RoadVitals

2008 Porsche 911 GT3

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 Jan 29, 2008
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 Dec 11, 2007
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.
1
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2008 Porsche 911 GT3, most frequently naming the visibility category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 349 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

  • Visibility1100.0%

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Dec 11, 2007
37 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN 2 DOOR COUPE VEHICLES, THE SWITCH CONSOLE FOR THE PORSCHE ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT (PASM) AND THE TRACTION CONTROL (TC-OFF) SWITCHES WAS INAPPROPRIATELY INSTALLED. THE LEDS IN THE SWITCHES CAN SIGNAL A FUNCTIONAL CHANGE IN THE PASM MODE OR THE DEACTIVATION OF TRACTION CONTROL EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCHES ARE NOT ACTUATED.
The risk: IF THE TRACTION CONTROL OR ACTIVE STABILITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ARE INADVERTENTLY DISABLED, AND THE SUBSEQUENT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ONBOARD COMPUTER IS UNNOTICED BY THE DRIVER, THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF THESE SYSTEMS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE TO THE DRIVER WHICH COULD INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH DURING AGGRESSIVE DRIVING MANEUVERS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH CONSOLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.
PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.Manufacturer number A802View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE13009ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Rapid coolant loss

Opened Apr 26, 2013
Closed Mar 10, 2014

On April 26, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE13-009 to investigate 10 complaints alleging incidents of sudden coolant loss while traveling on public roadways in certain model year (MY) 2001 through 2007 Porsche 911 vehicles.The complaints alleged that pipe ends joined by epoxy to certain cooling system components may fail suddenly and separate, resulting in large volumes of coolant leakage.The investigation was opened to assess evidence of a design or manufacturing defect in the coolant pipe fittings and any related safety consequences. In response to ODI?s Information Request letter, Porsche identified a manufacturing quality issue with the supplier?s application of adhesive to coolant pipe fittings that resulted in elevated failure rates in approximately 6,800 early production 997 generation vehicles (MY 2007 and early MY 2008).ODI?s analysis of field data showed that the age-adjusted failure rate for these vehicles was approximately six times greater than MY 2001 through 2005 996 generation vehicles and MY 2008 through 2011 997 generation vehicles built after a process improvement for adhesive application was implemented by the supplier.Most of the leak complaints reviewed by ODI did not appear to involve complete separation of the fittings and many were detected when the vehicle was parked.There were no crashes or injuries reported to be related to the alleged defect in any of the subject vehicles.ODI identified two allegations that coolant leakage resulted in loss of control incidents, but neither involved vehicles affected by the assembly process quality issue.A third loss of control allegation involving a vehicle built during the period affected by the supplier process concern is not counted since ODI was unable to contact the owner to confirm the incident.See the full closing resume in the document file for PE13-009 for additional information about the subject cooling system and ODI?s analysis of field data related to the alleged defect. A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

Recent owner complaints

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

Visibility
Filed Jan 29, 2008
1 injury reported

I BOUGHT A NEW 2008 PORSCHE 911 4S CONVERTIBLE. WHEN IT HAD 450 MILES ON IT AND I WAS DRIVING IT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED AND GLASS WENT ALL OVER MYSELF, IN THE CAR, AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. IT CAUSED PAINT DAMAGE ALL OVER THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR FINISH. I RECEIVED CUTS TO MYSELF AS I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NOTHING HIT THE GLASS, THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME. WE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED PORSCHE NA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR ALSO HAS A VIBRATION THAT I THINK MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. IT TOOK TWO WEEKS AND SEVEN CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO GET ANYONE AT PORSCHE TO REPLY. THEY HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO PORSHE OF ORLANDO. PORSCHE OF ORLANDO REPLACED THE WINDOW THEN TOLD PORSCHE NA THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AMANDA AT PORSCHE CALLED US AND TOLD US TO PICK UP THE CAR AND TURN IT INTO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AS THEY WILL DO NOTHING MORE. REGARDLESS IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR OR IF IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PIECE OF GLASS PORSCHE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE DAMAGED PAINT AND FIXING THE INTERIOR (SCRATCHED INTERIOR PIECES, TORN SEAT.) THE CAR ALSO HAS A DIMENISHED VALUE NOW THAT IT HAS TO BE PAINTED AND IT IS NOT WORTH WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. A PIECE OF DRIVER'S SIDE GLASS SHOULD NOT BREAK BY ITSELF WITH NOT CAUSE. PORSCHE WILL NOT EVEN OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS AT TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. I BELIEVE A GOOD CAR COMPANY WITH DECENT CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD HAVE OFFERED TO REPLACE THE CAR WITH A NON-DEFECTIVE CAR OR PURCHASE IT BACK SINCE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS TO ME AGAIN AND I AM SERIOUSLY INJURED NEXT TIME? I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR. I GUESS PORSCHE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT SAFETY OR CUSTOMER SERVICE. *CN

NHTSA ID
10216357
Incident
Jan 4, 2008
Mileage
450 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 GT3 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025000
2024000
2023020
2022030
2021000
2019010
2018110
2016010
2015010
2014020
2013000
2012000
2011111
2010321
2009000
2008Viewing111
2007240139.0
2006000
2005200
2004270146.8
2003001

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.