Likes
- Looks, feels, and drives like a far more expensive vehicle
- Arguably the most unique Porsche model
- Superb performance with genuine practicality
- Potentially the most affordable and sensible way to get into a Porsche
Used Porsche Panamera review
2009 - 2016
Dislikes
- Very expensive maintenance and repair costs
- Under the skin, there’s a lot of Audi and Volkswagen going on
- Looks are very reliant on wheels and ride height
- How much mental and financial stress are you willing to deal with for that badge?
Stuff you should know
Released in 2009 with production wrapping up in 2016, the Porsche Panemera (model code 970) was the premium German masques first attempt at a large 5-door saloon style car and while critically acclaimed when new, visually, the Panemera was (and has remained) polarising.
During this production cycle, Porsche updated the entire Panamera range, changing mechanical packages, increased the levels of tech and features and to many, most importantly, subtlety enhanced many design aspects.
Plus, like all good Porsche models, it has been available in an array of different iterations and specs, generally all relating to what engine is powering it and what year model it is.
This may allude to confusion when trying to decipher the range so let’s make sense of this.
Firstly, you have the base spec Panamera that Porsche named simply the Panamera and it features a 6-cylinder petrol engine powering the rear wheels
Next we have the Panamera S which before the 2013 update is equipped with a 4.8-litre V8 powering the rear wheels and interestingly, these are the only Panamera available with a manual transmission, however after the 2013 update the manual was discontinued and the V8 was replaced by a twin-turbo V6
Then there’s the Panamera 4 which is ostensibly the same as the base spec Panamera only it’s four-wheel drive and the Panamera 4S which is the same as the Panamera S only it too has four wheel drive.
We then move to the more limited Panamera GTS which is basically a Panamera 4S with every possible option box ticked and more power.
Next is the Turbo which adds two turbos to the V8, adding even more power and is four-wheel drive yet if that amount of power isn’t enough, there’s the Panamera Turbo S which is a fully kitted out Turbo
If sheer thrust isn’t your highest priority, there’s the Panamera Diesel which has a turbo-diesel V6 but it only powers the rear wheels and finally the Panamera S-Hybrid and S-E Hybrid which are both rear wheel drive and powered by a supercharged V6 but add an electric motor.
In addition to this and in the tradition of being a premium European vehicle, all of these trim specs are then adjustable thanks to options and enhancement packs while quite a few owners completely customised their Panamera thanks to special order options from the factory.
What goes wrong
Exterior:
Rust. The main areas to check are the strut towers, around the rear brake light, the wheel wells and along the chassis rails especially if it has been jacked up incorrectly.
There are reports of faulty door handles, often the handle needs to be replaced.
The door lock actuators can fail and they can’t be repaired, you’ll have to replace them with OEM parts, which will be expensive.
The active rear spoiler can fail and become, well, inactive.
On examples fitted with air suspension, the air suspension can fail and understandably become an expensive problem, especially if the Panamera in question doesn’t feature an extended warranty.
There are a few reports of paint quality issues: Apparently the paint can peel or fad prematurely.
There are reports of headlight issues like moisture buildup and bulbs burning out prematurely.
Interior:
Unfortunately plenty of reports of electrical issues inside.
Owners have reported issues with the audio and navigation system including freezing or crashing and the dashboard warning lights doing their best impression of a Christmas tree.
Quite a few owners have reported issues with inaccurate readings or malfunctioning displays with the instrument cluster.
There can be air conditioning problems with owners complaining of malfunctioning vents and inadequate cooling.
Sunroof issues can occur from leaking to problems with the mechanism.
The electric window switches are a common failure but can be cheaply bought from eBay.
There are plenty of reports of rattles and squeaks due to loose components or even issues with the suspension.
Some owners have reported issues with the leather seats wearing prematurely, which may be due to low-quality materials or inadequate care.
Mechanically:
The Panamera features a range of different engine and transmission configurations, all that will vary in power and torque output depending on the specific trim model, (details are in our tech specs).
In terms of mechanical reliability, aside from some reports of fuel rails leaking, the 3.0-litre Supercharged V6 petrol is commonly regarded as being the least troublesome (so far) however it is critical to have any used Panamera checked with a full pre-purchase inspection.
The 3.0-litre Turbo Diesel however, can be quite a different story, suffering from all the usual modern common rail diesel issues such as EGR and DPF complications.
Injector seal issues are also commonly reported as are coolant and oil leaks as are turbo complications.
It should be noted, this Diesel power plant is extremely closely related to Audi and Volkswagen equivalents and was one of the engines involved in the Dieselgate emissions scandal.
The petrol V6 engines aren’t without their common concerns such as PCV and breather system complications especially related to the valve cover.
Excessive oil consumption issues are reported.
Carbon
Exterior:
Rust. The main areas to check are the strut towers, around the rear brake light, the wheel wells and along the chassis rails especially if it has been jacked up incorrectly.
There are reports of faulty door handles, often the handle needs to be replaced.
The door lock actuators can fail and they can’t be repaired, you’ll have to replace them with OEM parts, which will be expensive.
The active rear spoiler can fail and become, well, inactive.
On examples fitted with air suspension, the air suspension can fail and understandably become an expensive problem, especially if the Panamera in question doesn’t feature an extended warranty.
There are a few reports of paint quality issues: Apparently the paint can peel or fad prematurely.
There are reports of headlight issues like moisture buildup and bulbs burning out prematurely.
Interior:
Unfortunately plenty of reports of electrical issues inside.
Owners have reported issues with the audio and navigation system including freezing or crashing and the dashboard warning lights doing their best impression of a Christmas tree.
Quite a few owners have reported issues with inaccurate readings or malfunctioning displays with the instrument cluster.
There can be air conditioning problems with owners complaining of malfunctioning vents and inadequate cooling.
Sunroof issues can occur from leaking to problems with the mechanism.
The electric window switches are a common failure but can be cheaply bought from eBay.
There are plenty of reports of rattles and squeaks due to loose components or even issues with the suspension.
Some owners have reported issues with the leather seats wearing prematurely, which may be due to low-quality materials or inadequate care.
Mechanically:
The Panamera features a range of different engine and transmission configurations, all that will vary in power and torque output depending on the specific trim model, (details are in our tech specs).
In terms of mechanical reliability, aside from some reports of fuel rails leaking, the 3.0-litre Supercharged V6 petrol is commonly regarded as being the least troublesome (so far) however it is critical to have any used Panamera checked with a full pre-purchase inspection.
The 3.0-litre Turbo Diesel however, can be quite a different story, suffering from all the usual modern common rail diesel issues such as EGR and DPF complications.
Injector seal issues are also commonly reported as are coolant and oil leaks as are turbo complications.
It should be noted, this Diesel power plant is extremely closely related to Audi and Volkswagen equivalents and was one of the engines involved in the Dieselgate emissions scandal.
The petrol V6 engines aren’t without their common concerns such as PCV and breather system complications especially related to the valve cover.
Excessive oil consumption issues are reported.
Carbon build-up can be an issue thanks to direct injection. Walnut blasting the intake valves should mitigate any ongoing issues.
Like diesel engines, oil leaks are becoming more common and without attention, can result in major damage.
Ignition coil and various electronic issues are reported.
Thanks to deteriorating engine bay plastics, coolant leaks are becoming another common issue on the 970 series. The coolant distribution pipe and coolant Y pipe are cracking and begin leaking coolant.
In addition, water pump failures thanks too rubber gasket degrading and a bearing within the support shaft wearing down over time are commonly reported. If not resolved, the engine can overheat and cause serious (and very expensive) damage.
Again like diesel engines, turbocharger failures and issues are reported on petroleum power plants.
The V8 engines unfortunately can also suffer from all of these issues and failures however, the 8-cylinder seems to be more susceptible to the camshaft gear retaining bolts coming loose or in some cases, sheering off, falling into the timing chain assembly and often resulting in catastrophic engine failure.
Porsche did provide a recall to remedy this, so it is imperative to check service records to be sure the Panamera in question has been seen to.
In terms of the transmission, when fitted to 911, Boxster and Cayman models, Porsche’s PDK transmission is commonly regarded as one of the strongest and most reliable twin-clutch transmission in any production car however, in the Panamera, it is quite a different story.
The main issues tend to occur amongst the electronic and hydraulic controls with the mechatronic unit and temperature sensor being two common pain points sometimes resulting in catastrophic transmission failure.
Also thanks to the Panemera being fundamentally a road car, the dual-clutch system more often than not is asked to engage slowly, which therefore places constant load on the clutches, wearing them out. The issue here is that the clutch pack is not serviceable, requiring the entire transmission to be replaced at huge expense.
Be sure to listen and check for suspension issues and premature wear. Thanks to the Panamera weighing a substantial amount, bushes and ball joints can wear quickly and many components require full replacement.
Panamera fitted with air suspension can suffer from air strut and air compressor issues.
The top of the air strut can seize closed, resulting in the airbag itself not to filling or seizing open, then over-pressurising and splitting the bag while the air compressor can fail over time.
General leaks within the system can also be an issue.
It’s worth noting that while these issues have been reported by many owners, with thorough and fastidious maintenance, common faults and issues can often be mitigated.
Recalls:
- April 2010 – Fault in Porsche Panamera S, Panamera 4S, and Panamera Turbo models, affecting 113 units, where if the front seats are adjusted too far, the seat belt mount can detach from the anchoring system, compromising the restraint function of the belt system.
- July 2018 – Seventeen units of the Porsche Panamera are affected by a manufacturing defect in the connecting links of the rear anti-roll bar, which poses an accident risk due to potential damage to surrounding suspension parts and a reduction in vehicle handling.
- January 2019 – Due to a software error, the electric power steering in 2016-2018 Porsche Panamera vehicles may become unavailable sporadically, posing a risk of reduced steering control and increased accident or injury to occupants or other road users.
- March 2019 – The Porsche Panamera has a software issue where the red brake wear warning light does not continuously illuminate when brake pads are worn out, increasing the risk of accidents if ignored, affecting 226 units.
- July 2019 – The plastic sleeve of the selector lever cable in certain Porsche Cayenne and Panamera models from 2002 to 2010 may break, potentially preventing the transmission from shifting into park mode and increasing the risk of unintentional vehicle roll-off, affecting 2,635 units.
- September 2019 – Out-of-specification capacitors in the airbag control unit of certain Porsche models (Panamera, 911, Boxster, Cayman) from 2015-2016 can lead to unexpected airbag deployment or failure to deploy in an accident, posing a risk of injury to occupants and other road users. 348 units are affected.
- November 2019 – Some Porsche Panamera and Cayenne models produced from 2016 to 2019, with a total of 2,348 affected units, have a defect where the ‘brake pad worn’ warning message may not be permanently displayed, potentially leading to drivers not being informed about worn brake pads and increasing the risk of accidents or serious injuries.
- February 2023 – Moisture leakage in the additional coolant pump’s control unit of Porsche Panamera (97A, 97B, 97C) models from 2015 to 2021 may lead to an electrical short circuit and vehicle fire, posing a risk of injury or death to occupants, road users, and bystanders.
Exterior:
Rust. The main areas to check are the strut towers, around the rear brake light, the wheel wells and along the chassis rails especially if it has been jacked up incorrectly.
There are reports of faulty door handles, often the handle needs to be replaced.
The door lock actuators can fail and they can’t be repaired, you’ll have to replace them with OEM parts, which will be expensive.
The active rear spoiler can fail and become, well, inactive.
On examples fitted with air suspension, the air suspension can fail and understandably become an expensive problem, especially if the Panamera in question doesn’t feature an extended warranty.
There are a few reports of paint quality issues: Apparently the paint can peel or fad prematurely.
There are reports of headlight issues like moisture buildup and bulbs burning out prematurely.
Interior:
Unfortunately plenty of reports of electrical issues inside.
Owners have reported issues with the audio and navigation system including freezing or crashing and the dashboard warning lights doing their best impression of a Christmas tree.
Quite a few owners have reported issues with inaccurate readings or malfunctioning displays with the instrument cluster.
There can be air conditioning problems with owners complaining of malfunctioning vents and inadequate cooling.
Sunroof issues can occur from leaking to problems with the mechanism.
The electric window switches are a common failure but can be cheaply bought from eBay.
There are plenty of reports of rattles and squeaks due to loose components or even issues with the suspension.
Some owners have reported issues with the leather seats wearing prematurely, which may be due to low-quality materials or inadequate care.
Mechanically:
The Panamera features a range of different engine and transmission configurations, all that will vary in power and torque output depending on the specific trim model, (details are in our tech specs).
In terms of mechanical reliability, aside from some reports of fuel rails leaking, the 3.0-litre Supercharged V6 petrol is commonly regarded as being the least troublesome (so far) however it is critical to have any used Panamera checked with a full pre-purchase inspection.
The 3.0-litre Turbo Diesel however, can be quite a different story, suffering from all the usual modern common rail diesel issues such as EGR and DPF complications.
Injector seal issues are also commonly reported as are coolant and oil leaks as are turbo complications.
It should be noted, this Diesel power plant is extremely closely related to Audi and Volkswagen equivalents and was one of the engines involved in the Dieselgate emissions scandal.
The petrol V6 engines aren’t without their common concerns such as PCV and breather system complications especially related to the valve cover.
Excessive oil consumption issues are reported.
Carbon build-up can be an issue thanks to direct injection. Walnut blasting the intake valves should mitigate any ongoing issues.
Like diesel engines, oil leaks are becoming more common and without attention, can result in major damage.
Ignition coil and various electronic issues are reported.
Thanks to deteriorating engine bay plastics, coolant leaks are becoming another common issue on the 970 series. The coolant distribution pipe and coolant Y pipe are cracking and begin leaking coolant.
In addition, water pump failures thanks too rubber gasket degrading and a bearing within the support shaft wearing down over time are commonly reported. If not resolved, the engine can overheat and cause serious (and very expensive) damage.
Again like diesel engines, turbocharger failures and issues are reported on petroleum power plants.
The V8 engines unfortunately can also suffer from all of these issues and failures however, the 8-cylinder seems to be more susceptible to the camshaft gear retaining bolts coming loose or in some cases, sheering off, falling into the timing chain assembly and often resulting in catastrophic engine failure.
Porsche did provide a recall to remedy this, so it is imperative to check service records to be sure the Panamera in question has been seen to.
In terms of the transmission, when fitted to 911, Boxster and Cayman models, Porsche’s PDK transmission is commonly regarded as one of the strongest and most reliable twin-clutch transmission in any production car however, in the Panamera, it is quite a different story.
The main issues tend to occur amongst the electronic and hydraulic controls with the mechatronic unit and temperature sensor being two common pain points sometimes resulting in catastrophic transmission failure.
Also thanks to the Panemera being fundamentally a road car, the dual-clutch system more often than not is asked to engage slowly, which therefore places constant load on the clutches, wearing them out. The issue here is that the clutch pack is not serviceable, requiring the entire transmission to be replaced at huge expense.
Be sure to listen and check for suspension issues and premature wear. Thanks to the Panamera weighing a substantial amount, bushes and ball joints can wear quickly and many components require full replacement.
Panamera fitted with air suspension can suffer from air strut and air compressor issues.
The top of the air strut can seize closed, resulting in the airbag itself not to filling or seizing open, then over-pressurising and splitting the bag while the air compressor can fail over time.
General leaks within the system can also be an issue.
It’s worth noting that while these issues have been reported by many owners, with thorough and fastidious maintenance, common faults and issues can often be mitigated.
Recalls:
- April 2010 – Fault in Porsche Panamera S, Panamera 4S, and Panamera Turbo models, affecting 113 units, where if the front seats are adjusted too far, the seat belt mount can detach from the anchoring system, compromising the restraint function of the belt system.
- July 2018 – Seventeen units of the Porsche Panamera are affected by a manufacturing defect in the connecting links of the rear anti-roll bar, which poses an accident risk due to potential damage to surrounding suspension parts and a reduction in vehicle handling.
- January 2019 – Due to a software error, the electric power steering in 2016-2018 Porsche Panamera vehicles may become unavailable sporadically, posing a risk of reduced steering control and increased accident or injury to occupants or other road users.
- March 2019 – The Porsche Panamera has a software issue where the red brake wear warning light does not continuously illuminate when brake pads are worn out, increasing the risk of accidents if ignored, affecting 226 units.
- July 2019 – The plastic sleeve of the selector lever cable in certain Porsche Cayenne and Panamera models from 2002 to 2010 may break, potentially preventing the transmission from shifting into park mode and increasing the risk of unintentional vehicle roll-off, affecting 2,635 units.
- September 2019 – Out-of-specification capacitors in the airbag control unit of certain Porsche models (Panamera, 911, Boxster, Cayman) from 2015-2016 can lead to unexpected airbag deployment or failure to deploy in an accident, posing a risk of injury to occupants and other road users. 348 units are affected.
- November 2019 – Some Porsche Panamera and Cayenne models produced from 2016 to 2019, with a total of 2,348 affected units, have a defect where the ‘brake pad worn’ warning message may not be permanently displayed, potentially leading to drivers not being informed about worn brake pads and increasing the risk of accidents or serious injuries.
- February 2023 – Moisture leakage in the additional coolant pump’s control unit of Porsche Panamera (97A, 97B, 97C) models from 2015 to 2021 may lead to an electrical short circuit and vehicle fire, posing a risk of injury or death to occupants, road users, and bystanders.
Should you buy it?
If you should buy a 970 Porsche Panamera comes down to which of two groups you belong to.
On the one hand, if you have lots of money and are a little bit mad, why not, buy it as logic most likely bores you?
Chances are you’ve worked hard and have saved your cash or maybe you’re happy to put yourself in scary amounts of debt, and we thank you for being so irresponsible when it comes to the love for high-maintenance cars like the Panamera.
Cars like the Panamera aren’t about logic, they’re about passion and all the wonderful feelings and emotions that are triggered when you own and drive a car like the big Porsche and it wasn’t for people like you, special cars like the 970 would vanish from our roads and our lives.
Financially you’re potentially an idiot for buying one, but you’re an awesome idiot and we thank you because it’s people like you that keep the car industry exciting.
However, on the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, have less money, and are quite sensible, god no, do not a Porsche Panamera!
You can’t afford to keep the bloody thing on the road, we know it’s wonderful and yes when you ignore what might go wrong and the costs to repair it, it can seem like great value plus it’s unique and does everything so incredibly well but deep down, you know it might send you broke and you know taking risks like
If you should buy a 970 Porsche Panamera comes down to which of two groups you belong to.
On the one hand, if you have lots of money and are a little bit mad, why not, buy it as logic most likely bores you?
Chances are you’ve worked hard and have saved your cash or maybe you’re happy to put yourself in scary amounts of debt, and we thank you for being so irresponsible when it comes to the love for high-maintenance cars like the Panamera.
Cars like the Panamera aren’t about logic, they’re about passion and all the wonderful feelings and emotions that are triggered when you own and drive a car like the big Porsche and it wasn’t for people like you, special cars like the 970 would vanish from our roads and our lives.
Financially you’re potentially an idiot for buying one, but you’re an awesome idiot and we thank you because it’s people like you that keep the car industry exciting.
However, on the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, have less money, and are quite sensible, god no, do not a Porsche Panamera!
You can’t afford to keep the bloody thing on the road, we know it’s wonderful and yes when you ignore what might go wrong and the costs to repair it, it can seem like great value plus it’s unique and does everything so incredibly well but deep down, you know it might send you broke and you know taking risks like this will stress you out once the adrenaline dies down, please, do not buy it.
Should you buy it?
If you should buy a 970 Porsche Panamera comes down to which of two groups you belong to.
On the one hand, if you have lots of money and are a little bit mad, why not, buy it as logic most likely bores you?
Chances are you’ve worked hard and have saved your cash or maybe you’re happy to put yourself in scary amounts of debt, and we thank you for being so irresponsible when it comes to the love for high-maintenance cars like the Panamera.
Cars like the Panamera aren’t about logic, they’re about passion and all the wonderful feelings and emotions that are triggered when you own and drive a car like the big Porsche and it wasn’t for people like you, special cars like the 970 would vanish from our roads and our lives.
Financially you’re potentially an idiot for buying one, but you’re an awesome idiot and we thank you because it’s people like you that keep the car industry exciting.
However, on the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, have less money, and are quite sensible, god no, do not a Porsche Panamera!
You can’t afford to keep the bloody thing on the road, we know it’s wonderful and yes when you ignore what might go wrong and the costs to repair it, it can seem like great value plus it’s unique and does everything so incredibly well but deep down, you know it might send you broke and you know taking risks like this will stress you out once the adrenaline dies down, please, do not buy it.
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of June 30, 2023.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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