RoadVitals

2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Mar 13, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 18, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, most frequently naming the engine category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 343 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
04V070000

SEATS

Feb 18, 2004
1,805 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FITTED WITH FRONT SEAT BACKS, WHICH DO NOT MEET PORSCHE'S STRENGTH STANDARDS.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEATS COULD TWIST, TILTING ON ONE SIDE TO THE REAR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE FRONT SEATS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.
PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2010

2003 PORSCHE 911 C4S COUPE: CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IN NEW YORK. WOULD LIKELY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, IF HAD STILL BEEN ON I-87. MOMENTS BEFORE, DIVERTED TO NEARLY EMPTY RT-9. FROM WEB RESEARCH AND DISCUSSIONS WITH PORSCHE SERVICE CENTERS, I ESTIMATE THAT 1ST GEN WATER COOLED BOXER ENGINES IN BOXSTER AND 911 DURING '99-'08 HAVE HAD > 5% CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SYSTEM (SHAFT, BEARINGS, LUBRICATION SYSTEM). THE 2ND GEN WATER COOLED BOXER ENGINES INTRODUCED IN 2009 ELIMINATED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES PORSCHE AG AND PORSCHE NA HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A COVER-UP BY PERSUADING AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS TO RETURN THE ENGINES UNOPENED TO PORSCHE AG, WHERE THEY DO A NICE BUSINESS SALVAGING THE CASE FOR REMANUFACTURED ENGINES SOLD BACK TO VICTIMS. THAT HAPPENED TO ME AT PEPE PORSCHE. AT FIRST, THEY SAID THE 'INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BOLT' BROKE. THERE IS NO SUCH PART, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A THREADED END. MY 3RD PARTY WARRANTY COMPANY SAID, 'SORRY, FINE PRINT, WE DO NOT COVER FAILURES CAUSED BY BROKEN BOLTS'. PEPE LATER ADMITTED THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL FAILURE MECHANISM WAS LIKELY INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARINGS. THE WARRANTY COMPANY DEMANDED AN INSPECTION. BY THEN, THE BROKEN ENGINE WAS LONG GONE, AND I HAD SPENT $13,000 FOR INSTALLATION OF A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. I FOUGHT PORSCHE AG, PORSCHE NA, AND PEPE FOR SATISFACTION (BY MYSELF, WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY). I FINALLY SETTLED FOR 50% BACK FROM PEPE. WATCHING THE TOYOTA STORY VIS A VIS THE NHTSA, I HAVE RENEWED HOPE THAT THE NHTSA WOULD PRO-ACTIVELY RECEIVE MY COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATE. I SUGGEST YOU POLL AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS TO FIND OUT HOW MANY '996-SERIES' ENGINES THEY HAVE SEEN FROM 1999-2008 MODEL YEARS WITH CATASTROPHIC FAILURES, HOW MANY WERE ASSOCIATED WITH A CRASH, AND HOW MANY ENGINES WERE RETURNED TO PORSCHE AG UNOPENED, WITHOUT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE MECHANISM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10319400
Incident
Oct 1, 2007
Mileage
38,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSTR 2642

Porsche Tester Software Update Information Software Version: 44.300.000

SPTL 2607a

VAS 621001A Matrix Headlamp Aimer – Automatic Shipment / Maha Installation

SPTL 2607

VAS 621001A Matrix Headlamp Aimer – Automatic Shipment / Maha Installation

13/26

ENGINE

Allocation of Approved Engine Oils MY 2027 (13/26)

TSTR 2641

PiUS Update Information Software Version: 3.2

TSTR 2641

PiUS Update Information Software Version: 3.2

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Porsche 911 Carrera 4S by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023010—
2012010—
2009100—
2003Viewing110—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.