MD-11
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Troubleshooting; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
On climbout received level 1 CABIN CLIMB alert followed by level 3 CABIN ALTITUDE alert. We stopped our climb at 12;000 feet then coordinated with ATC for descent to 10;000 feet. Completed checklist; consulted [company]; decided to continue to ZZZ1. Passing through FL320 on subsequent climb we received a level 3 CABIN ALTITUDE alert again. We [advised ATC] and initiated emergency descent to 10;000 feet; then completed checklist again. We consulted with [the company] and decided to divert back to ZZZ. Normal approach and landing in to ZZZ with no further issues.Equipment failure of pressurization system; yet to be determined.
During climb out we got a Cabin rate indication followed by Cabin Altitude warning passing approximately 12;000 feet. We descended to 10;000 feet to accomplish QRH procedures. Cabin pressurization control returned to normal. After consulting with [company maintenance]; we proceeded enroute to ZZZ1. During climb through approximately 32;000 feet the same alerts reoccurred and [we advised ATC]; and emergency descent to 10;000 was accomplished. QRH procedures were again accomplished followed by return to ZZZ.  Cabin pressure controller malfunction. (Probable cause at this writing).
Flight Crew reported an air turn back after the cabin pressurization failed twice.