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Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera): 14/100 (low risk) versus 55/100 (high risk). The Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) has 5 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cracked plastic coolant pipes on the Cayenne V8»; the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)

55

High risk · 5 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

14

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

33 sourcesHow we work

Is the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) reliable?

There are no public failure statistics for these engines. The sources agree on three points: the plastic coolant pipes of the first Cayenne V8s, cylinder bore scoring in the naturally aspirated 4.5, and the timing chain of the VR6 V6s. On the 4.8 and the Panamera, the camshaft adjuster bolts (a 2012 workshop campaign) and leaks weigh more.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

See the 7 of the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) faults

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 reliable?

The EW10 (2.0) and EW12 (2.2) are naturally aspirated 16-valve petrol engines with a timing belt, which PSA fitted between 1999 and 2010 to the 206, 307, 406, 407, 607, 807, C4, C5 and C8, among others. According to owners there are no frequent internal failures: the most-cited problems are the ignition coils (the only fault also reported by the press), the exhaust and, on the 2.2, oil consumption.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

See the of the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) and 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement——
TimingChainTiming belt (dry)
Power250–570 hp135–177 hp
Production2002–2017[1][17][18][19]1999–2010[9][11][20][21]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)55High risk14Low risk
Documented faults71
Of high or critical severity50
Worst severityCritical severityMedium severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Cracked plastic coolant pipes on the Cayenne V8
  2. High severity: Timing chain stretch on the Cayenne VR6 V6 engines
  3. Critical severity: Cylinder bore scoring in the Cayenne 4.5 V8 block
  1. Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 3.2 V6 VR6 250 hp (Cayenne I, 2004-2007)[3][4][25]
  • 3.6 V6 VR6 FSI 290 hp (Cayenne I, 2007-2010)[3][4][26]
  • 3.6 V6 VR6 300 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)[25][27]
  • 4.5 V8 S 340 hp (M48.00, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)[1][2][3][5]
  • 4.5 V8 Turbo 450 hp and Turbo S 521 hp (M48.50, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)[1][2][3][5]
  • 4.8 V8 S 385 hp and GTS 405 hp (M48.01, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)[3][4][26]
  • 4.8 V8 Turbo 500 hp and Turbo S 550 hp (M48.51, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)[26][28]
  • 4.8 V8 S 400 hp, GTS 420 hp, Turbo 500/520 hp and Turbo S 550/570 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)[6][7][27][29]
  • 3.6 V6 300/310 hp (Panamera and Panamera 4, 2010-2016)[6][17][30][31]
  • 4.8 V8 S, 4S and GTS 400-440 hp (M48.20, Panamera, 2009-2016)[6][8][31]
  • 4.8 V8 Turbo and Turbo S 500-570 hp (M48.70, Panamera, 2009-2016)[6][31][32]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

Other comparisons

With the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Compare other engines

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Porsche Cayenne (generaciones 955/957 y 958, motores y problemas conocidos)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
  2. Alusil (aleación de aluminio y silicio para cilindros)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
  3. Gebrauchtwagen-Kaufberater: Was kann der Porsche Cayenne 9PA?AutoScout24 · Motoring press · published 10 January 2022 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
  4. Porsche Cayenne I 9PA - Probleme und KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
  5. Buying, owning, improving the Porsche Cayenne 958Car Mechanics · Motoring press · published 24 September 2025 · consulted 9 October 2026
  6. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 17V-368 (Porsche AH08, reguladores de los árboles de levas)NHTSA / Porsche Cars North America · Official body · published 21 February 2023 · consulted 9 October 2026
  7. Amended Chronology For Recall AH08 (cronología de la campaña de los reguladores de levas)Porsche Cars North America (documento en NHTSA) · Manufacturer · published 20 July 2017 · consulted 9 October 2026
  8. 1st Gen Porsche Panamera Buyer's GuideStuttcars · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
  9. PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  10. Peugeot 307 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 November 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  11. Peugeot 407 problems (reseña de Graham Smith)CarsGuide (Australia) · Motoring press · published 17 March 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
  12. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  13. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 406 1995-2004 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  14. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 407 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  15. Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  16. Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C8 2002-2015 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  17. Porsche Panamera (primera generación, 970)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
  18. Porsche-Achtzylindermotoren: historia de los V8 de PorschePorsche Newsroom · Manufacturer · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
  19. Porsche V8 engines (familia M48)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
  20. Peugeot 406Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  21. Peugeot 307 2.0 16V 140 ch: courroie de distribution (intervalo, tiempo y riesgo)Mecazen · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  22. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 1998-2006 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  23. Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  24. Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C4 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  25. Probleme mit dem Porsche Cayenne (9PA y 92A) inklusive RückrufaktionenCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
  26. Fiabilité Porsche Cayenne (2002-2010): pannes et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
  27. Fiabilité Porsche Cayenne 2 (2010-2017): pannes et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
  28. Porsche Cayenne 4.8 500 ch 2012: moteur cassé, vis d'arbre à cames desserrée à 147.000 kmfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · published 9 May 2018 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
  29. Porsche Cayenne Coolant Pipe Failure: Causes, Symptoms, and Repair CostsForeign Automotive (taller de Ontario, Canadá) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
  30. Fiabilité Porsche Panamera (2009-2016): pannes et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
  31. 970 Porsche Panamera Common ProblemsYOUCANIC · Other source · published 6 November 2024 · consulted 9 October 2026
  32. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 9 October 2026
  33. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French