Model year guide

2018 Porsche panamera 4s

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2018 Porsche panamera 4s is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

2018 Porsche panamera 4s — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2018 Porsche panamera 4s at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints9
Combined23 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2018 Porsche panamera 4s recalls 4

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #23V033000 · manufacturer #APA1 · 27/01/2023

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera GTS and Panamera Turbo vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of specific model names and model years. Humidity may enter the external coolant pump for the climate control system and cause an electrical short circuit.

Fix: Dealers will replace the external coolant pump and inspect and replace the plug-in connection, if necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed March 6, 2023. Owners will receive a second notice once remedy becomes available, anticipat…

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #19V180000 · manufacturer #AKA5 · 06/03/2019

Porsche Cars North America, Inc is recalling certain 2018 Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4 E- Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo, Panamera Turbo Executive, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, vehicles. Incorrect soldering of a control unit may result in the intermittent failure of various systems, possible affecting veh…

Fix: Porsche Cars North America will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began May 17, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA5.

Service Brakes NHTSA Campaign #19V115000 · manufacturer #AKA1/AKA0 · 20/02/2019

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2018 Panamera 4 Executive, Panamera 4S Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Hybrid, Panamera 4 Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4 Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Executive, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo and Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Sport Turismo vehicles, 2017-2018 Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera Turbo Execut…

Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began April 19, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA1/AKA0.

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #18V388000 · manufacturer #AJ06 · 13/06/2018

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo and Panamera Turbo Executive and 2018 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4S Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, and Panamera 4S Executive vehicles. The connecting links may detach from the rear-axle anti-roll bar potentially dama…

Fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connecting links for the anti-roll bar, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ06.

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.

2018 Porsche panamera 4s common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

2018 Porsche panamera 4s MPG & running costs

Combined23 mpg
City21 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,550
EPA size classLarge Cars
TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S8)
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Engine start-stopYes
Passenger volume108 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2018 Porsche panamera 4s costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,750
Fuel only$17,750
Per mile$0.24

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.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deploymen…

NHTSA #EA21002 · Air Bags · opened Sep 2021

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 721

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 721.

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 2026

Manufacturer'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 2026

Manufacturer'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 2026

Manufacturer'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 2026

Special Tools and Equipment Information for alignment machines - Q3 2026 Software Spec Update Available

Bulletin SPTL2609 · Steering, Suspension, Wheels · Sep 2026

Technical Information for Damage to Nano Plug Contacts Due to Utilization of Incorrect Measuring Equipment

Bulletin No. 12-26 · Electrical System · Sep 2026

Special Tools and Equipment Information for Diagnostic Equipment Standards for all USA Porsche Centers

Bulletin SPTL2314a · Aug 2026

Special Tools and Equipment Information for alignment machines - Q2 2026 Software Spec Update Available

Bulletin SPTL2608 · Steering, Suspension, Wheels · Aug 2026

Product Knowledge for Model Type Designations

Bulletin GR16D8a · Aug 2026

Product Knowledge for Chassis/VIN Numbering Systems

Bulletin GR16D8 · Aug 2026

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the PANAMERA 4S AWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 2

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2018 Porsche panamera 4s. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Steering

On certain vehicles, a fault in the power steering system may cause an intermittent loss of steering assist without warning. A loss of power assist would result in a sudden, unexpected increase in steering effort, especially at low vehicle speeds. This could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the power steering…

Transport Canada #2018722 · Dec 2018

Suspension

On certain vehicles, the rear-axle anti-roll bar connecting links could wear prematurely and cause a link to detach. A detached link could come in contact with other suspension parts and cause damage, which may affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the real-axle anti-roll bar connectin…

Transport Canada #2018313 · Jun 2018

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

2018 Porsche panamera 4s trims & engines on record

Trims
4S
Engines
2.9L 6-cyl 440 hp

2018 Porsche panamera 4s vehicles on record

2018 Porsche panamera 4s — frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Porsche panamera 4s have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 Porsche panamera 4s. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Porsche panamera 4s?

Across all 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, power train, electrical system.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Porsche panamera 4s get?

The 2018 Porsche panamera 4s has a U.S. EPA estimate of 23 mpg combined (21 city / 28 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.