RoadVitals

1999 Porsche 911

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.
8
Latest Feb 13, 2019
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 Apr 10, 2000
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 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Porsche 911, most frequently naming the engine, seat belts and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 153 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

  • Engine433.3%
  • Seat belts325.0%
  • Electrical216.7%
  • Airbags18.3%
  • Brakes18.3%
  • Steering18.3%

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
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

Engine
Filed Feb 13, 2019

ENGINE HAS SEIZED DUE TO INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING FAILUE (IMS BEARING FAILURE), THE ENGINE IS A 3.4 LITER FLAT 6 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH ONLY 95,500 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN OF AN ISSUE. TURNED OFF CAR WHEN I GOT HOME THEN WHEN I TURNED IT ON THE NAEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO CRANK. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP TO GET IT TESTED AND WAS TOLD I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF $13,000 BECAUSE OF AN IMS BEARING FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11179953
Incident
Feb 6, 2019
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 28, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PORSCHE 911. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SRS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PORSCHE OF ARLINGTON (3100 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, ARLINGTON, VA 22202). THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE DIAGNOSIS RESULTS; HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PORSCHE OF ARLINGTON WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SENSOR FAILURE. THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELTS IN ORDER TO FULLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID
11011282
Incident
Oct 4, 2002
Mileage
15,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 1, 2013

WAS DRIVING AND MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE LEAKED OUT OF THE BACK ONTO THE ROAD AND ON MY TIRES. ENGINE THEN STARTED TO SMOKE AND OVERHEAT. COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. OVERFLOW RESERVOIR CAP WAS SCREWED ON TIGHTLY SO THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE. I READ THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THE 2001-07 PORSCHE 911. MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN 2003 SO PERHAPS IT WAS RETROFITTED WITH THE PROBLEM PARTS. IT WILL BE AT THE RAY CATENA PORSCHE DEALERSHIP IN EDISON NJ TOMORROW FOR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10522740
Incident
Jun 30, 2013
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Apr 4, 2013

I WAS DRIVING ON A 16 LANE MAJOR HIGHWAY IN TORONTO IN THE EXPRESS LANES AT 70 MPH. WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP SAFELY SINCE THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING WITH THE ENGINE STOPPED. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND I WAS LUCKY TO CHANGE LANES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND PULL ONTO THE HARD SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS STUCK SITTING IN THE EXPRESS LANES BY A GUARD RAIL UNTIL A TOW TRUCK CAME, WHICH TOOK AN HOUR. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE PORSCHE DEALER IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A IMS BEARING FAILURE THAT REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THIS BEARING IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1997 TO 2008 WATER COOLED 911 AND BOXSTER PORSCHES WITH A 10 PERCENT FAILURE RATE TO DATE, AND THAT THEY WILL ALL FAIL EVENTUALLY. THE DEALER ALSO SAID THERE IS A 3RD PARTY RETROFIT KIT THAT THE PORSCHE DEALERS ARE AWARE OF BUT DON'T USE BECAUSE IT WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, SO PORSCHE TURNED A BLIND EYE AND LET THE ENGINES FAIL. PORSCHE HAS MODIFIED THE BEARING DESIGN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ABANDONING THE DESIGN IN THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. ALL THESE MODELS ARE UNSAFE WHEN THEY WILL FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE AND PUT DRIVERS IN HARMS WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10507046
Incident
Oct 14, 2009
Mileage
44,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 16, 2005

CONSUMER STATES: VEHICLE DOORS UNLOCK AND WINDOWS ROLL DOWN AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED. THE VEHICLE DOES THIS WHETHER KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. DEALER INSTALLED NEW DRIVERS DOOR KEY SWITCH ASSEMBLY AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. *TT

NHTSA ID
10120998
Incident
Oct 15, 2004
Mileage
47,863 mi
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Oct 18, 2004

NEED KIT TO SOLVE AIRBAG PROBLEM. *BF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON AND DID SO EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE WIRING AND A KIT WAS NEEDED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. (VEHICLE MODEL/ PORSCHE 996 C2) *SC

NHTSA ID
10096812
Incident
Nov 1, 2003
Seat belts
Filed May 9, 2002

REAR SEAT BELTS CAUSES OCCUPANTS TO BE TRAPPED. THEY CAN NOT ESCAPE OR BE RESCUED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.*TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761712

NHTSA ID
10009200
Incident
May 7, 2001
Mileage
51,150 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 1999

ENGINE HEAT SENSOR FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK FROM VEHICLE. YH

NHTSA ID
608690
Incident
Jul 1, 1998

Manufacturer communications

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

No. 2404

EQUIPMENT; POWER TRAIN

Special tools and equipment information for the Boxster, Cayman, 911, and Panamera

PIWIS2401j

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Information for PIWIS tester update 42.500.020

No. D8

Product knowledge for the chassis and VIN numbering systems

PIWIS2401f

Information for PIWIS tester update 42.500.008

PIWIS2401e

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM); EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE

Information on PIWIS tester update 42.500.005

PIWIS2302s

EQUIPMENT

Information for PIWIS tester update 42.300.050 & .052

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025020—
2024530—
2023350—
2022104050.0
2021560—
2020320—
2019210—
2018111—
2017331—
2016221—
2015810—
2014310—
2013600—
2012500—
2005301—
2004801—
2003901—
2002901—
2001801—
2000610—
1999Viewing810—
1998210—
1997310—
1996633—
1995120250.5
1994011—
1993020—
1992240—
1991140—
1990140—
1989050—
1988100—
1987100—
1984110—
1983110—
1979020—
1978010—
1977021—
1976020—
1975020—
1974030—
1973030—
1972010—
1970030—
1969030—
1967010—
1966010—

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.