NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts Safety Record
The 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 2 recalls and 12 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS has not been subjected to NHTSA's crash-test program. Consequently, this model year carries no federal star ratings and no computed Safety Index from our publication. This absence of critical crash-test data represents a significant gap in the publicly available safety assessment for the vehicle. The federal record does show a limited recall and complaint burden: two recall campaigns have been issued, and 12 unverified owner complaints are on file. While these figures offer some insight into potential issues, they cannot substitute for comprehensive crash performance metrics.
The 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS was not crash-tested by NHTSA, carries two recall campaigns, and falls in the Light recall and complaint burden band according to NHTSA federal safety data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
- shoppers who want the full federal safety picture in one place
| NHTSA crash test | Not crash-tested |
|---|---|
| Recall and complaint burden | Light |
| Recalls on file | 2 |
| Owner complaints | 12 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts?
For the 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS, the most notable aspect of its federal safety profile is the absence of crash-test ratings from NHTSA. This means no direct assessment of its occupant protection in collisions is available, a significant gap for consumers. Instead, we rely on the vehicle's recall and complaint data. The model is in the Light burden band for recalls and complaints, indicating a comparatively low volume of federal safety reports. Two recall campaigns were issued within weeks of each other, both addressing components critical to occupant safety. One recall concerned a potential cracking issue in the engine, shared with the Cayenne Turbo and GTS Coupe. The second recall addressed the seats, affecting several 2020-2021 Cayenne body styles. The complaint record for the 2021 Cayenne GTS includes 12 allegations. While this is a low number, and no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths are reported, two specific categories of complaints warrant attention: those concerning the air bags and the service brakes. These specific concerns, despite their limited number, point to areas demanding scrutiny.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts have any recalls?
The 2021 Cayenne GTS was subject to two NHTSA recall campaigns. The first addressed the engine, with Porsche noting that cracks may develop in affected Cayenne Turbo, GTS, and GTS Coupe vehicles. The second addressed seats, covering the GTS, GTS Coupe, and certain other 2020-2021 Cayenne variants. Neither campaign carried a published park-outside or do-not-drive directive in the data on file, but shoppers should verify repair status by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
ENGINE21V341000
Risk: Cracks may cause engine damage and a stall or an oil leak, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB1.
Reported 2021-05-12
SEATS21V318000
Risk: The front passenger air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will install a heating element, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB0.
Reported 2021-05-05
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts?
Twelve owner complaints have been reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Cayenne GTS. The most frequently alleged problem areas are Unknown or Other components, the electrical system, air bags, the engine, the powertrain, and service brakes. All are unverified consumer allegations, not established defects.
12 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts?
Two recall campaigns were issued for the 2021 model year. Any used example of this vehicle may carry recall repairs that were or were not completed by a prior owner. Prospective buyers should run the specific VIN through nhtsa.gov to confirm whether either of these 2021 recalls remains open before finalizing a purchase.
- NHTSA has no crash-test score for the 2021 Cayenne GTS specifically, so no star rating or Safety Index exists for this model year.
- Two recall campaigns were issued for this model year, one targeting a potential engine cracking concern and one addressing seats across several 2020-2021 Cayenne variants.
- Twelve unverified complaints are on file with NHTSA, including reported allegations involving air bags and service brakes, though no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths are recorded among those reports.
- Prospective buyers should verify whether both recall campaigns have been repaired on any specific vehicle by running the VIN through the official lookup tool at nhtsa.gov.
FAQ2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts safety questions
Was the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts crash-tested by NHTSA?
No. NHTSA has not run a New Car Assessment Program crash test on this configuration, so it carries no Safety Index. Its safety record here is built from 2 recalls and 12 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 2 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 12 owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Gts. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Porsche Cayenne Gts 2021.
- SCORE This configuration was not crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. We report its recall and complaint record only.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.