Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) engine: faults and reliability

• 3.2 V6 VR6 250 hp (Cayenne I, 2004-2007)

  2004–2007 · 250 hp

  With caution

  AutoScout24 says this VR6 often suffers from defective timing chains and Gebrauchtwagenberater warns that the chain also causes problems in the smaller V6 engines; ask for the chain invoice, because a chain that jumps can damage the engine (CarWiki).^[3][4][12]

• 3.6 V6 VR6 FSI 290 hp (Cayenne I, 2007-2010)

  2007–2010 · 290 hp

  With caution

  AutoScout24 prefers it to the 3.2 and cites no faults of its own, but Gebrauchtwagenberater warns of chain problems in the smaller V6 engines too and fiches-auto reports a displaced chain with the crankshaft replaced at around 130,000 km; check the chain history.^[3][4][13]

• 3.6 V6 VR6 300 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)

  2010–2017 · 300 hp

  With caution

  Three fiches-auto reports with about 285,000 km do not blame the engine for any faults, but CarWiki cites chain stretch and tensioner wear in the 92A without separating engines: check the chain history.^[12][14]

• 4.5 V8 S 340 hp (M48.00, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)

  2002–2007 · 340 hp · M48.00

  With caution

  It combines the two best-documented faults of the Cayenne I (plastic coolant pipes and cylinder bore scoring): buy only with the aluminium pipes already fitted and after a compression or cylinder leak-down test.^[1][2][3][5]

• 4.5 V8 Turbo 450 hp and Turbo S 521 hp (M48.50, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)

  2002–2007 · 450–521 hp · M48.50

  With caution

  It shares the plastic pipes of the 4.5 and Car Mechanics talks about cylinder wear in the 955 V8 engines in general, although Wikipedia attributes the Lokasil only to the naturally aspirated engine; insist on aluminium pipes and a compression test.^[1][2][3][5]

• 4.8 V8 S 385 hp and GTS 405 hp (M48.01, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)

  2007–2010 · 385–405 hp · M48.01

  With caution

  AutoScout24 recommends the Cayenne S from 2007, but Gebrauchtwagenberater cites occasional piston slap and fiches-auto reports broken valley hoses at 120,000 km on a 405 hp car; check the pipes, coils and chain.^[3][4][13]

• 4.8 V8 Turbo 500 hp and Turbo S 550 hp (M48.51, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)

  2007–2010 · 500–550 hp · M48.51

  With caution

  The sources give no faults specific to this version; on fiches-auto, 6 reports on the 500 hp car cite overheating and a loose camshaft at 147,000 km. Check the pipes, cooling and chain.^[13][15]

• 4.8 V8 S 400 hp, GTS 420 hp, Turbo 500/520 hp and Turbo S 550/570 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)

  2010–2017 · 400–570 hp

  With caution

  The Cayenne S and Turbo built up to June 2011 are within the scope of the camshaft adjuster campaign; a Canadian workshop says the plastic pipes are what it sees most on these V8 engines, while fiches-auto reports no hoses or pump faults in 51 reports.^{[6][7][14][16]}

• 3.6 V6 300/310 hp (Panamera and Panamera 4, 2010-2016)

  2010–2016 · 300–310 hp

  With caution

  The 2011-2012 Panamera and Panamera 4 (the V6 models) are within the scope of the camshaft adjuster campaign; there is one report of a scored cylinder covered by Porsche and YOUCANIC cites plastic coolant pipes in the Panamera. Data specific to the V6 is lacking.^{[6][9][17][18]}

• 4.8 V8 S, 4S and GTS 400-440 hp (M48.20, Panamera, 2009-2016)

  2009–2016 · 400–440 hp · M48.20

  With caution

  The S and 4S built between 2009 and September 2011 fall within the camshaft adjuster campaign; YOUCANIC cites cracks in the plastic coolant distribution pipe and Stuttcars relatively common oil leaks on the V8 engines.^[6][8][18]

• 4.8 V8 Turbo and Turbo S 500-570 hp (M48.70, Panamera, 2009-2016)

  2009–2016 · 500–570 hp · M48.70

  With caution

  Same campaigns and weak points as the naturally aspirated engine, plus a 2012 recall in the United Kingdom over out-of-specification turbochargers (about 54 Cayenne and Panamera units, with a fire risk); confirm that the camshaft campaign has been done and check the cooling system.^[6][18][19]

Buy: No known serious faults, or they have already been corrected, in this version. With caution: Worth buying if something specific is verified: history, a replaced part or a completed campaign. Avoid: High risk of a serious fault that is hard to check for or prevent.

1. 1High severityFrequency: CommonCoolingCracked plastic coolant pipes on the Cayenne V8The first Cayenne V8s (the 4.5) have plastic coolant pipes under the intake manifold that crack with age and cause coolant loss; Porsche switched to aluminium around 2006-2007. A Canadian workshop says it also affects the later 4.8.
2. 2High severityFrequency: CommonTimingTiming chain stretch on the Cayenne VR6 V6 enginesAutoScout24 says the 250 hp 3.2 VR6 often suffers from defective chains, and Gebrauchtwagenberater warns that the smaller V6 engines have problems too. A French report describes a displaced chain on a 3.6 that forced a crankshaft replacement.
3. 3Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalCylinder head and blockCylinder bore scoring in the Cayenne 4.5 V8 blockIn the Cayenne I's 4.5 V8, especially the naturally aspirated M48.00 with Lokasil cylinders, cylinder bore scoring has been documented: higher oil consumption, piston slap and misfires. The sources do not give the percentage of engines affected.
4. 4High severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingLoosening of the camshaft adjuster boltsPorsche acknowledges that the fixing bolts of the camshaft adjusters on certain Cayenne S and Turbo and Panamera models built up to September 2011 can fail: noise, vibration, engine warning light and, in rare cases, stalling. There has been a worldwide workshop campaign since 2012.
5. 5High severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingTiming chain and tensioner wear on the 4.8 V8A German workshop and several guides cite chain stretch and wear of the tensioners and guides in the Cayenne and Panamera V8 engines; the workshop recommends replacing the kit preventively between 120,000 and 180,000 km. There are no failure statistics.
6. 6Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLubricationOil leaks from rocker cover gaskets and engine sealsStuttcars considers oil leaks relatively common on the Panamera V8 engines (rocker cover, camshaft housing and filter housing) and CarWiki cites the crankshaft seal, sump and valve stem seals on the 3.6 V6 and 4.8 V8. More than 300 ml per 1,000 km is considered suspect.
7. 7Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCoolingWater pump leak or failure on the V8The V8's water pump appears as a weak point in owner reports and in a German workshop, which talks about a plastic impeller that can break; YOUCANIC considers it reliable and points out that the rubber seal behind it fails. There is little data and it is contradictory.

Severity colours: low, medium, high, critical. How we rate them

Manufacturer

Porsche (VR6 del Cayenne: Volkswagen)

Family

M48 (V8) / VR6 (V6 del Cayenne) / V6 3.6 derivado del M48 (Panamera)

Fuel

Petrol

Displacement

—

Cylinders

—

Fuel system

—

Injection

—

Timing

Chain

Power

250–570 hp

Production

2002–2017

Makes

Porsche

Technical data^{[1][9][10][11]}

1. 2002–2007

   4.5 V8 S 340 hp (M48.00, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)

   The Cayenne's first V8: 4,511 cm³, 340 hp and 420 Nm, with plastic coolant pipes. According to Wikipedia it is the only M48 with Lokasil cylinders (the rest of the family is Alusil), and it is the one that attracts most mentions of cylinder bore scoring.^{[1][2][20][21]}

2. 2002–2007

   4.5 V8 Turbo 450 hp and Turbo S 521 hp (M48.50, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)

   Twin-turbo version of the 4.5: 450 hp and 620 Nm for the Turbo (2002) and 521 hp and 720 Nm for the Turbo S (2006-2007). It shares the plastic pipes of the naturally aspirated S.^[1][10]

3. 2004–2007

   3.2 V6 VR6 250 hp (Cayenne I, 2004-2007)

   3,189 cm³ VR6, 250 hp and 310 Nm: the entry-level engine of the first Cayenne, replaced by the 3.6 at the February 2007 facelift. The sources disagree on the start date (2004 on English Wikipedia; 2002 on German Wikipedia and AutoScout24) and none gives its engine code.^[1][3][20]

4. 2007–2010

   3.6 V6 VR6 FSI 290 hp (Cayenne I, 2007-2010)

   3,598 cm³ VR6 with direct injection, 290 hp and 385 Nm, which replaced the 3.2 at the February 2007 facelift. We have not found its engine code in an open source.^[1][3][20]

5. 2007–2010

   4.8 V8 S 385 hp and GTS 405 hp (M48.01, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)

   2007 facelift: cylinders 3 mm wider (4,806 cm³), direct injection and 385 hp for the S; the GTS (405 hp) came later. According to AutoScout24, the coolant pipes have been aluminium as standard since 2006.^{[1][3][10][20]}

6. 2007–2010

   4.8 V8 Turbo 500 hp and Turbo S 550 hp (M48.51, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)

   Twin-turbo version of the 4.8: 500 hp and 700 Nm for the Turbo (2007 according to Porsche and German Wikipedia; 2008 according to the English one) and 550 hp and 750 Nm for the Turbo S, which returned to the catalogue in August 2008.^[1][10][20]

7. 2009–2016

   4.8 V8 S, 4S and GTS 400-440 hp (M48.20, Panamera, 2009-2016)

   4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8 with direct injection: 400 hp and 500 Nm in the S and 4S (2009), 430 hp for the GTS (added in 2011) and 440 hp after the facelift.^[9]

8. 2009–2016

   4.8 V8 Turbo and Turbo S 500-570 hp (M48.70, Panamera, 2009-2016)

   4.8-litre twin-turbo V8: 500 hp and 700 Nm for the Turbo (520 hp after the 2013 facelift) and 550 hp and 750 Nm for the Turbo S (570 hp afterwards).^[9]

9. 2010–2017

   3.6 V6 VR6 300 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)

   The same 3,598 cm³ VR6 rises to 300 hp and 400 Nm in the Cayenne II (Wikipedia gives it until 2018, with a minor update in 2014). There is no engine code in open sources either.^[1]

10. 2010–2017

    4.8 V8 S 400 hp, GTS 420 hp, Turbo 500/520 hp and Turbo S 550/570 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)

    With the 92A the 4.8 rises to 400 hp (S) and 420 hp (GTS); the Turbo goes from 500 to 520 hp and the Turbo S from 550 to 570 hp after the facelift. The sources disagree on the code: M48.01/M48.51 according to English Wikipedia, M48.02/M48.70 according to a Canadian workshop.^[1][16]

11. 2010–2016

    3.6 V6 300/310 hp (Panamera and Panamera 4, 2010-2016)

    V6 derived from the V8, with direct injection, VarioCam Plus and dry sump: 300 hp and 400 Nm from 2010 and 310 hp after the 2013 facelift. We have not found its engine code in the sources.^[9]

• Timing chain kit

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• Oil filter

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• Air filter

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• Spark plugs

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