NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2021 Porsche Cayenne Safety Record
The 2021 Porsche Cayenne has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 5 recalls and 17 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2021 Porsche Cayenne has not been subjected to federal crash testing and therefore carries no NHTSA star ratings or computed Safety Index. The absence of controlled crash data means no assessment of its crashworthiness can be made from NHTSA's primary safety metrics. The vehicle's recall and complaint record is categorized as Light. Five recall campaigns have been issued, addressing components such as steering, suspension, seats, and back-over camera sensing systems. Owner complaints total 17, with none alleging crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths. This data set offers no basis for evaluating crash safety.
The 2021 Porsche Cayenne was not crash-tested by NHTSA and carries five recall campaigns and a Light recall-and-complaint burden band according to federal NHTSA records.
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 | 5 |
| Owner complaints | 17 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 Porsche Cayenne?
For the 2021 model year, the Porsche Cayenne carries a "Light" burden band rating, denoting a comparatively low volume of combined recalls and owner complaints within the federal dataset. A lack of published crash-test results for any Cayenne model year means no star ratings are available to assess its crashworthiness. Five recalls have been issued for the 2021 Cayenne. These recalls address a diverse set of components: steering column integrity, rear axle alignment, seating hardware, and camera-based back-over sensing. This range of issues suggests that Porsche identified specific, discrete faults in this production run, rather than a singular systemic problem. Owner complaints total 17, with the Electrical System being the most frequently cited category. While this concentration is notable for monitoring, it has not, as of the data provided, resulted in any recall action.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 Porsche Cayenne have any recalls?
The five recall campaigns for the 2021 Cayenne address: a back-over prevention sensing camera affecting a broad multi-year Porsche range, rear axle alignment that may not have been inspected to specification, a screw connection fault in the steering column, a seat component issue affecting GTS and Coupe variants, and a rear non-powered axle assembly concern spanning multiple 2021 Cayenne configurations. No park-outside or do-not-drive directive appears in the data provided for this model year.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA25V896000
Risk: A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the driver assistance software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ASB2. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 19, 2026.
Reported 2025-12-19
SUSPENSION:REAR22V040000
Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 10, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANA1.
Reported 2022-01-28
STEERING:COLUMN21V493000
Risk: A detached steering column can cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new screw, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB4.
Reported 2021-06-30
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
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY21V271000
Risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lock nuts, free of charge. The recall began on June 18, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMA9.
Reported 2021-04-21
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2021 Porsche Cayenne?
Seventeen complaints have been reported to NHTSA against the 2021 Cayenne. The most frequently alleged component areas are the Electrical System with five reports, Unknown Or Other with four, Air Bags with three, and Steering, Forward Collision Avoidance, and Engine each with two. All are unverified consumer allegations and have not been confirmed as defects by NHTSA.
17 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 Porsche Cayenne?
A notable recall record for the 2021 Cayenne shows five distinct campaigns. Consumers considering a used example of this SUV should verify recall remedy completion via NHTSA's VIN lookup tool.
- NHTSA did not crash-test the 2021 Cayenne, so no federal star ratings or Safety Index score exist for this specific model year.
- Five recall campaigns were issued against 2021 Cayenne units, addressing steering column fastening, rear axle alignment, seat components, rear axle assembly, and back-over camera sensing across various trims.
- The 17 unverified owner complaints on file with NHTSA show the Electrical System as the most frequently alleged problem area, with five reports, followed by Air Bags with three.
- Prospective buyers of a used 2021 Cayenne should verify recall completion status by VIN at nhtsa.gov before purchase, as any of the five campaigns could still be open on a given vehicle.
FAQ2021 Porsche Cayenne safety questions
Was the 2021 Porsche Cayenne 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 5 recalls and 17 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2021 Porsche Cayenne have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 5 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2021 Porsche Cayenne. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Porsche Cayenne?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 17 owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Porsche Cayenne. 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.
Other Cayenne years
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Porsche Cayenne 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.