2012 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 2012 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
- Body & structure114.3%
- Driver assistance114.3%
- Electrical114.3%
- Engine114.3%
- Fuel system114.3%
- Exterior lighting114.3%
- Powertrain (other)114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. Door panel Issue. I have a 2012 911, and have noticed last year that the door panels have popped up on both sides, it looks like the glue has given way. It seems that this is a common issue for Porsche 911. 2. Keyless Entry Issue. I was not able to lock my car by pressing by the door handle's button. I was able to unlock the car. I then tried on the passenger's side and was able to lock it. It's been going on for months, and every time it occurs I will have to spend minutes to get into the car.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Cruising on the highway and a transmission error comes up saying that there's no reverse gear. Got off the highway and even gears aren't engaring, no 2,4,6 gears. 1,3,5,7 gears are engaging. Turned off and parked the car for about an hour. Turned it on car drove fine but start/stop wasn't available and sport modes are not available. Had the car diagnosed at the dealer and the same symptoms and codes are exactly as SB-10054511-7606. The 2012 model year needs to be included.
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
1. Door panel Issue. I have a 2012 911, and have noticed last year that the door panels have popped up on both sides, it looks like the glue has given way. It seems that this is a common issue for Porsche 911. 2. Keyless Entry Issue. I was not able to lock my car by pressing by the door handle's button. I was able to unlock the car. I then tried on the passenger's side and was able to lock it. It's been going on for months, and every time it occurs I will have to spend minutes to get into the car.
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
THE AUTOMOBILE LOST POWER ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE. AFTER GLIDING TO A HALT, FIRE WAS NOTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY ENGULFED AND DESTROYED THE WHOLE CAR.
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
PORSCHE 991 911 AND 981 CAYMAN/BOXSTER MODELS HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE FOAM PADS SECURING THE FUEL TANK DEGRADE OR FALL OUT. THE INITIAL MANIFESTATION IS A SQUEAKING SOUND WHERE THE PLASTIC TANK RUBS AGAINST THE METAL BODY OF THE CAR. WITH PROLONGED MOVEMENT THE FUEL TANK CAN BE DAMAGED AND A FIRE COULD RESULT. PORSCHE IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS AN INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO FIX IT BUT ONLY FOR CUSTOMERS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CLAIM THE ISSUE IS ONLY A SQUEAKING SOUND BUT COMMON SENSE WOULD DICTATE PLASTIC RUBBING ON METAL SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY WILL WEAR AND START LEAKING. FUEL TANKS SHOULD BE SECURE AND NOT BOUNCING AROUND. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE MATTER FURTHER - HUNDREDS OF OWNERS HAVE HAD THE ISSUE OF AN IMPROPERLY SECURED GAS TANK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
Tail light fall off the car while driving, catching it dangling from the car holding by only one wire. Upon inspection, they came off due to a broken plastic lug that was holding the taillights together. It appears that Porsche changed the taillight mounting design in the 991 after the 2013 model year, adding a metal piece to keep it together even after the plastic cracks, melts, or fails. Mine is 2012 so it will cost us a fortune for get it fixed, for something it was clearly a design failure from the beginning.
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
Cruising on the highway and a transmission error comes up saying that there's no reverse gear. Got off the highway and even gears aren't engaring, no 2,4,6 gears. 1,3,5,7 gears are engaging. Turned off and parked the car for about an hour. Turned it on car drove fine but start/stop wasn't available and sport modes are not available. Had the car diagnosed at the dealer and the same symptoms and codes are exactly as SB-10054511-7606. The 2012 model year needs to be included.
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 .