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2008 Porsche Cayenne

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Cayenne.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2008 Porsche Cayenne is an SUV equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission and an EPA rating of 14/20/16 mpg. In the context of the model's 2003-2026 history, this year recorded 42 total owner complaints and three recalls, placing it between the series high of 101 complaints in 2004 and the low of one in 2010. The engine remains the primary focus of these reports, serving as the top complaint area for this model year.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque118 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy14/20/16 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 650 CCA battery, TERM low-beam bulbs, OE oil filter 9A711549900. Note the factory battery is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 650 CCAOEM · verified
Low beam bulbTERMOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9A711549900 alt 95510731300
Engine air filter95511013110
Spark plug95517022090 alt 99917023690
Battery99961109520 discontinued
Front wiper blades95562893904 alt 95562893911
Serpentine belt7PP903137 alt 95510293300
ThermostatWHT000863 alt 94810612501
Cabin air filter95581963100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height66.9 in
Wheelbase111.8 in
Curb weight4784 lb
Track (front / rear)65.4 / 64.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)53/47

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined14 / 20 / 16 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Cayenne of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.8–6.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.80 sec — 2008 Turbo V8
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2008Turbo V8 4.8L Twin-Turbo V84.80 sec13.30 sec500 hpAWD
2008GTS V8 4.8L V85.70 sec14.20 sec405 hpAWD
2008S V8 4.8L V86.00 sec14.50 sec385 hpAWD
2009Turbo S V8 4.8L Twin-Turbo V84.10 sec12.60 sec550 hpAWD
2009Turbo S V8 4.8L Twin-Turbo V84.40 sec12.90 sec550 hpAWD
2006Turbo S V8 4.5L Twin-Turbo V84.90 sec13.50 sec520 hpAWD
2005Turbo V8 4.5L Twin-Turbo V85.10 sec13.60 sec450 hpAWD
2005S V8 4.5L V86.60 sec15.00 sec340 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 118 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 37.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints,
Manual Transmission FluidPorsche part number 00004330338
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity1.9

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts20.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug37.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts118 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-2-4-3-5
Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.80-2.25 lbs
Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance740 cca

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.079 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
237.0 ft. lbs.37 ft. lbs
3Loosen all bolts 360 degrees360 degrees
422.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
522.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
6110 degrees110 degrees
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
190

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Every 12,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect)
At 18,000 miSuspension System (inspect)
Every 18,000 miDriveshaft (inspect)
Every 20,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (road test)
At 24,000 miDriveshaft (inspect)
Every 24,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 36,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 48,000 miActive Suspension System (inspect)
At 144,000 miTransfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Porsche Cayenne shows a complaint count of 42 with 3 recalls and zero investigations, positioning it in a declining complaint arc that began after the 2004-2006 peak (101, 55 complaints respectively). Complaints dropped from 55 in 2006 to 42 in 2008, then further to just 15 in 2009—a clear downward trend suggesting early production issues were being addressed. The recall count remained stable at 3 in both 2006 and 2008, then dropped to 2 in subsequent years. The top complaint categories were Engine (13), Power Train (7), and Fuel/Propulsion System (4), with only 1 fire complaint and zero crash complaints recorded. This places the 2008 model year near the tail end of the first-generation reliability issues, making it a comparatively safer bet within this generation than the 2004 model year while still benefiting from any manufacturer fixes implemented by that point.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
396
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
42
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’03’04’05’06’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 42 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine13
Power Train7
Fuel/Propulsion System4
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Tires2
Electrical System,Structure,Seats1
Steering,Electrical System,Engine1
Visibility/Wiper1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V446000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)Reported 12/06/2019

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, 2004-2010 Cayenne, 2006 Cayenne Turbo S, 2010-2016 Panamera S, Panamera 4 S, Panamera Turbo, 2011-2016 Panamera… Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. Owners are instructed to use the parking brake until their vehicle is repaired. The…

08V076000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 20/02/2008

PORSCHE IS RECALLING 5,573 MY 2008 CAYENNE V6 VEHICLES. A FUEL LINE IN THE PLENUM PANEL AREA MAY CONTACT THE REAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER. RELATIVE MOVEMENTS OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING MAY CAUSE KNOCKING NOISES AND… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE FUEL LINE AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SPACER RING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 396 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
40/26 44072026-06-30WheelsWheel Bolt Replacement Requirement - Change from Wheel Bolts with Aluminum Washers to…
TSTR26362026-06-29Unknown Or OtherPorsche Tester Software Update Information Software Version: 44.200.031
TSTR26352026-06-29Unknown Or OtherPorsche Tester Software Update Information Software Version: 44.200.030
20/262026-06-25EngineOverview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils (20/26)
19/26 17012026-06-25EngineOverview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils (19/26)

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cayenne. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 94R batteryTERM low-beam bulbEngine oil filter 9A711549900Engine air filter 95511013110Spark plug 95517022090Battery 99961109520

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2008 Cayenne have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Cayenne get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 20 highway / 16 combined mpg.