1999 Porsche 911 Carrera Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
I OWN A 1999 CARRERA CABRIOLET. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH DISPLAYS CONTINUOUSLY AND THE FRONT DRIVER' S SIDE LAP BELT DOES NOT ENGAGE. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEMS AND THE PARTS WERE NEVER OBTAINED AND THE WARRANTY REPAIR NEVER COMPLETED. THE SEAT BELT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK BUT NOW IT IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A RELATIVELY COMMON OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I BELIEVE THAT PORSCHE IS NOT MEETING FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS BY ITS FAILURE TO PROVIDE SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT IS NOT DEFECTIVE AND BY ITS FAILURE TO REPAIR SUCH DEFECTS. THE DEALER ESTIMATE TO GET THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG FUNCTIONING IS $1200. MY CAR PRESENTLY HAS ONLY 11,000 ORIGINAL MILES. NOT ONLY WAS THIS DEFECT NOT CORRECTED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT AN AUTO WITH SUCH FEW MILES HAS MALFUNCTIONING SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I BELIEVE THAT PORSCHE IS NOT LIVING UP TO FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS BY SELLING AUTOS WITH MALFUNCTIONING SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAGS AND DOES NOT PROVIDE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
OBSCURED FORWARD VISION DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE CLIMATE CONTROL DESIGN. ON A HOT AND HUMID DAY IN FULLY AUTOMATIC MODE THE CLIMATE CONTROL WILL INADVERTANTLY SUPER COOL THE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD SURFACE RESULTING IN CONDENSATION FORMING ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE, SOMETIMES SUDDENLY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .