2003 Porsche Cayenne
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2003 Porsche Cayenne is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 53 on record.
2003 Porsche Cayenne at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
2003 Porsche Cayenne recalls 2
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 ad…
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. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.
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 RES…
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 1-800-545…
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
2003 Porsche Cayenne common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
2003 Porsche Cayenne MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 2003 Porsche Cayenne costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 2
SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION Closed
PORSCHE IS INITIATING A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION ACTION TO ADDRESS A CONDITION RELATED TO A FAULTY OR LOOSE CONNECTOR IN THE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM. PORSCHE'S TESTING HAS SHOWN THAT THE FAULTY CONNECTOR WILL NOT PREVENT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE FAULTY CONNECTOR WILL CAUSE THE CIRCUIT RESISTANCE TO EXCEED THE THRESHOLD FOR ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. PORSCHE HAS REPORTED A LARGE NUMBER OF WARRANTY CLAIMS FO…
NHTSA #EA06005 · Air Bags · opened Mar 2006 · closed Mar 2007SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION Closed
DURING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PHASE, ODI IDENTIFIED 76 OWNER COMPLAINTS AND 6,582 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION FROM EITHER A FAULTY SIDE-IMPACT AIRBAG MODULE OR WIRING HARNESS. TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO ALLEGATION OF CRASH, INJURY OR DEATH REPORTED. PORSCHE REPORTS THAT A BAD BATCH OF MODULES WAS PRODUCED DURING MID-NOVEMBER TO MID-DECEMBER, 2003. HOWEVER, PORSCHE¿S WARRANTY DATA…
NHTSA #PE05060 · Air Bags · opened Nov 2005 · closed Mar 2006An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 410
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 410.
Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C40 Engine Oils. Note that this bulletin covers all models back to model year 1984, for which C40 engine oils are allocated.
Bulletin No. 28-26 · Power Train, Engine · Sep 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils. Note that the bulletin covers all models back to model year 1984, for which C20 engine oils are allocated.
Bulletin No. 27-26 · Power Train, Engine · Sep 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils. Note that the bulletin includes all models back to model year 1984, for which C30 engine oils are allocated.
Bulletin No. 26-26 · Power Train, Engine · Sep 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche A40 Engine Oils. Note that this bulletin covers all vehicles from model year 1997 to 2020, for which A40 engine oils are assigned. Model years 1997-2001 are not available for selection in the system.
Bulletin No. 25-26 · Power Train, Engine · Sep 2026Special Tools and Equipment Information for alignment machines - Q3 2026 Software Spec Update Available
Bulletin SPTL2609 · Steering, Suspension, Wheels · Sep 2026Technical Information for Damage to Nano Plug Contacts Due to Utilization of Incorrect Measuring Equipment
Bulletin No. 12-26 · Electrical System · Sep 2026Special Tools and Equipment Information for Diagnostic Equipment Standards for all USA Porsche Centers
Bulletin SPTL2314a · Aug 2026Special Tools and Equipment Information for alignment machines - Q2 2026 Software Spec Update Available
Bulletin SPTL2608 · Steering, Suspension, Wheels · Aug 2026Product Knowledge for Model Type Designations
Bulletin GR16D8a · Aug 2026Product Knowledge for Chassis/VIN Numbering Systems
Bulletin GR16D8 · Aug 2026Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the CAYENNE. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 3
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2003 Porsche Cayenne. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain vehicles, covers were not installed over the horizontal headlamp adjusters. As a result, the headlamps may be adjusted horizontally. Canadian regulations do not allow for horizontal headlamp adjustment unless the vehicle is equipped with a built-in aiming device. Safety Risk: Headlamps that are not properly adjusted could cause reduced visibility or glare for…
Transport Canada #2022487 · Aug 2022Powertrain
Issue: On certain vehicles, the transmission shifter could detach from the transmission. This could cause the transmission not to shift gears when the shifter is moved. As a result, the transmission could be in a different gear than the gear shifter indicates. If a driver attempts to exit the vehicle while the transmission is not in Park, and the parking brake is not applied, t…
Transport Canada #2019290 · Jun 2019Fuel System
On certain vehicles, the fuel pump flange may develop fine cracks or fissures, which could result in a fuel leak. Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, could lead to a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel pump flange.
Transport Canada #2017457 · Sep 2017Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is a series of automobiles manufactured by the German company Porsche since 2002. It is an E-segment luxury crossover SUV, and has been described as both a full-size and a mid-size vehicle. The first generation was known within Porsche as the Type 9PA (955/957) or E1. It was the first V8-engined vehicle built by Porsche since 1995, when the Porsche 928 was discontinued. It is also Porsche's first off-road vehicle since its Super and Junior tractors of the 1950s, as well as the first production Porsche with four doors. Since 2014, the Cayenne has been sold alongside a smaller Porsche SUV, the Macan.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
2003 Porsche Cayenne vehicles on record
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1AB29P74LA65439
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ4LA00070
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA44376
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1AC29P54LA92815
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA80942
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ4LA00203
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA41062
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA41926
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA80535
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ4LA81254
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1AB29P84LA69127
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ4LA80554
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1AC29P94LA90047
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA81771
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA42330
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA81722
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1AC29P44LA91445
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1AC29P33LA90141
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ4LA83083
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1AC29P44LA90036
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA44919
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1AC29P14LA92181
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1ZZZ9PZ3LA42643
2003 Porsche CayenneWP1AC29P23LA90275