
1
Dear Owner,We would like to thank you for your purchase of a 
Porsche Cayenne. Judging by the car you have 
chosen, you are a motorist of a special breed, and 
you are probably no novice when it comes to 
automobiles.
Remember however, as with any vehicle, you 
should take time to familiarize yourself with your 
Porsche and its performance characteristics. 
Always drive within your own unique capabilities as 
a driver and your level of experience with your 
Porsche. Ensure that anyone else driving your 
Porsche does the same. To prevent or minimize 
injury, always use your safety belts. Never 
consume alcohol or drugs before or during the 
operation of your vehicle.
This Owner's Manual contains a host of useful 
information. Please take the time to read this 
manual before you drive your new Porsche. 
Become familiar with the operation of your 
Porsche car for maximum safety and operating 
pleasure. The better you know your Porsche, the 
more pleasure you will experience driving your 
new car.
Always keep your Owner's Manual in the car, and 
give it to the new owner if you ever sell your 
Porsche.A separate Maintenance Booklet explains how 
you can keep your Porsche in top driving condition 
by having it serviced regularly. 
A separate Warranty and Customer Informa-
tion Booklet contains detailed information about 
the warranties covering your Porsche.
For U.S. only:
If you believe that your vehicle has a fault which 
could cause a crash, injury or death, you should 
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to 
notifying Porsche Cars North America, Inc. 
(Porsche Cars N.A.).
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open 
an investigation, and if it finds that a safety 
problem exists in a group of vehicles, it may order 
a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA 
cannot become involved in individual problems 
between you and your dealer, or Porsche Cars 
N.A.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety 
Hotline toll-free at 1–888–327–4236 (TTY:
1–800–424–9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Administ-
rator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain other information about motor 
vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov.
Your car has thousands of parts and components 
which have been designed and manufactured in 
accordance with Porsche's high standards of 
engineering quality and safety.
 Warning!
Any alteration or misuse of the vehicle can 
lead to accidents and serious or fatal 
personal injuries. 
Any alteration of the vehicle may negate or 
interfere with those safety features built into 
the vehicle. Modifications may be carried out 
on your vehicle only if approved by Porsche.
Your Porsche is intended to be used in a safe 
manner obeying the local laws and in the 
light of driving conditions faced by you, and 
in accordance with the instructions provided 
in this Owner's Manual. 
fDo not misuse your Porsche by ignoring those 
laws and driving conditions, or by ignoring the instructions in this manual. 
Regularly check your vehicle for signs of 
damage. 
Damaged or missing aerodynamic compon-
ents such as spoilers or underside panels 
affect the driving behavior and therefore 
must be replaced immediately.
Your car may have all or some of the components 
described in this manual. 
Should you have difficulty understanding any of 
the explanations of features or equipment installed 
in your vehicle, contact your authorized Porsche 
dealer. He/She will be glad to assist you. Also 
check with your dealer on other available options 
or equipment.
10_Cayenne_21_KW17.book  Seite 1  Donnerstag, 9. April 2009  3:33 15 

2Throughout this booklet, left is designated as the 
driver's side of the vehicle, and right as the 
passenger's side of the vehicle.
Text, illustrations and specifications in this manual 
are based on the information available at the time 
of printing.
It has always been Porsche's policy to conti-
nuously improve its products. Porsche, therefore, 
reserves the right to make changes in design and 
specification, and to make additions or improve-
ments in its product without incurring any obliga-
tion to install them on products previously manu-
factured.
We wish you many miles of safe and pleasurable 
driving in your Porsche.
 Important!
For your own protection and longer service life of 
your car, please heed all operating instructions 
and special warnings. These special warnings use 
the safety alert symbol, followed by the words 
Danger, Warning and Caution. These special 
warnings contain important messages regarding 
your safety and/or the potential for damage to 
your Porsche. Ignoring them could result in 
serious mechanical failure, serious personal injury 
or death.fDo not alter your Porsche. Any alteration could 
create dangerous conditions or defeat safety 
engineering features built into your car.
fDo not misuse your Porsche. Use it safely, and 
consistently with the law, according to the 
driving conditions, and the instructions in this 
manual.
Alteration or misuse of your Porsche could 
cause accidents and serious personal injury 
or death.
Note to ownersIn Canada, this manual is also available in French. 
To obtain a copy contact your dealer or write to:Note aux proprietairesAu Canada on peut se procurer un exemplaire de 
ce Manuel en français auprès du concessionaire 
ou du:
Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd.
Automobiles Porsche Canada, LTEE
5045 Orbitor Drive
Building #8, Suite 200
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L4W 4Y4
Telephone number for customer assistance:
1-800-PORSCHE / Option 3
Setting and operating vehicle compon-
ents when driving
 Warning!
There is a danger of accident if you set or 
operate the on-board computer, radio, 
navigation system, telephone or other equip-
ment when driving.
This could distract you from the traffic and 
cause you to lose control of the vehicle resul-
ting in serious personal injury or death.
fOperate the components while driving only if 
the traffic situation allows you to do so safely.
fCarry out any complicated operating or setting procedures only with the vehicle stationary.
Engine Exhaust
 Danger!
Engine exhaust is dangerous if inhaled.
Engine exhaust fumes have many compo-
nents which you can smell. They also contain 
carbon monoxide (CO), which is a colorless 
and odorless gas.
Carbon monoxide can cause unconscious-
ness and even death if inhaled.
fNever start or let the engine run in an en-
closed, unventilated area.
It is not recommended to sit in your car for 
prolonged periods with the engine on and the car not moving.
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3
California Proposition 65 Warning
 Warning!
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and 
certain vehicle components contain or emit chemi-
cals known to the State of California to cause 
cancer and birth defects or other reproductive 
harm.
In addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and 
certain products of component wear contain or 
emit chemicals known to the State of California to 
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproduc-
tive harm.Hot Exhaust Pipes
 Warning!
Risk of burn injury when standing near or 
coming into contact with the exhaust pipe.
The exhaust pipe is hot when the vehicle is running 
and remains hot for some time after the vehicle is 
turned off. 
fTo prevent injury, make a point of noting where 
your vehicle’s exhaust pipe is, avoid placing 
your legs near the exhaust pipe when loading 
and unloading cargo in the rear, and closely 
supervise children around the vehicle during 
time when the exhaust pipe could be hot. A hot exhaust pipe can cause serious burns.
Portable Fuel Containers
 Danger!
Portable fuel containers may leak, whether 
they are full or partially empty. Fuel leaking 
from a portable container carried in your 
vehicle could, in case of an accident, cause 
a fire or explosion, resulting in serious 
personal injury or death.
fNever carry additional fuel in portable contai-ners in your vehicle.
Vehicles with SportDesign package
 Caution!
Risk of damage. On vehicles with Sport-
Design package, front, rear, and side 
member trim are painted and located lower 
on the vehicle. Off-road driving can seriously 
damage these trim parts.
fWhen driving off-road, make sure these parts 
are not damaged. 
fMake sure there is sufficient clearance 
between obstacles and the underside of the 
vehicle.
fAvoid driving through water.
fDo not use side member trim as a running board.
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake 
(PCCB)fPlease see the chapter “BRAKES” on 
Page 163.
The high-performance brake system is designed 
for optimal braking effect at all speeds and tempe-
ratures.
Certain speeds, braking forces and ambient condi-
tions (such as temperature and humidity) therefore 
might cause brake noises.
Wear on the different components and braking 
system, such as brake pads and brake discs, 
depends to a great extent on the individual driving 
style and the conditions of use and therefore 
cannot be expressed in actual miles on the road.
The values communicated by Porsche are based 
on normal operation adapted to traffic. Wear incre-
ases considerably when the vehicle is driven on 
race tracks or through an aggressive driving style.
fPlease consult an authorized Porsche dealer 
about the current guidelines in effect before 
such use of your vehicle.
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4Dear Porsche OwnerA lot has gone into the manufacture of your 
Porsche, including advanced engineering, rigid 
quality control and demanding inspections. These 
engineering and safety features will be enhanced 
by you...the safe driver...– who knows her/his car and all controls,
– who maintains the vehicle properly,
– who uses driving skills wisely and always 
drives within her/his own capabilities and the 
level of familiarity with the vehicle.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on how to 
perform most of the checks listed on the following 
pages. If in doubt, have these checks performed 
by your authorized Porsche dealer.
Before driving off...Check the following items firstfTurn the engine off before you attempt any 
checks or repairs on the vehicle.
fBe sure the tires are inflated correctly. 
Check tires for damage and tire wear.
fSee that wheel bolts are properly tightened 
and not loose or missing.
fCheck engine oil level, add if necessary. Make 
it a habit to have engine oil checked with every 
refueling.
fCheck all fluid levels such as windshield 
washer and brake fluid levels.
fBe sure the vehicle battery is well charged and 
cranks the engine properly.
fCheck all doors and lids for proper operation 
and latch them properly.
fCheck and if necessary replace worn or 
cracked wiper blades.
fSee that all windows are clear and unobst-
ructed.
fCheck air intake slots and area between en-
gine compartment lid and windshield. Ensure 
that these areas are free of snow and ice, so 
the heater and the windshield wipers work 
properly.fIf a child will be riding in the vehicle, check 
child seat/child seat restraint system to ensure 
that restraints are properly adjusted.
fCheck all exterior and interior lights for opera-
tion and that the lenses are clean.
fCheck the headlights for proper aim, and if 
necessary, have them adjusted.
fCheck under the vehicle for leaks.
fBe sure all luggage is stowed securely.
Emergency equipmentIt is good practice to carry emergency equipment 
in your vehicle. 
Some of the items you should have are: window 
scraper, snow brush, container or bag of sand or 
salt, emergency light, small shovel, first-aid kit, 
etc.
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5
In the driver's seat...fCheck operation of the horn.
fPosition seat for easy reach of foot pedals and 
controls.To reduce the possibility of injury from 
the airbag deployment, you should always sit 
back as far from the steering wheel as is 
practical, while still maintaining full vehicle 
control.
fAdjust the headrest so that the upper edge of 
the headrest is brought to eye level or higher.
fAdjust the inside and outside rear view mirrors.
fBuckle your safety belts.
fCheck operation of the foot and parking brake.
fCheck all warning and indicator lights with 
ignition on and engine not running.
fStart engine and check all warning displays for 
warning symbols.
fNever leave an idling car unattended.
fLock doors from inside, especially with 
children in the car to prevent inadvertent 
opening of doors from inside or outside. Drive 
with doors locked.
On the road...fNever drive after you have consumed alcohol 
or drugs.
fAlways have your safety belt fastened.
fAlways drive defensively. 
Expect the unexpected.
fUse signals to indicate turns and lane changes.
fTurn on headlights at dusk or when the driving 
conditions warrant it.
fAlways keep a safe distance from the vehicle in 
front of you, depending on traffic, road and 
weather conditions.
fReduce speed at night and during inclement 
weather.
Driving in wet weather requires caution and 
reduced speeds, particularly on roads with 
standing water, as the handling characteristics 
of the vehicle may be impaired due to hydropla-
ning of the tires.
fAlways observe speed limits and obey road 
signs and traffic laws.
fWhen tired, get well off the road, stop and take 
a rest. Turn the engine off. Do not sit in the 
vehicle with engine idling. 
Please see the chapter “ENGINE EXHAUST” on 
Page 2.fWhen parked, always put the parking brake on 
and put the gearshift lever in neutral or the 
Tiptronic selector lever in position P. 
On hills also turn the front wheels toward the 
curb.
fWhen emergency repairs become necessary, 
move the vehicle well off the road. Turn on the 
emergency flasher and use other warning 
devices to alert other motorists. Do not park 
or operate the vehicle in areas where the hot 
exhaust system may come in contact with dry 
grass, brush, spilled fuel or other flammable 
material.
fMake it a habit to have the engine oil checked 
with every refueling.
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6Break in hints for the first 
2,000 miles (3,000 kilometers)The following tips will be helpful in obtaining 
optimum performance from your new Porsche.
Despite the most modern, high-precision manufac-
turing methods, the moving parts must still wear 
in with each other. This wearing-in occurs mainly in 
the first 2,000 miles (3,000 km).Therefore:fPreferably take longer trips.
fAvoid frequent cold starts with short-distance 
driving whenever possible.
fAvoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops.
fDo not exceed maximum engine speed of 
4,200 rpm (revolutions per minute).
fDo not run a cold engine at high rpm either in 
Neutral or in gear.
fDo not let the engine labor, especially when 
driving uphill. Shift to the next lower gear in 
time (use the most favorable rpm range).
fNever lug the engine in high gear at low 
speeds. This rule applies at all times, not just 
during the break-in period.fDo not participate in motor racing events, 
sports driving schools, etc. during the first 
2,000 miles (3,000 kilometers).
There may be a slight stiffness in the steering, 
gear-shifting or other controls during the break-in 
period which will gradually disappear.
Break in brake pads and brake discsNew brake pads and discs have to be “broken in”, 
and therefore only attain optimal friction when the 
car has covered several hundred miles or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be 
compensated for by pressing the brake pedal 
harder. This also applies whenever the brake pads 
and brake discs are replaced.New tiresNew tires do not have maximum traction. They 
tend to be slippery.
fBreak in new tires by driving at moderate 
speeds during the first 60 to 120 miles (100 
to 200 km). Longer braking distances must be 
anticipated.
Engine oil and fuel consumptionDuring the break-in period oil and fuel consump-
tion may be higher than normal.
fPlease see the chapter “ENGINE DATA” on 
Page 349.
As always, the rate of oil consumption depends on 
the quality and viscosity of oil, the speed at which 
the engine is operated, the climate and road 
conditions, as well as the amount of dilution and 
oxidation of the lubricant.
fMake a habit of checking engine oil with every 
refueling, add if necessary.
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Table of Contents
7 Table of Contents
Overview Illustrations......................... 10Driver’s cockpit ............................................ 11
Steering wheel and instrument cluster ............ 12
Center console, front .................................... 13Opening and Locking ......................... 14Never invite car theft! .................................... 15
Keys ............................................................ 16
Central Locking System................................ 17
Brief overview – Opening and locking from 
outside ........................................................ 18
Unlocking and locking from outside ................ 19
Opening and locking from inside .................... 28
Opening and closing the engine 
compartment lid ........................................... 29
Malfunctions when opening and closing .......... 31Seats, Mirrors and Steering Wheel ..... 33Seat and Headrest ........................................ 34
Front seat with memory................................. 37
Easy Entry Function ..................................... 39
Fire Extinguisher ........................................... 40
Heated Seats – Front and Rear ...................... 40
Safety Belts.................................................. 42
Airbag Systems ............................................ 45
Child Restraint Systems ................................ 49
LATCH Child Seat System.............................. 53
Child Restraint Anchorages ............................ 54
Door Mirrors................................................. 55
Interior Mirror ............................................... 57Automatic Anti-Dazzle Mirror .......................... 57
Steering Wheel ............................................. 58
Multi-Functional Steering Wheel ...................... 60
Sun Visors .................................................... 62
Make-up mirror ............................................. 62
Sun Blinds, Rear Side Windows ...................... 62
Air Conditioning, Parking Heater and 
Heated Rear Window ......................... 63Opening the Cover Flap of the 
Air-Conditioning Control Panel  ....................... 64
Overview of Air-Conditioning Systems ............. 64
Valid for Every Air-Conditioning System ........... 65
Brief Overview – Manual Air-Conditioning ...... 66
Manual Air-Conditioning.................................. 67
Brief Overview – Automatically Controlled 
2-Zone Air-Conditioning System ...................... 69
Automatically Controlled 
2-Zone Air-Conditioning .................................. 70
Brief Overview – Automatically Controlled 
4-Zone Air-Conditioning System, 
Front Control Panel ....................................... 73
Brief Overview – Automatically Controlled 
4-Zone Air-Conditioning System, 
Rear Control Panel ........................................ 74
Automatically Controlled 
4-Zone Air-Conditioning .................................. 75
Vents ........................................................... 79
Heated Rear Window ..................................... 80
Parking Heater.............................................. 81
Windows and Sliding Roofs ................ 86Power windows ............................................. 87
Brief overview - sliding/lifting roof ................ 91
Sliding/Lifting Roof........................................ 92
Brief overview – Panorama roof system ....... 96
Panorama roof system.................................. 97Lights, Turn Signals and Windshield 
Wipers ............................................ 103Light Switch ............................................... 104
Instrument Illumination................................. 105
Automatic Headlight Beam Adjustment.......... 106
Turn signal/High Beam/
Headlight Flasher Stalk ................................ 106
Emergency flasher ...................................... 107
Interior Lighting........................................... 107
Comfort Lighting ......................................... 109
Coming Home Function 
(Auto Shut Off Delay)................................... 109
Door-Surrounding Lighting ........................... 109
Brief overview – Windshield wipers ............. 110
Windshield Wiper/Washer Stalk .................... 111
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8
Table of ContentsMulti-Purpose Display 
and Instruments .............................. 115Instrument Panel USA Models ...................... 117
Instrument Panel Canada Models.................. 119
Oil Temperature Gage ................................. 120
Tachometer................................................ 120
Clock ......................................................... 120
Fuel Gage................................................... 120
Speedometer ............................................. 120
Odometer .................................................. 121
Voltmeter ................................................... 121
Cooling System .......................................... 122
Emission Control......................................... 123
Operating the multi-purpose display on the 
instrument panel ......................................... 124
Opening the main menu............................... 125
Operating example: Displaying average 
consumption .............................................. 125
Displaying/resetting average speed ............. 127
Displaying range on remaining fuel ............... 127
Displaying tire pressure ............................... 127
Displaying compass .................................... 127
Displaying navigation information ................. 127
Operating the telephone via the 
multi-purpose display .................................. 128
Setting speed limit on the multi-purpose 
display ....................................................... 129
Displaying warning messages ...................... 130
Displaying status of level control .................. 131
Displaying status of locks/reduction ............. 131
Displaying average consumption .................. 132
Setting Tire Pressure Monitoring .................. 132Switching off passenger compartment 
monitoring on the multi-purpose display ........142
Synchronous adjustment of door mirrors ......143
Changing settings for opening and locking 
the vehicle ..................................................143
Switching daytime driving lights on/off..........145
Setting lighting off delay ..............................146
Setting the clock .........................................146
Setting compass.........................................147
Changing language for displays....................148
Changing units for displays ..........................148
Resetting display to factory settings .............148
Overview of warning messages...............149
Driving and Driving Safety ................ 157Ignition Lock/Steering Lock .........................158
Starting and Stopping the Engine .................160
Parking Brake .............................................162
Brakes .......................................................163
Cruise Control ............................................167
Manual transmission, clutch .........................169
Tiptronic S..................................................170
Selector Lever Positions ..............................171
Driving Programs for On-Road and 
Off-Road Driving ..........................................177
Power-Transmission and 
Running-Gear Control Systems .....................181
Air Suspension with Level Control and 
Height Adjustment .......................................190
Porsche Active Suspension Management 
(PASM) .......................................................193
Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) .....194
Off-Road Driving ..........................................195
Luggage Compartment, 
Loadspace and Storage.................... 203Folding rear seats forward and returning 
to upright position ...................................... 204
Loadspace ................................................ 207
Cargo management system ........................ 208
Luggage Compartment Cover ..................... 211
Luggage safety net .................................... 212
Ski Bag ..................................................... 214
Roof Transport System............................... 216
Off-road roof-mounted Headlights
Cayenne S Transsyberia............................. 217
Car Audio Operation/Tips............................ 218
Porsche Communication Management 
(PCM) ........................................................ 220
iPod, USB and AUX..................................... 221
Storage ..................................................... 222
Cupholder.................................................. 226
Ashtray...................................................... 227
Cigarette Lighter ........................................ 228Trailer Hitch .................................... 229Trailer Coupling.......................................... 230
Loading Information.................................... 231Parking ........................................... 236Parking Aids .............................................. 237
Swivelling down mirror glass as parking aid.. 241
Garage door opener................................... 241
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