Sell a non-running or junk Porsche Panamera
No Panamera year has more NHTSA complaints than the 2011, at 41, and the engine comes up in 23. Across the first three model years, 2010 to 2012, 41 of 81 complaints name the engine.
- Complaints to NHTSA, all years
- 146
- Year with the most complaints
- 2011 (41)
- Part named most often
- Engine (52)
- Vehicle recall campaigns
- 22
- Complaints that mention a tow
- 17
- Built in
- Leipzig, Germany; engines from Stuttgart
If your Panamera won't start, runs rough or sits waiting on a repair you'd rather not pay for, you can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US.
Generation by generation
Numbers below reflect NHTSA complaint records through October 10, 2026. Think of them as owner reports rather than a verdict on the car; a Panamera built in 2024 has had a short window for reports to pile up. Generation details are from Wikipedia's Porsche Panamera article.
| Generation | Built | Engines and gearbox | Model years grouped here | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First (970) | Apr. 2009-2016 | 3.6 V6, 4.8 V8, 3.0 V6 turbodiesel, 3.0 supercharged V6 hybrid. 7-speed PDK, 6-speed manual, or 8-speed automatic on hybrid and some diesel models. | 2010-2016 | 118 |
| Second (971) | 2016-2024 | Engines: 3.0 turbo V6, 2.9 twin-turbo V6, 4.0 twin-turbo V8, all with the 8-speed PDK. 14.1 kWh plug-in hybrid battery. | 2017-2023 | 23 |
| Third (976) | 2024-now | Engines: 3.0 turbo V6 or 4.0 twin-turbo V8, plus plug-in hybrids using a 21.8 kWh battery | 2024-2026 | 5 |
The grouping by model year is ours. A 2016 or 2024 sits near a changeover, so check yours by VIN. Wikipedia says engines are first assembled in Stuttgart and the car is built in Leipzig; from 2009 to 2016 the bodies came from Volkswagen's Hannover plant.
First generation, 2010-2016: the engine years
The engine leads on each of the first three years: 12 of 22 complaints on the 2010, 23 of 41 on the 2011, 6 of 18 on the 2012. Several recalls touch the engine on these cars:
- 17V368: on some 2010-2012 Panameras, the screws holding the camshaft adjusters get replaced. The 18,005-vehicle campaign includes 2011 Cayenne S and Turbo models.
- 12V329: the turbine wheel of a turbocharger may fracture from a casting defect on 2011-2012 Panamera Turbo and 2012 Turbo S models. Only 270 vehicles, and the campaign includes the 2012 Cayenne Turbo.
- 15V016: the fuel injection system may leak on 2012 Panamera S Hybrids. The 1,368-vehicle campaign is shared with the Cayenne S Hybrid.
Two campaigns reach the whole generation. Recall 19V322 inspects and replaces the blower control unit on 2010-2016 cars (33,206 vehicles). Recall 19V446 replaces a shifter cable bushing; until it's done, owners are told to use the parking brake. Cayennes are in it too, so 99,665 is a two-model total, not a Panamera figure.
Second generation, 2017-2023
Complaints fall to 23 across these years, and NHTSA's file has none for the 2019. The 2018 has the most, 12, and also eight recall campaigns. The bigger ones:
- 23V033: dealers replace the external coolant pump and inspect its plug-in connection on 2017-2021 models (24,467 vehicles).
- 18V898: reprograms the power steering control unit on 2017-2018 cars (17,667 vehicles).
- 19V735 and 19V115: instrument cluster software updates on 2017-2018 cars, filed under service brakes (44,128 and 14,110 vehicles).
Third generation, 2024-2026
Five complaints so far across three model years. Recall 25V415 checks a front strut retaining ring that may come loose on 2025-2026 cars, which can dislodge the strut and cause air loss; the 284-vehicle campaign includes the Taycan. The camera recall, 25V896, reaches 2024-2025 Panameras inside a 172,107-vehicle campaign that also covers the Cayenne, 911 and Taycan.
Complaints and recalls by year
One recall campaign often covers several years and is counted in each, so this column doesn't add to 22.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Injured | Recall campaigns | Leading component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 5 | Engine (12) |
| 2011 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 6 | Engine (23) |
| 2012 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 6 | Engine (6) |
| 2013 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Electrical (5) |
| 2014 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 3 | Power train (4) |
| 2015 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Engine, electrical (2 each) |
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Three parts (1 each) |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | Electrical (1) |
| 2018 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 8 | Engine (4) |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Engine, unknown (2 each) |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Two parts (1 each) |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Seats (1) |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Two parts (1 each) |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Two parts (1 each) |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Two parts (1 each) |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Air bags (1) |
Should you fix it?
Get the repair quote in writing, then look up what the same Panamera sells for running. If fixing it costs close to what it would be worth afterward, sell it as it is.
- Look up recalls first at NHTSA. On a 2010-2012 car, ask a Porsche dealer whether the camshaft adjuster recall was done.
- Turbo or engine gone? The failed turbo and blown engine guides walk through the decision.
- Coolant warnings on a 2017-2021? Recall 23V033 covers the external coolant pump, so check it before paying for one.
Selling the Panamera whole
- List the VIN, the miles, the fault, and whether the car moves at all.
- Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
- Let us know the Panamera's spot. If one corner has sagged, or a dead battery has it locked in park, mention it so our truck comes ready. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
- Keep it complete. Wheels, catalytic converters and any hybrid battery stay on. If something's already off the car, tell us what.
- Keep the title and an ID handy for pickup. Without a title, start with selling with no title. Plate and insurance rules are in after you sell.
Comparing Porsche sedans? See the Taycan, or every Porsche we cover.
Questions people ask
- Which Panamera model years have the most NHTSA complaints?
- The 2011, with 41 complaints as of October 10, 2026, and 23 of them name the engine. Next are the 2010 (22), the 2012 (18), the 2014 (15) and the 2013 (13). Third-generation cars are recent, so their totals are still growing.
- Is there a recall for the camshaft adjusters on early Panameras?
- Yes. Under recall 17V368, some 2010-2012 Panamera S, 4S and Turbo cars and 2011-2012 Panamera and Panamera 4 cars get new camshaft adjuster fastening screws. The 18,005-vehicle campaign also includes 2011 Cayenne S and Turbo models. Dealers do it free of charge.
- Will you buy a Panamera with a dead engine or transmission?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, so you sell the whole car as it sits. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), Porsche Panamera, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 12V329: turbocharger turbine wheel, Panamera Turbo and 2012 Cayenne Turbo nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 15V016: fuel rails, Panamera S Hybrid and Cayenne S Hybrid nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 17V368: camshaft adjuster screws, Panamera and 2011 Cayenne nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 18V898: power steering control unit, 2017-2018 Panamera nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 19V322: blower control unit, 2010-2016 Panamera nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 19V446: shifter cable bushing, Cayenne and Panamera nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 19V735: instrument cluster software, 2017-2018 Panamera nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 23V033: external coolant pump, 2017-2021 Panamera nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 25V415: front strut retaining ring, Panamera and Taycan nhtsa.gov
- EPA fuel economy data (model years and powertrains) fueleconomy.gov
- Wikipedia: Porsche Panamera (generations, engines, assembly) en.wikipedia.org