Total Complaints
3 filings
PORSCHE CAYENNE · model year
2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE
3 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003PORSCHECAYENNE carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 CAYENNE is power train:driveline:driveshaft with 1 filings, followed by structure (1) and fuel system, gasoline:delivery (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2003 CAYENNE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
Recalls (2)
22V65600030/08/2022
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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
04V59300015/12/2004
SEAT BELTS
CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." ALL THREE REAR SEAT POSITIONS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER POSITION ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT HAVE A LOCKING FEATURE WHICH CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR F
Recent Complaints
20180711FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V576000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (PORSCHE ROCHESTER, 3955 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623, (585) 334-1600) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
20120125POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VIBRATION WENT FROM A PART TIME OCCURRENCE TO BEING A CONSISTENT OCCURRENCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE SUPPORT BEARING FAILED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE SUPPORT BEARING WAS BEING HELD TOGETHER BY A PIECE OF RUBBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,350 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 52,000. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED PREMATURELY. UPDATED EVOQ 03/08/12 UPDATED EVOQ 04/12/12
Mileage: 49,350
20120125STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VIBRATION WENT FROM A PART TIME OCCURRENCE TO BEING A CONSISTENT OCCURRENCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE SUPPORT BEARING FAILED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE SUPPORT BEARING WAS BEING HELD TOGETHER BY A PIECE OF RUBBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,350 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 52,000. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED PREMATURELY. UPDATED EVOQ 03/08/12 UPDATED EVOQ 04/12/12
Mileage: 49,350
Compare 2003PORSCHECAYENNE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE have?▼
The 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE?▼
Yes, the 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY.
Is the 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.