RoadVitals

1999 Porsche 911 Carrera

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.
13
Latest Oct 1, 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.
2
Latest Dec 11, 2020
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 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera, most frequently naming the airbags, seat belts and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 161 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

  • Airbags735.0%
  • Seat belts420.0%
  • Engine210.0%
  • Fuel system210.0%
  • Electrical210.0%
  • Powertrain (other)15.0%
  • Heating & air conditioning15.0%
  • Transmission15.0%

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

2 campaigns 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
20E091000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

Dec 11, 2020
584 units potentially affected
The defect: Ohlins USA, Inc (Ohlins) is recalling certain Front Struts, part number POS 5N20. These struts were sold as part of Ohlins strut kits part number POZ MN02, intended for installation on 1999-2005 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S (generation 996), and 2001-2006 Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S (generation 996) and kit part number POZ MN05, intended for installation on 2005-2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S (generation 997), and 2006-2013 Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S (generation 997). The pin of the strut may experience excessive stress during maximum steering, possibly resulting breakage of the pin.
The risk: If the pin fails, it will cause separation of the strut from the vehicle, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Ohlins will notify owners, and dealers will request the return of all unsold kits containing the subject part from dealer/distributor inventory for a full refund. All owners who purchased one of the kits (POZ MN02 or POZ MN05) will receive replacement front struts (POS 5N20 or POS 5N21 - These parts are interchangeable), along with new top mount interface solutions, free of charge. The recall began December 22, 2020. Owners may contact Ohlins customer service at 1-800-336-9029.
Tenneco AutomotiveView on NHTSA.gov
00V109000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Apr 10, 2000
2,734 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INCORRECT PROGRAMMING OF THE ELECTRONIC LOGIC UNIT CAN CAUSE AN INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL.
The risk: THE VEHICLE COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE SOFTWARE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SO THAT THE FUEL LEVEL AND THE RANGE OF REMAINING FUEL ARE DETERMINED AND DISPLAYED CORRECTLY.
PORSCHE CARS N.A. INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 13
AirbagsElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Oct 1, 2010

1999 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA. S10 DIRECT REPLY- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE NUMEROUS DEFECTS IN PORSCHE CARS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE MANY DEFECTS IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE M96 AND M97 ENGINES. OTHER KNOWN DEFECTS WERE THE TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS, CLUTCH ETC. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED TWO FAILURES WITH THE ENGINE IN HIS VEHICLE. HE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO A RATTLING NOISE, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHICH WAS BINDING AND THE AIRBAGS. ALSO, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA ACKNOWLEDGED THE KNOWN DEFECTS, BUT THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER HE WAITED TOO LONG. *JB UPDATED 11/24/10

NHTSA ID
10358688
Incident
Feb 26, 2002
Engine
Filed May 4, 2010

NORMAL SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE INTERVALS AND RECOMMENDED DEALER SERVICE. AT 65K MILES ENGINE FAILED. DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT A CONNECTING ROD PUNCTURED THE ENGINE BLOCK. NO ASSISTANCE AT ALL FROM PORSCHE, HAD TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT ENGINE AS THE CAR WAS 2 YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10328725
Incident
Aug 10, 2007
Mileage
65,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 1, 2010

PORSCHE 911/996'S BUILT BETWEEN 1999 AND 2005 ARE SUFFERING STAGGERING AMOUNTS OF ENGINE FAILURES DUE TO AN IMS(INTERMEDIATE SHAFT)BEARING FAILURE. SEE HERE: HTTP://WWW.PORSCHEENGINEFAILURE.COM/. *TR

NHTSA ID
10328345
Incident
May 1, 2010
Airbags
Filed Mar 25, 2010

THERE IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG. RECORDS (FROM PREVIOUS OWNER) SHOW THAT THERE WERE REPAIRS TO THE WIRING HARNESS AND SEAT BUCKLE AT 39,786 MILES, AGAIN AT 44,056 MILES, AND ONCE AGAIN AT 45,157 MILES. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS (AS THE CURRENT OWNER), I HAVE HAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED OFF TWICE BY THE DEALER (AT AROUND 50,000 AND 52,000 MILES) BUT THE LIGHT HAS REAPPEARED AFTER A PERIOD OF OPERATION. ALTHOUGH THIS IS SAFETY RELATED ITEM, PORSCHE SAYS IT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO MAKE THE REPAIR SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEIR DEALER ALSO STATED (LAST YEAR) THAT IF I PAID FOR SUCH A REPAIR (ABOUT $1000) AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED OVER TIME, I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR A SECOND TIME. PORSCHE SEEMS NOT TO ABIDE BY THE STATEMENT ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT "IF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR ITEM OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, THE MANUFACTURE MUST PROVIDE A REMEDY AT NO COST TO THE OWNER." MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE APPARENTLY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG. SOMEHOW, PORSCHE USA SHOULD BE FORCED TO COMPLY WITH NATIONAL REGULATIONS AND/OR POLICY. THEY ARE VERY UNRESPONSIVE.

NHTSA ID
10322166
Incident
Jan 10, 2010
Mileage
51,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 29, 2008

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AFTER 54K MILES. AFTER READING PORSCHE FORUM POSTS AND CONTACTING MULTIPLE DEALERS, I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A _VERY_ COMMON ISSUE. IT MAY OR MAY NOT RESULT IN FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229201
Incident
Apr 16, 2008
Mileage
54,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 22, 2007

TL* -THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA . THE CONTACT RESEARCHED RECALL NOTICE# 00V109000. WHEN THE CONTACT FILLS THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL TO CAPACITY THE FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE GAS TANK IS AT CAPACITY. THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE CONTACT HAS TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HONOR THE RECALL AND WAS ABRUPTLY TOLD THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE RECALL, AND THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SO THAT THE FUEL LEVEL AND THE RANGE OF REMAINING FUEL ARE DETERMINED AND DISPLAYED CORRECTLY. THIS FAILURE ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE CONTACT FILLS THE GAS TANK WITH FUEL TO CAPACITY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10179415
Incident
Jan 22, 2007
Mileage
89,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 23, 2006

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY FUEL SYSTEM; THE CAR DO NOT GIVE ME THE RIGHT INFORMATION ON THE FUEL, AFTER I PUT GAS IN THE CAR, THE CAR STOPS, SOMETIME THE CAR WILL NOT CUT OFF AFTER I FEEL IT UP WITH GAS. I GOT ON LINE AND FOUND IT WAS A RECALL ON THE 1999 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA COUPE. I CALL THE SERVICES MANAGER AT BEVERLY HILLS PORSCHE AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS I BEEN HAVING WITH THE CAR AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THE RECALL. HE REFUSES TO HELP ME, HE MAKING UP ALL KIND OF EXCUSES FOR NOT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM...HE TOLD ME "AND I AM NOT DOING IT FOR FREE" I'M COPYING MY LAST E-MAIL I GOT FROM HIM; I AM SENDING IT TO YOU. I LOOKED AT THIS SVC ACTION A LITTLE CLOSER AFTER YOU SENT ME THE VIN # AND THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO YOUR VEHICLE. THIS SVC ACTION ONLY APPLIES TO 996 CARRERA 4'S,THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE CARS. YOURS IS A CARRERA 2, REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THE GAS TANK IS DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE 2 CARS AND THIS PROBLEM WAS ONLY WITH THE CARRERA 4. THANKS, ERIK ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- FROM: [email protected] TO: [email protected] SENT: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2006 4:53 PM SUBJECT: RE: RECALL THAT'S OKAY! THE PERSON SAID THERE WAS NOT A PROTRACTOR NIV NUMBER ON A CAR; THE PROBLEMS WERE WITH THE 1999 ....THE CAR CAME FROM NEW JERSEY TO CALIFORNIA 01/2005 I GOT IT 01/2006. *NM

NHTSA ID
10176872
Incident
Dec 22, 2006
Electrical
Filed Dec 21, 2006

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED STATING THAT SHE WAS ON LINE AND FOUND INFORMATION THAT HER 1999 PORCHE 911 CARRERA COUPE WAS RECALLED DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SHE RETRIEVED THE INFORMATION AND FOUND THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL BUT A SERVICE BULLETIN, FOUND BULLETIN# 8702. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH HER CLUTCH WHEN SHE FIRST PURCHASE VEHICLE AND REPLACED CLUTCH IN OCTOBER. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 01/19/06 AND WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE PURCHASE SHE STARTED HAVING CLUTCH PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT ALSO HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR CONTINUING TO RUN AFTER SHE HAS TURNED IT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL METER WILL SOMETIMES READ INCORRECTLY. THE CONTACT HAS RUN OUT OF GAS ON OCCASION WHEN THE FUEL METER READS THAT THE TANK IS FULL. THE CONTACT HAS REPLACED HER BATTERY AND HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE PURCHASED IT AND THEY CONTINUE TO TELL HER NOTHING IS WRONG WITH VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10176749
Incident
Feb 7, 2006

Manufacturer communications

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

No. 2403

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Special tools and equipment information for brake caliper pins for the 911, Boxster, and Cayman

No. D8

Product knowledge for the chassis and VIN numbering systems

PIWIS2401f

Information for PIWIS tester update 42.500.008

PIWIS2302s

EQUIPMENT

Information for PIWIS tester update 42.300.050 & .052

No. 32-23

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Instructions on manufacturers certificate for approved C20 engine oils

No. 33-23

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Instructions on manufactures certificate for approved Porsche C30 engine oils

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025000—
2024000—
2023010—
2022010—
2021010—
2020150—
2017120—
2016000—
2015000—
2014310—
2013311—
2012030—
2011010—
2010010—
2009010—
2008010—
2007010—
2006010—
2005310—
2004710—
2003320—
2002430—
2001110—
2000220—
1999Viewing132038.5
1998000—
1997100—

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.