Plastic coolant pipes (4.5 V8)
usually 80,000–160,000 km · High risk
Signs: Coolant loss from the engine valley
Fix: Replace with aluminium pipes
€1,200–2,500
Engine: common problems, timing drive and oil
4.5 / 4.8 V8 (Cayenne 955/957/958)
Petrol · 4,511 / 4,806 cm³ · 250–368 kW
2
model generations
3
known faults
4,000
new cars in the EU (2010–2025)
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
Fuel: Petrol. Timing drive: chain.
In our database this engine is fitted to 2 model generations, among them: Porsche Cayenne (958 / 9Y0), Porsche Cayenne (955 / 957).
The most expensive known risk is plastic coolant pipes (4.5 V8): it usually appears at 80,000–160,000 km and costs €1,200–2,500 to fix.
Key facts
| Fuel | Petrol |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 4,511 / 4,806 cm³ |
| Power | 250–368 kW |
| Years | 2003–2018 |
| Timing drive | Chain |
| Oil | 0W-40 · Porsche A40 · ~9.0–10.0 L · every 15,000 km |
| Engine codes | M48.00, M48.01, M48.50, M48.51 |
Known engine faults
Faults that belong to the engine itself. They apply to every model with this engine, and each model has its own extra faults on its model page.
Driveshaft centre bearing
usually 80,000–160,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Vibration, clunk pulling away
Fix: Replace driveshaft or bearing
€600–1,500
Air suspension
usually 100,000–180,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Car sits low, compressor runs long
Fix: Replace strut / compressor
€800–2,500
Engine-related service
Intervals and typical prices, using the Porsche Cayenne (958 / 9Y0) as an example. The app gives the exact plan for your car.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Spark plugsIgnition | every 60,000 km or every 48 months | €50–160 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Timing chain inspection (listen on cold start)Engine | every 150,000 km | €0–120 |
Models with this engine
Model generations this engine is fitted to.
Porsche Cayenne (955 / 957) 2002–2010Porsche Cayenne (958 / 9Y0) 2010–
Common questions
Does the 4.5 / 4.8 V8 (Cayenne 955/957/958) engine have a timing chain or a timing belt?
Chain.
What oil does the 4.5 / 4.8 V8 (Cayenne 955/957/958) engine take?
0W-40 · Porsche A40 · ~9.0–10.0 L · every 15,000 km.
What are the known problems with the 4.5 / 4.8 V8 (Cayenne 955/957/958) engine?
The faults with the highest risk: plastic coolant pipes (4.5 V8) (80,000–160,000 km, €1,200–2,500); air suspension (100,000–180,000 km, €800–2,500); driveshaft centre bearing (80,000–160,000 km, €600–1,500).
Which cars have the 4.5 / 4.8 V8 (Cayenne 955/957/958) engine?
Porsche Cayenne (958 / 9Y0), Porsche Cayenne (955 / 957).
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 08/10/2026