2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S Power Train Problems

PORSCHE HAS RECALLED THE 2011 FOR HEADLIGHT BECOMING LOOSE. I HAVE A 2004 WITH SAME PROBLEM. ANY TYPE OF VIBRATION OR BUMP IT BECOMES LOOSE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. PORSCHE IS AWARE OF DRIVESHAFT CLUNKING BECAUSE OF FAULTY BUSHINGS AND WILL NOT RECALL DRIVESHAFTS IT CLUNKS WHENN YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE TO PASSS A SEMI BUT ALSO WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP IT ALSO DOES IT TOO. PORSCHE DEALERBIN WALLINGFORD CT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE WORKSHOP CAMPAIGNS.

Mileage: 119,000

WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND COMING FROM UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THEN PROCEEDED ON BUT ONCE THE TRUCK GOT OVER 20MPH THE KNOCKING NOISE STARTED AGAIN . *TR

Mileage: 134,390

THE PORSCHE CAYENNE IS NOTORIOUS FOR DRIVE / CARDAN SHAFT FAILURES. HAD BAD DRIVE SHAFT NOISES, AND SUBSEQUENT PREMATURE FAILURE, IT WAS A WORN CENTER SUPPORT DAMPENER AND A FAULTY CENTER SUPPORT BEARING. I EXPERIENCED BANGING, BUMPING, GRINDING NOISES FROM MY PORSCHE CAYENNE AND WAS UNAWARE AT THE TIME IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. I HAVE OUTLINED THE NOISES AND CAUSES BELOW: - A CLANKING OR CLUNKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING OR FROM DECELERATION TO ACCELERATION AROUND 35TO 40MPH AND WHILE CAYENNE WAS SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. AROUND 5TH AND 6TH GEAR GOING AROUND 50-60 MPH IT STOPPED. IF I KEPT THE RPM UNDER 200 IT SEEMED TO RUN OK, NO ISSUE, BUT IF I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR HARD OR GUNNED IT, IT WENT HAYWIRE. IT WAS THE RESULT OF A WORN AND DAMAGED DAMPENER OR DIAPHRAGM LOCATED ON THE CENTER SUPPORT BEARING. THIS CONDITION WILL ALLOW FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT TO TRAVEL UP AND DOWN WITH VARIATIONS IN DRIVE LINE TORQUE. THIS MOVEMENT WILL PRODUCE A LOUD CLANKING OR CLUNKING SOUND AND MAKE FOR A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS CONDITION IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON FAILURES ON THE CAYENNE DRIVE SHAFT, ALL MODELS 2003 TO 2006. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FREE FIX BY PORSCHE BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY OF THE VEHICLES AND MODEL YEARS STATED ABOVE! BUT NO, PORSCHE QUOTED ME $2,500 TO FIX IT. NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AREA, THE HARD RUBBER DAMPENER ON THE CENTER SUPPORT SHAFT OF THE POWER TRAIN, WHICH BY THE WAY IS POSSIBLE. NO, PORSCHE WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN FOR $2,500. *JS

Mileage: 98,490

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT ONCE AND JOLTED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED EVERY TIME VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS AROUND 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE FAILURE IF THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED A HIGHER SPEED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR; HOWEVER WHEN NOTIFIED, THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE RELATED TO A FAILED DRIVE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

Mileage: 94,000

COOLANT LEVEL APPEARS LOW ALL THE SUDDEN AND PIPES R LEAKING. *TR

Mileage: 71,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURRED ALONG WITH A SIMULTANEOUS BANGING SOUND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CENTER DRIVE SHAFT BEARING WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,800. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/06/11

Mileage: 50,800

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURRED ALONG WITH A SIMULTANEOUS BANGING SOUND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CENTER DRIVE SHAFT BEARING WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,800. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/06/11

Mileage: 50,800

MAIN DRIVE SHAFT CENTER BEARING FAULTY, FAILURE WITHOUT NOTICE, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN. DEALER WILL REPLACE WITH UPGRADE PART WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM MAKER. *TR

Mileage: 32,419

**UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION** CAYENNE S ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 60 MPH, I ENCOUNTERED TRAFFIC AHEAD AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, HOWEVER THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING. I TRIED LIFTING THE PEDAL WITH MY FOOT, NO LUCK, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR SLOWED, HOWEVER, WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE CAYENNE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT BEEN ACTIVATED AND WAS OFF. I KEPT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND RELEASING IT AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES AND FINALLY THE CAYENNE STOPPED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, ONLY TO LOSE ANY CONTROL TO ACCELERATE. I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED THE CAR. TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED - I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE, HOWEVER ACCELERATION WAS VERY SLOW AND GEAR INDICATOR ON THE DASH CLUSTER DISPLAYED A BLACK 'D' IN AN ORANGE SQUARE. THIS IS A SYMBOL THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE CAR SHIFTED THROUGH GEARS NORMALLY. THE RAPID UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION REPEATED ITSELF AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT, SLOWING AND STOPPING THE CAR THANKSTO MASSIVE 14" FRONT BRAKES WITH 6 PISTON CALIPERS AND 13"+ REAR BRAKES WITH 4 PISTON CALIPERS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED. GEAR SELECTION INDICATOR APPEARED NORMAL AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF, HOWEVER ACCELERATION WAS STILL VERYSLOW. DROVE HOME WITH THE RAPID ACCELERATION REPEATING ITSELF AGAIN AND THEN STOPPING AFTER A FEW MILES. THE ONLY REASON THIS DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH IS THE MASSIVE BRAKING POWER OF THE CAYENNE AND ASTUTE DRIVING. I RAN DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE WHEN I MADE IT HOME AND THERE WAS AN "ACCELERATOR MODULE" FAILURE REPORTED. THE TAIL LIGHTS, ALARM, CENTRAL LOCKING, AND THE ABILITY TO OPEN THE TAILGATE AT ALL HAVE ALSO FAILED - "REAR LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE" FAILURE. SO WHILE DRIVING, MY TAIL LIGHTS FAILED, CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE IN A SAFE NORMAL MANNER. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE PROMPTLY ADDRESSED! *TR

Mileage: 77,059

CAR WAS DRIVING NORMAL. PARKED IN GARAGE AND 2 HOURS LATER TOOK BACK OUT FOR SHORT DRIVE. REACHING 25 MPH, CAR BEGIN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THAN AS ACCELERATED FURTHER STOPPED SHAKING. PULLED OVER, THAN ACCELERATED AGAIN SLOWLY, CAR BEGIN SHAKING AT APPROX 50 MPH. SLOWED AGAIN. AND CAR CONTINUED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT PORSCHE SHOP, AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS "FAILED DRIVE SHAFT CENTER BEARING". *TR

Mileage: 60,000

SEVERE VIBRATION/NOISE IN MAIN REAR DRIVE SHAFT. FAILURE OF RUBBER BUSHING COMPONENT ON CENTER SUPPORT BEARING CAUSES SEVERE INSTABILITY OF DRIVE SHAFT. POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENT AT SPEED. FIRST FAILURE AT 72000 MILES. DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF FAILURE ON VEHICLES NATIONWIDE TO THE EXTENT THAT PORSCHE DOES NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM WAREHOUSE AND OTHER DEALERS ARE RELUCTANT TO TRANSFER STOCK BECAUSE OF ANTICIPATED NEED. *JB

Mileage: 72,000

WHEN MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY OR SIMILAR HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES JUST DIE IN RESPONSE WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE SPEED TO MATCH OTHER TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSES OTHER TO TAKE AVOIDANCE ACTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ON ONE OCCASION A SEMI NEARLY REAR ENDED ME. *NM

Mileage: 500

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL AT SLOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL FEEL AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK, AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER IT IS WARMER OR COLDER TEMPERATURES. THE SERVICE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, , BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. THE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM INCLUDED, UPDATING AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT. THIS STILL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SENT A TECHNICIAN TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN REPRODUCED THE PROBLEM, AND SAID THAT IT WAS A CONDITION OF HILL HOLDER FUNCTION WHICH HOLDS THE VEHICLE IN PLACE TO APPROXIMATELY 800-1100 RPMS, AT WHICH IT WILL START TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WA SCOLD. THE CONTACT REQUESTED FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO SUBMIT THE REASON WHY THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THE VEHICLE. THE REMEDY FROM THE MANUFACTURER WAS FOR THE CONTACT TO ACCELERATE MORE WHEN GOING UP A HILL. THE SECOND EXPLANATION THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED WAS THAT THE JERKING OF THE VEHICLE WAS CAUSED BY OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES. THE CALIFORNIA NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD REQUESTED THAT THE SECOND EXPLANATION BE PUT INTO WRITING, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED. ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN BOTHERING THE CONTACT WAS THAT WHILE DRIVING AND UPON ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. WHEN ACCELERATING NOTHING WILL HAPPEN, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY LOSE POWER. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THIS WAS TRANSMISSION CONTROL., BUT THE REPAIRS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 2,003

2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE HAD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE: REAR HATCH LID ADJUSTED, DOME LIGHT COVERS REPLACED, AUDIO UNIT REPLACED, ETC...***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND BANGED AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER UPDATED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED STALLING PROBLEMS. THE REMOTE ENTRY REMOTE LOST IT'S PROGRAMMING AND HAD A POOR SIGNAL. AT TIME ALL THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THE REAR HATCH LIGHT WOUOLD NOT TURN OFF BECAUSE THE HATCH WAS MISADJUSTED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE HORN WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND A VIBRATION COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HEADLAMPS FOGGED UP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR OULD NOT FOLD IN AUTOMATICALLY. THE RADIO AND OTHER ACCESORIES WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHENT HE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE HOOD WAS HAD TO RAISE BECAUSE THE TAILGATE SHOCKS FAILED. THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT CLOSE BECAUSE IT WAS MISALIGNED. THE REAR ROOF MOLDING WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE RADIO PRODUCED NO SOUND AT TIME IN THE RADIO OR CD MODE. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD TO BE UPDATED. THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT CLOSE FLUSH WITH THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR A TOTAL OF 32 DAYS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *NM

Mileage: 8,047

VEHICLE HESITATES 1 - 2 SECONDS BEFORE RESPONDING TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL INPUT. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS OR CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION. *AK