Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Porsche Cayenne Diesel, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 5 | 15% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 12% |
| Power train | 4 | 12% |
| Engine | 2 | 6% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Engine | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 ve
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 a
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 reco
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
**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
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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, reprodu
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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 causi
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 36 | below average |
| Depreciation | 40 | below average |
| Performance | 72 | good |
| Efficiency | 42 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 5 of them (15%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2016 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 60/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.