2004 Porsche Cayenne Engine Problems

LEAKING PLASTIC COOLING PIPES, VEHICLE IN MOTION, CITY STREET BOCA RAYON FL

PORSCHE ANNOUNCED THEIR "CAMPAIGN" (RECALL) ON NOVEMBER 14, 2017. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL PORSCHE DEALERS SINCE THAT TIME, AND THE PARTS FOR THIS RECALL ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ONE DEALER SAYS IT COULD BE "ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS" BEFORE THE PART IS AVAILABLE. THE AH10 CAMPAIGN SAYS THAT THIS SITUATION CAN CAUSE A FIRE! IS THIS WHAT PORSCHE IS WAITING FOR? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THEM TO PRODUCE THE PARTS NECESSARY TO PREVENT SIGNIFICANT INJURY OR DEATH.

CAR WAS BOUGHT AS CERTIFIED PORSCHE IN MAR 2011 WITH 66K MILES; CURRENT MILES 165K MILES; DRIVEN APPROX. FOR 100K MILES IN 6 YEARS. ENGINE CLICKING NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE "F" CYN. WALLS ARE SCORED AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. CHECKED ON-LINE FOR THIS CONDITION WITH OTHER V-8 PORSCHE OWNERS TO FIND THAT IT'S VERY COMMON. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN ISSUE AND SAFETY WISE ( NO POWER, MISS FIRING AND STALLING). A $100K NEW SHOULD NOT HAVE A V-8 ENGINE THAT HAS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT IS WORTH LESS AT SUCH LOW MILES.

ENGINE COOLANT HOSES ARE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. EVERYTIME I POUR ANTIFREEZE INTO THE CAR IT COMES OUT, IM AFRAID IT MIGHT DAMAGE SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE THE ENGINE ETC. THEY HAVE PLASTIC HOSES ON THEM. *TR

OWNER OPERATES A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO, 4.5L V8 ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE, WITH JUST OVER 61,000 MILES BEGAN TO OVERHEAT FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT (DETECTED BY FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURE GAUGE). THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS FOUND TO BE LOW IN THE SERVICE BOTTLE BY APPX. 2 QUARTS WHEN CHECKED AND WAS REFILLED. THE EVENING BEFORE THE INCIDENT OWNER'S SPOUSE REPORTED A LOW COOLANT ALARM MESSAGE HAD DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, COOLANT WAS ABOUT 2 QUARTS LOW IN THE SERVICE BOTTLE AND WAS REFILLED. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WAS BEING RUN AT 1500 RPM (FAST IDLE) IN A PARKED POSITION IN THE OWNER'S DRIVEWAY FOR A TEST WHEN A FLOOD OF ENGINE COOLANT WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY SECURED TO AVOID DAMAGE. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED DRIVABLE AND WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED TO A SERVICE FACILITY. AN INVESTIGATIVE TEARDOWN REVEALED A RUPTURED PLASTIC COOLING PIPE INSIDE THE VALLEY OF THE ENGINE, THIS FAILURE REQUIRED REMOVAL OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO DIAGNOSE AND IS NOT A ROADSIDE-REPAIRABLE EVENT. THE EVENT CAUSED LOSS OF MORE THEN 50% OF TOTAL COOLANT VOLUME AS ONLY APPX. 1 GALLON WAS RECOVERED FROM THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO TEARDOWN. A PRESCRIBED REPAIR KIT FOR THIS FAILURE (REPLACEMENT COOLING PIPES KIT) WAS OBTAINED FROM SONNEN PORSCHE, SAN FRANCISCO CA AND INSTALLED BY VEHICLE OWNER. AFTER FILLING OF COOLANT AND TEST DRIVING, NO FURTHER PROBLEM WAS NOTED. *TR

COOLANT LINE/PLASTIC COOLANT HOSE FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND MY LOW COOLANT LIGHT APPEARED. WITHIN SECONDS, THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING AND THE TEMP. GAGE RAPIDLY BEGAN TO RISE. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TO AVOID POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. I TOWED THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INDICATED ITS A DESIGN DEFECT FROM PORSCHE AND THE PLASTIC TUBES ARE NOW REPLACED BY OREM ALUMINUM TUBES. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE DESIGN FLAW BY PORSCHE WAS CONCEALED. THE CAYENNE S IS IN THE SHOP AND I'M HOPING THAT ONLY THE HOSES NEED REPLACEMENT AND NOTHING ELSE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. A HUGE DENT IN THE WALLET AS THIS IS A COSTLY FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED ALL THE ANTIFREEZE LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN . THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE PLASTIC PIPES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

AT 38,785 MILES COOLANT PIPES LEAKING AND REPLACED. AFTER REPAIR "INTERNAL ENGINE NOISE" AND NOISE IS NOW LOUDER AND ENGINE USE MORE OIL. TOOK TO LOCAL PORSCHE DEALER VEHICLE STILL AT PORSCHE DEALER BECAUSE DEALER STATES" ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED" BECAUSE IF OVERHEATED DUE TO COOLANT PIPE FAILURE PISTONS WALLS DAMAGED. DEALER CHECKING WITH PORSCHE TO FIND OUT IF THEY WILL PAY SOMETHING OR ALL OF COST TO REPLACE ENGINE. CAYENNE AT PORSCHE DEALER FOR OVER 60 DAYS WITH NO OUTCOME AS TO WHAT PORSCHE WILL PAY. COULD COST UP TO $20,000 IF INVOICED TO ME. *TR

CRACK IN ORIGINAL PLASTIC COOLANT PIPES. *JS

DRIVING VEHICLE, HEARD NOISE AND ENGINE LIGHTS ON. STOP CHECK ENGINE, BELTS OFF. TOW TO SERVICE FACILITY. WATER PUMP PULLEY WAS FOUND TO SPLIT, MADE OF FIBER. REPLACED PULLEY AND MULTI RIB BELT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, AN OVERHEATING INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE ENGINE COOLANT WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. WHILE ADDING THE COOLANT, THE TECHNICIANS NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT THROUGH ITS PLASTIC TUBING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE PLASTIC TUBING FOR THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS BEING REPLACED WITH ALUMINUM TUBING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,500.

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE AND ADD COOLANT LIGHTS ON. STOPPED ADDED COOLANT, DROVE HOME PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. OUT TO USE CAYENNE AGAIN, NOTICED COOLANT ON DRIVEWAY, STARTED ENGINE COOLANT LEAK ALLOVER DRIVE. CALLED PORSCHE DEALER, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY, ALSO 2 WEEK BACKLOG IN GETTING REPAIR, CALL INDEPENDENT SERVICE AND HAD TOW TO INDEPENDENT GARAGE. REPLACE ALL COOLANT PIPES AND WATER PUMP. AFTER REPAIR "INTERNAL ENGINE NOISE". OK TO DRIVE. *TR

COOLANT PIPE START TO FAIL FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2004-2006. THE MATERIAL FOR COOLANT PIPE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT RESULTED IN A DISINTEGRATION OF PIPE OVERTIME DUE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES. PORSCHE TECHNICIANS IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE AND PORSCHE ENGINEERS ALSO IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE. THEY CAME UP WITH A REPLACEMENT PART WHICH IS MADE OF ALUMINUM TO MITIGATE DAMAGES TO THE ENGINE DUE TO SUDDEN FAILURE OF COOLANT PIPE. IF THE PIPE BUSTED, IT WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FAIL DURING OPERATION AND MAY RESULT IN A HAZARDOUS INCIDENT CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND POSSIBLY INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND ITS PASSENGER. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT PORSCHE TO RECALL THIS PRODUCT AND REPLACE IT FOR ALL DEFECT TO PREVENT FURTHER INCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW SO THE COST TO REPAIR, REPLACE OR TO UPGRADE CANNOT BE THE OWNER RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

PORSCHE KNOWINGLY MANUFACTURED CAYENNE MODEL VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC COOLANT TUBES THAT DEGRADE AND FRACTURE CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE. PORSCHE HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND FAILED TO MAKE CONSUMERS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FAILURE DESPITE THE RISK TO THE OWNERS SAFETY AND POCKETBOOK. *KB

WATER PUMP FAILURE. ORIGINAL PART HAS PLASTIC IMPELLER AND HIGH FAILURE RATE DEALER WII REPLACE WITH UPGRADED PART BUT NO REEMBURSEMENT. *TR

ORIGINAL ENGINE COOLING TUBES DEFECTIVE, PLASTIC COMPOSITION.CAN FAIL WITHOUT INDICATION CAUSING OVERHEATED ENGINE AT ANY TIME. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE UPGRADED TO METAL. NO RECALL AND MAKER WILL NOT REEMBURSE DAMAGE OR REPAIR. *TR

THE PORSCHE CAYENNE (AND OTHER PORSCHE MODELS) HAVE A COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE'S "LOW COOLANT LEVEL" LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL AND FOUND IT TO BE SEVERELY LOW. THE PORSCHE DEALER SERVICE (AND ON-LINE FORUMS) REPORT THAT PORSCHE CAYENNE ENGINES ARE ENCOUNTERING A COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO AFFECT ALL CAYENNE S, CAYENNE TURBO AND CAYENNE TURBO S ENGINES BUILT FROM 2003 TO 2006 (MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 MODEL). THE COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM IS LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COOLANT PIPES LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE PORSCHE DEALER, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE PLASTIC MATERIAL USED BY PORSCHE (WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN CHANGED TO A METAL MATERIAL) AND THE PLASTIC FITTINGS. THE LACK OF COOLANT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, OR EVEN BLOW AN ENGINE, WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, PORSCHE SERVICE SAYS THAT THE COOLANT PIPES MUST BE REPLACED, WHICH IS A VERY LABOR AND PARTS INTENSIVE SERVICE COSTING WELL OVER $1,000. *TR

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND VEHICLE LACK POWER. DROVE TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SERVICE, REPLACED 8 IGNITION COILS AND 8 SPARK PLUGS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. ALL IGNITION COILS CRACKED. *TR

2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE S. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE FIRE DAMAGES. *AS *JS

**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