2003 Porsche 911 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 2003 Porsche 911, 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
- Engine444.4%
- Other / unspecified222.2%
- Heating & air conditioning111.1%
- Electrical111.1%
- Interior & seats111.1%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE'S ENGINE STARTED TO "RATTLE" AT WARM-UP, THEN WOULD GO AWAY, TYPICAL FOR AN IMS FAILURE. ANY LONGER WAIT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
ENTERED HIGHWAY AND REACHED HIGHWAY SPEED, LOW COOLANT LIGHT APPEARED AND LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE EXITED THE REAR OF THE CAR. PULLED OVER AND ENGINE BAY SMOKING WITH COOLANT EVERYWHERE INSIDE ENGINE BAY AND OVER REAR OF CAR INCLUDING TIRES. COOLANT HAD COMPLETELY DRAINED DUE TO A GLUED IN FITTING WHICH HAD COME LOOSE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO A CHARITY EVENT HOSTED BY A HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS TEAM WHEN I NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM MY ENGINE BAY. ALL MY CARS COOLANT LEAKED OUT INTO THE PARKING LOT AND IT CREATED A VERY LARGE PUDDLE. MY WHEELS WERE COVERED IN COOLANT AND IT CREATED AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR THE PARTICIPANTS BEHIND ME WHO WERE FOLLOW ME INTO THE CAR WAS. AS ALL OF THE COOLANT EVACUATED MY CAR, IT IS A MIRACLE THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY WHERE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. BECAUSE THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS FAULTY COOLANT LINES, MY ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO SHORTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, AGAIN, IF THIS HAPPENED ON A LONG TRIP OR ON THE FREEWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. *TR
WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER A/C WAS ENGAGED CONDENSATION APPEARED AND SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY DOOR REMOTE OPENER FAILED TO FUNCTION. *AK *MR
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
WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER A/C WAS ENGAGED CONDENSATION APPEARED AND SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY DOOR REMOTE OPENER FAILED TO FUNCTION. *AK *MR
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
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO A CHARITY EVENT HOSTED BY A HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS TEAM WHEN I NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM MY ENGINE BAY. ALL MY CARS COOLANT LEAKED OUT INTO THE PARKING LOT AND IT CREATED A VERY LARGE PUDDLE. MY WHEELS WERE COVERED IN COOLANT AND IT CREATED AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR THE PARTICIPANTS BEHIND ME WHO WERE FOLLOW ME INTO THE CAR WAS. AS ALL OF THE COOLANT EVACUATED MY CAR, IT IS A MIRACLE THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY WHERE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. BECAUSE THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS FAULTY COOLANT LINES, MY ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO SHORTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, AGAIN, IF THIS HAPPENED ON A LONG TRIP OR ON THE FREEWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL A309 NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT SEATS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SERVICE MANAGER PAT COLLINS. *AK *NM
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 .