RoadVitals

2002 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.
4
Latest Jun 23, 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.
3
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and engine categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 376 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

  • Airbags125.0%
  • Electrical125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Steering125.0%

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

3 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
13V064000

SEAT BELTS; SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

Feb 26, 2013
1 units potentially affected
The defect: US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera 911. This vehicle fails to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." After performing conformity-related modifications for the US market, this vehicle was released with passenger seatbelts that lack the required Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function.
The risk: Without the ALR function, the seatbelts do not allow for the secure installation of a child restraint, which can increase the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
The remedy: US Specs will notify the owner and replace all of the passenger seat belts, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact US Specs at 1-443-502-2331.
US SpecsManufacturer number SB101View on NHTSA.gov
13V063000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS; VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

Feb 26, 2013
4 units potentially affected
The defect: US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera, one 1997 BMW 750IL, and two 1986 BMW 635 CSI vehicles for failing to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors." While performing conformity-related modifications for the US market, labels with an incorrect size font were applied to the passenger side mirror.
The risk: Drivers of these vehicles may not know the proximity of the objects in the passenger side mirror, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: US Specs will notify owners and correct the statement on the passenger mirror of the affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact US Specs at 1-443-502-2331.
US SpecsManufacturer number MR101View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD, ABNORMAL BANG. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A LARGE OIL SPILL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE TAKEN APART TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE INTERMEDIATE MAIN SHAFT (IMF) HAD COLLAPSED AND EXPLODED, KILLING THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,000.

NHTSA ID
10339683
Incident
Jun 6, 2010
Mileage
41,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 9, 2010

ERRONEOUS AIRBAG FAILURE ERROR CODE DETECTED. AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT ON DASH AND AIRBAG FAILURE TEXT ALSO APPEARS ON DASH. PORSCHE DEALER REPORTS THAT THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY PORSCHE CARS OF NORTH AMERICA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE FIX INVOLVES RE-WIRING THE GROUND SYSTEM AND REPLACING THE SEAT BELT CLASPS. DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS WOULD COST ME $850 TO HAVE THIS REPAIR WORK DONE. DEALER RESET THE ERROR CODE BUT IT RE-APPEARED THE FOLLOWING DAY INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT. PORSCHE SHOULD FIX THIS ADMITTED DEFECT FOR FREE AND ISSUE A RECALL AS THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. IGNORING THE FALSE FAILURE INDICATION MAY VERY WELL MASK MORE SERIOUS UNDERLYING ERROR CONDITIONS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10324727
Incident
Apr 8, 2010
Mileage
69,875 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 18, 2007

2002 PORSCHE 996 WITH POWER STEERING VALVE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR VALVE MADE A HIGH PITCHED NOISE. HE STATED THAT THIS FAILURE COULD CAUSE A FIRE SINCE THE VALVE IS LOCATED RIGHT OVER THE EXHAUST AND OR THE TURBO. *KB

NHTSA ID
10207132
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Electrical
Filed Mar 29, 2007
Fire reported

PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURNED IT TO START THE VEHICLE, AND THE BATTERY COMPLETELY EXPLODED. ACID VAPORS FILLED THE GARAGE AND BURNED EYES AND CAUSED COUGHING AND BURNING THROAT SENSATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10186490
Incident
Mar 28, 2007
Mileage
8,000 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 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—
2002Viewing430—
2001110—
2000220—
1999132038.5
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.