2021 Porsche Cayenne Seat Recall (21V318)

Recall 21V318 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Porsche Cayenne in recall 21V318?

The passenger seat back heating element was not installed and may impact the calibration of the Occupant Classification System.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Cayenne GTS, Cayenne GTS Coupe, 2020-2021 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S Coupe, Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe vehicles. The passenger seat back heating element was not installed and may impact the calibration of the Occupant Classification System.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Cayenne with recall 21V318?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: The front passenger air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: The front passenger air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Cayenne shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the seats, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V318?

Recall 21V318 covers 136 vehicles: 2021 Porsche Cayenne; 2021 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid; 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS; 2021 Porsche Cayenne S.

NHTSA lists 136 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Cayenne seat recall?

Yes. Dealers will install a heating element, free of charge.

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.

When was recall 21V318 announced?

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. reported recall 21V318 to NHTSA on May 5, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 25, 2021.

This recall was filed 65 months ago. If your Cayenne was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Cayenne is part of recall 21V318?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V318 is open on your Cayenne, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Cayenne vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Cayenne owners do about recall 21V318?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V318000 applies to your Cayenne.
2. Call a Porsche dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the seats happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Cayenne owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the body, doors and seats.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 21V318 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 21 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the body, doors and seats. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Porsche Cayenne: 21 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
• 2021 Porsche Cayenne S: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
• 2021 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
• 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats

Can recall 21V318 make my Cayenne a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Recall 21V318000 does not automatically make your Cayenne a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Door latch, seat and body structure defects can affect safety in a crash and everyday use. If the recall repair does not solve the problem, the repeat visit is part of your record.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Porsche Cayenne has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Cayenne went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V318