2018 Porsche Cayenne: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical and airbags. The 6 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

2018

Owner complaints: 13
Recalls: 1
Crashes reported: 0
Reliability: Good; 62/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

0/6 checked

Paperwork and questions

Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2

01Confirm the other recall listed below shows as completed for this VIN. A Porsche dealer can look it up for free.
02Ask for dealer records showing any charging cable replacement or dashboard repair.

Walk-around and cabin

Engine off, key in hand0/3

03Inspect the leather dashboard above the passenger airbag for peeling, bubbling, or lifted edges.
04On E-Hybrid models, check the charging cable sheath near the wall plug for melted plastic or scorch marks.
05Plug in the car for a short charge and feel the cable and plug for unusual heat.

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/1

06On a long test drive, watch for engine overheat warnings and any burnt smell in the cabin.

These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.

Which Cayenne is it?

EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Porsche Cayenne. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.

Version	Drive	EPA rating
3.6L 6-cylGas	AWD	20 mpg
4.8L 8-cylGas	AWD	17 mpg
3.0L 6-cylPlug-in hybrid	AWD	490 mi range

The 2018 Porsche Cayenne was sold in three versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
On the plug-in hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Cayenne that averages well under the EPA 17 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.

Why these checks: what owners reported

NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Porsche Cayenne, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

Electrical3No crashes
On the E-Hybrid, the charging cable's protective sheath near the wall plug melts or shows burn damage while the car charges. No warning light comes on. In one report the plastic melted enough to short the power. A dealer blamed another case on external factors but still replaced the cable, and that failure came at 54,000 miles. A separate complaint describes heavy cabin heat, a burnt smell, and a loud engine overheat warning that forced a stop at the side of a highway. Both problems raise fire risk.
Airbags2No crashes
The leather dashboard cover peels and delaminates over time. Complaints warn that the loose leather may keep the passenger airbag from deploying correctly in a crash. Both reports describe the problem as common on Cayennes with leather dashboards, and one puts the repair at about $10K. Neither complaint involves an actual crash. Both raise it as a safety risk that many owners may not know about.

In owners' own words

Excerpts from complaints Cayenne owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.

Airbags

This is not accident related, but what appears to be a systemic issue related to Cayenne and Macan leather dashboards. The issue is related to delamination of the leather dash cover that can impede the safe deployment of the passenger airbag. Many cars are affected and the repair can be a significant expense to owners (~$10K) for vehicles less than 8 years old. There should be a recall to address a largely unaware owner base for a potential safety issue.

Filed with NHTSA, October 2024

Airbags

The Porsche Cayenne that equipped with leather dashboard are peeling off over the time. If the vehicle in an accident, the airbag on the passenger side dashboard may not deploy correctly. I am finding many cayenne owners are having this issue. I really hope NTSB can issue a recall.

Filed with NHTSA, August 2024

How the 2018 compares with other Cayenne years

Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.

The 2018 ranks third for owner complaints among 8 Cayenne years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.

2018 Average of other years

Electrical32
Airbags22

Where the 2018 fits in the Cayenne's history

Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.

The 2018 is the eighth model year of the Cayenne's second generation (2011–2018).

It includes the 2014 update.

What changed for 2014

Minor exterior alterations
New power-train options including a plug-in E-Hybrid

Recalls to confirm (1)

Recall repairs are free at any Porsche dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.

18V844000EquipmentNov 2018
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.
Risk: If the ski bag detaches during a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.

Also looking at these instead of a Cayenne?

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2018 owner complaints, side by side