The 2017 Panamera 4S with the 2.9L twin-turbo V6 is part of Porsche's second-generation platform refresh. Early examples are showing concerning engine durability issues related to cylinder scoring and bearing failures, alongside typical German luxury complications with electronics and transmission cooling.
Cylinder Scoring and Catastrophic Engine Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (more than 1 qt per 1,000 mi), Cold-start smoke from exhaust (blue-gray), Loss of compression in one or more cylinders, Metallic ticking or knocking from lower engine, Check engine light with misfire or low compression codes
Fix: Requires full engine disassembly to inspect cylinder walls and bearing surfaces. In confirmed scoring cases, short block replacement is the only viable fix. If caught early with bearing wear only, crank polishing and bearing replacement may suffice (20-30 hours). Full short block swap runs 35-50 hours labor plus $15,000-20,000 in parts from Porsche.
Estimated cost: $18,000-28,000
PDK Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking from front of vehicle, Harsh or delayed shifts when cold, Transmission overheat warnings on dash, Oil spots under car after parking
Fix: The auxiliary transmission oil cooler develops leaks at seals or internal cracks. Replacement requires dropping front subframe for access (8-12 hours labor). Must flush entire PDK system and refill with Porsche-spec fluid. Cooler itself is $800-1,200, plus 8 quarts of PDK fluid at $35/qt.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,500
Rear Suspension Control Arm Bushing Deterioration
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking from rear over bumps, Unstable rear end feel during lane changes, Uneven rear tire wear on inside edges, Alignment will not hold specs
Fix: Rear multi-link suspension uses hydraulic bushings that fail prematurely, especially on AWD models. Cannot replace bushings alone—requires entire control arm replacement. Typically need 2-4 arms per side. With alignment, count on 6-8 hours labor. OEM arms are $300-500 each.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,000
Instrument Cluster Software Glitches and Display Failures
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Gauge cluster goes blank intermittently, Warning lights illuminate without codes stored, Center screen freezes or reboots while driving, Navigation or backup camera fails to display
Fix: PCM software updates from dealer often resolve intermittent issues (1-2 hours). Persistent failures require cluster replacement—these are VIN-coded and must be programmed at dealer. Aftermarket options don't exist. Used clusters run $1,500-2,500, new from Porsche $3,000+, plus 2-3 hours coding.
Estimated cost: $2,000-4,500
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive drivetrain thunk on acceleration or deceleration, Vibration felt through shifter at idle, Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive, Visible sagging of transmission when inspected on lift
Fix: The front transmission mount is hydraulic-filled and fails from age and heat cycles. Requires supporting transmission while replacing mount (3-4 hours). Often discover rear engine mount also needs replacement while in there. OEM mount is $250-400 each.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Extended cranking before engine starts, Stumbling or hesitation under hard acceleration, Limp mode with reduced power, Fuel pressure fault codes (P0087 low pressure), Car dies and won't restart when hot
Fix: Direct-injection system uses engine-mounted high-pressure pump that fails internally. Requires removing intake manifold for access (5-7 hours labor). Pump alone is $1,200-1,800 from Porsche. Must also replace fuel filter during this job, which requires dropping rear subframe on this chassis (adds 2-3 hours).
Estimated cost: $3,000-4,500
Owner tips
Check oil level religiously—consumption over 1 qt per 2,000 mi is a red flag for impending cylinder scoring
Insist on full Porsche service history with documentation of all software updates—many electrical gremlins are solved this way
Budget $3,000-5,000 annually for maintenance and repairs after warranty—this is not a Toyota
Pre-purchase inspection should include borescope inspection of cylinders and oil analysis if mileage is over 50,000
Avoid extended service intervals—stick to 10,000 mi oil changes with Porsche C30 spec oil, not generic Euro 5W-40
Hard pass unless you find a meticulously maintained example under 40,000 miles with extended warranty coverage—the engine failure risk is real and financially catastrophic.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera GTS and Panamera Turbo vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of specific model names and model years. Humidity may enter the external coolant pump for the climate control system and cause an electrical short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the external coolant pump and inspect and replace the plug-in connection, if necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed March 6, 2023. Owners will receive a second notice once remedy becomes available, anticipated July 2023. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is APA1.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 Panamera 4, Panamera Turbo, Panamera Turbo Executive, 2017-2018 Panamera, Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera 4S, 2018 Panamera Turbo S Hybrid, Panamera 4 Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Hybrid, Panamera 4 Executive, 2019 Cayenne Hybrid, 2019-2020 Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, 2020 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne Turbo Coupe, and Cayenne S Coupe vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when the brake pads are worn out. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."
Consequence: If the driver is not alerted when brake pads are worn out, the vehicle may not respond as expected when braking, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall is began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB8. Note: This recall supersedes recall 19V115 and includes vehicles that were previously remedied under that campaign.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2018 Panamera 4 Executive, Panamera 4S Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Hybrid, Panamera 4 Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4 Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Executive, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo and Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Sport Turismo vehicles, 2017-2018 Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera Turbo Executive, Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo and Panamera 4S Executive vehicles and 2019 Cayenne S and Cayenne vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when the brake pads are worn out. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."
Consequence: If the driver is not alerted when brake pads are worn out, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began April 19, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA1/AKA0.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 18V898000
2018-12-19
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Porsche Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo, Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive, 2018 Panamera 4 Executive, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera S E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, Panamera 4S Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, and Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo vehicles. A software failure may result in an intermittent loss of electric power steering assist.
Consequence: An intermittent loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power steering control unit, free of charge. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ13.
SUSPENSION:REAR · 18V388000
2018-06-13
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo and Panamera Turbo Executive and 2018 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4S Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, and Panamera 4S Executive vehicles. The connecting links may detach from the rear-axle anti-roll bar potentially damaging the surrounding suspension parts and affecting the vehicle's handling.
Consequence: An unexpected change to the vehicle's handling can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connecting links for the anti-roll bar, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ06.
Performance
Horsepower
440hp
Torque
405lb-ft
0–60 mph
4.2sec
Quarter mile
12.5sec
Top speed
179mph
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
21mpg
Highway
28mpg
Combined
23mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
Curb weight
4,299lb
EPA class
Large Cars
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2017 Porsche Panamera 4S 2.9L Twin Turbo V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.