2003 Porsche Cayenne S: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Porsche Cayenne S: 9 recalls, 4 owner complaints and up to 14 mpg combined.
Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #03V351000 · 2003 · 326 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, the affected vehicles May be missing the gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) and gross axle weight ratings (gawr) on the certification label as required by part 567.4(g)(3) and (g)(4).
Why it matters: The vehicle operator will not be informed of the vehicle's gvwr and gawr.
The fix: Dealers will apply the corrected label. Owner notification began on December 22, 2003. Owners should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.
Electrical Vehicle recall #04V069000 · 2004 · 10,637 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, the main wiring harness was incorrectly routed. Damage to the main wiring harness can lead to the failure of various electrical systems.
Why it matters: In extreme cases, to a cable fire beneath the instrument panel in the passenger compartment.
The fix: Dealers will re-route the wiring harness. Owner notification schedule began on March 29, 2004. Owners should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #04V068000 · 2004 · 35 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, if the ground connection between the spiral ring of the tank filler neck and the connecting pipe to the fuel tank is inadequate, the flow of fuel during refueling can create an electrostatic charge, which could discharge and spark. This spark could ignite fuel vapors in the area outside the tank filler neck that could lead to a muffled detonation.
Why it matters: Due to such a startling event, the individual refueling the vehicle could remove the fuel nozzle at precisely the moment of the detonation without first stopping the fueling process. In such a circumstance, fuel escaping outside of the fuel tank May ignite, resulting in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the ground connection and, if necessary, corrected. Owner notification began on March 29, 2004. Owners should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.
Seats Vehicle recall #04V072000 · 2004 · 4,144 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, the driver's side seat frames were not adequately welded.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the seat frame could break, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driver's side seat frame. Owner notification began on March 29, 2004. Owners should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #04V231000 · 2004 · 19,175 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the rear seat belt latch attachment bolt is insufficient riveted.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant May not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the belt buckle latch and, if necessary, replace the latch. Owner notification began on June 1, 2004. Owners should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #04V593000 · 2004 · 31,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 from an emergency locking retractor (elr) mode to an automatic locking retractor (alr) mode for the purposes of child…
Why it matters: When involved in a crash, the child restraints May not be properly secured increasing the risk of injury or death to the seat occupant.
The fix: Dealers will permanently install a clip in either of the affected rear outboard seat belts and provide an owner's manual insert. The clips will prevent unwarranted conversion from alr to elr mode with child seat installation. The recall began May 17, 2005. Owners should contact Porsche at…
Fuel system Vehicle recall #17V576000 · 2017 · 50,145 vehicles
What's wrong: Porsche cars north america, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 cayenne s and cayenne turbo vehicles, 2004-2006 cayenne vehicles, and 2006 cayenne s "titanium" edition vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that May crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel filter flanges with new filter flanges that have a protective film, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #19V446000 · 2019 · 99,665 vehicles
What's wrong: Porsche cars north america, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 cayenne s, cayenne turbo, 2004-2010 cayenne, 2006 cayenne turbo s, 2010-2016 panamera s, panamera 4 s, panamera turbo, 2011-2016 panamera, panamera 4, 2012-2013 panamera turbo s, 2013-2016 panamera 4 gts, 2014-2016 panamera 4 s executive, panamera turbo executive, panamera turbo s g1 II, panamera turbo s executive, 2013 panamera 4 platinum…
Why it matters: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle May unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. Owners are instructed to use the parking brake until their vehicle is repaired. The recall began August 9, 2019.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #22V656000 · 2022 · 222,858 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: Improperly adjusted headlights May not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Fuel & propulsion (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Tires (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Transmission & drivetrain (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2003 Porsche Cayenne S has 4 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 16 Cayenne S model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 7). Neighboring years: 2004 (48 complaints, 9 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 17 | 14 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne S.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Porsche Cayenne S have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne S. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2003 Porsche Cayenne S problems?
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are fuel & propulsion (2), tires (1), transmission & drivetrain (1).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Porsche Cayenne S get?
EPA ratings run up to 14 mpg combined (4.5 L, Automatic 5-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2003 Porsche Cayenne S repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.