ones from going out again. The pipes are a little difficult to get to, but there are plenty of tutorials online explaining the DIY, so it isn’t too hard. Since Porsche, as of writing this, doesn’t cover this repair, you will likely have a dealership charge $3,500 to replace the plastic pipes with alluminum coolant pipes.

DIY Difficulty: Intermediate

5. Transfer Case Failure

The most common model year for transfer case failure is 2012, but that certainly is not the only Cayenne that experiences transfer case failure. This is typically found in Cayenne’s with 4WD. A transfer case attaches to the transmission and connects the front a rear drive axles of a 4WD vehicle and it routes torque from the transmission to the axles.

These prematurely fail due to normal wear and tear. When they fail, it causes a miscalculation from the intended wheel speed versus the actual wheel speed. This was such a big issue that Porsche extended the warranty period for the factory transfer cases’ because after many attempts to remedy the faulty transfer cases’, they are still an issue. Typically, transfer cases should not fail at all on a vehicle’s lifecycle.

Symptoms of Transfer Case Failure:

Sporadic acceleration
Vibrations while accelerating
Engine jerking
Difficulty switching gears
Grinding, howling, or humming noise coming from the engine
4WD not engaging

Transfer Case Replacement Options:

When a transfer case wears, the only option is to replace it. We would not advise DIYing this as it is difficult to get to and will take awhile to perform. Unfortunately, Porsche is not covering the cost of transfer case replacement after the extended warranty expires. Customers have been seen to pay an absurd amount to replace the transfer case of up to $5,500 mainly due to the cost of the replacement part.

DIY Difficulty: Difficult

6. Camshaft Actuator Failure

Camshaft actuator failure is common in 2010 – 2012 958 Cayenne’s with a V8. However, the problem is not the camshaft actuator itself, it is the bolts securing the timing chain sprockets. A camshaft actuator is located at the end of the camshaft and it controls the speed of the opening or closing of the poppet valves, which enables engine timing to be more precise. The camshaft actuator bolts hold the camshaft actuator in place.

When the bolts for the camshaft actuator fall off, engine timing is thrown off and the engine will run very roughly. The bolts should not break at all in any engine nowadays. This was such a problem that Porsche actually issued a recall on 2010 – 2012 Cayenne’s to correct the bolts.

Symptoms of Camshaft Actuator Failure:

Poor engine performance
Engine stalls
Engine timing off
CEL or MIL illuminating with a P0340 or more camshaft related fault codes
Rough idle
Decreased fuel efficiency

Camshaft Actuator Replacement Options:

If you happen to own a 958 Cayenne and haven’t had this issue yet, we highly advise replacing the associated bolts to avoid the adjuster failing. As you can imagine, this is also not an easy DIY as you have to take many components out of the engine to get to the bolts. If you have a 2010 – 2012 Cayenne, make sure to check if these have been changed and if not, it should be covered under Porsche. If you don’t have a 2010 – 2012, unfortunately, you will more than likely have to pony up anywhere from $2,000 – $5,000 depending on if there is major engine damage.

DIY Difficulty: Difficult

Porsche Cayenne Reliability

Overall, we aren’t going to sugarcoat it, Porsche Cayenne’s reliability is below average compared to its competitors. However, some model years, specifically 2014 & 2016-2017, are tainting this overall rating. The good news is the 2021 Porsche Cayenne has a J.D. Power reliability rating of 81 out of 100. A good rule of thumb would be to avoid the early model years of all the generations to avoid the initial hiccups. With all of that said, we have seen many Porsche Cayenne’s last well over 200,000 miles with proper maintenance.

If you want to read up on more Porsche content, here’s our write-up on “The 4 Most Common Porsche M97 Engine Problems”.