2001 Porsche 911 TURBO: complaints, problems and recalls

ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2001, I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A LARGE PASSENGER VEHICLE OR SUV, WHILE DRIVING A BRAND-NEW 2001 911 PORSCHE TURBO, SUPPOSEDLY EQUIPPED WITH SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME RAN A STOP SIGN AND THE DRIVER DID NOT APPLY HIS BRAKES. I HAD NO STOP SIGN. I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 25 MILES AN HOUR WHEN IT IMPACTED ME AND MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE PORCH. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME, HIT THE PORSCHE DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE, IT RIPPED THE SIDE MIRROR OFF THE PORSCHE, …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005332 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2001 PORSCHE 911 TURBO. ON IT, I HAVE PS2 TIRES FROM MICHELIN. BOTH OF MY REAR TIRES HAVE SPLIT ON THE INNER SIDEWALL, NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT. THE TIRES OBVIOUSLY WOULD HOLD NO AIR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST WHEN EITHER TIRE FAILED, BUT THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE TIRE SIZES ARE 315/19/25 ZR RATED AND COST ALMOST $500 EACH. FROM MY READING AND POSTING ON 6SPEEDONLINE.COM, I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED JUST TO ME. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10164007 at NHTSA ↗

AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 PORSCHE 911 TURBO BEGAN POPPING OUT OF SECOND GEAR UPON DECELERATION. PORSCHE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARS, AND EVEN HAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT THAT STATES IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF ASSEMBLY DEFECTS. CERTAINLY, THE BRASS SYNCHROS IN THE TRANSMISSION ARE VERY WEAK AND PRONE TO FAILURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN SUCH AN EXPENSIVE AND POWERFUL CAR. PORSCHE HAS TAKEN NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND CHARGES UPWARDS OF $5000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SEVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207743 at NHTSA ↗

SRS SYSTEM ON PORSCHE 911 TURBO 2001 HAS BEEN IN TO DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES TO ATTEMPT TO SOLVE A SRS MALFUNCTION LIGHT. PORSHE REPAIRS AND RETURNS TO ME STATING THAT CAR IS SAFE. LAST FALL WHEN LIGHT CAME ON THEY SAID IT WAS A CONTROL MODULE AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW ONE WOULD CURE IT, LESS THAN 2,000 MILES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THAT REPAIR AND CAR WAS STORED FOR THE WINTER, IT HAS FAIL AGAIN AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE SEATBELT, WHICH HAS BEEN DONE 4 PREVIOUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE TRIED TO RAISE THIS ISSUE WITHIN PORSCHE NORTH AMERI…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225555 at NHTSA ↗

SUDDEN, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF COOLANT HOSE 996.106.502.74 BY LONGITUDINAL SPLIT APPROXIMATELY 4" LONG. COOLANT DUMPED ON LR WHEEL CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE SPIN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 67,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433639 at NHTSA ↗

WATER MANIFOLD HAS PRESS-FIT EPOYY CONNECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO COME LOOSE. MINE DID AND I LOST ALL OF MY COOLANT. IT BLEW ACROSS THE WHOLE ENGINE BAY AND OVER BACK TIRES. VERY DANGEROUS AS A CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL BEHIND ME AS WELL. TOOK ENGINE APART AND WELDED TWO OF THE FITTINGS BUT SEVERAL OTHERS REMAIN OEM. EXPENSIVE FIX THUS FAR, AND NOT YET DONE. VERY POOR DESIGN AND DANGEROUS!! *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433654 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS TOLD BY SIMILAR OWNERS LIKE MYSELF THAT THE 996 AND 997 PLATFORMS COOLANT HOSE RUPTURE DUE TO BEING GLUED FROM THE FACTORY. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE IT HAD 19,000 MILES AND MY CAR HAD 85,000 MILES AND I HAD NOT HAD AN ISSUE SO I WAS NOT SURE HOW TRUE IT WAS. ON SEP 29, OF 2012 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HWY WITH MY BROTHER WHEN I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND WENT TO THE BACK OF THE MOTOR AND THE COOLANT HOSE NEAR THE ALTERNATOR HAD POP OFF DUE TO THE GLUE NOT HOLDING ANY LONGER. I'M GLAD THAT NO …

Owner-reported narrative. 88,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508415 at NHTSA ↗

FACTORY PORSCHE COOLANT FITTINGS FAILED AND RELEASED FROM ENGINE BLOCK. DUMPED COOLANT OVER REAR TIRES. OEM COOLANT FITTINGS ARE GLUED INTO THE BLOCK AND FATIGUE OVER TIME. THEY SHOULD BE WELDED OR THREADED INTO BLOCK TO PREVENT SAFETY ISSUES. CAR WOULD HAVE LOST TOTAL CONTROL IF TRAVELING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508439 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-01-23 (January 23, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CLUTCH PRESSURE LINE COULD LEAK IN THE AREA OF ITS CONNECTION WITH THE CLUTCH CYLINDER.

Consequence: A REDUCTION, OR COMPLETE LOSS, OF THE CLUTCH AND STEERING POWER ASSISTANCE COULD RESULT. IF LEAKING FLUID CONTACTS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THERE IS A RISK OF FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLUTCH PRESSURE LINE AND AN ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BEFORE OCTOBER 13, 2000. VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER OCTOBER 13, 2000 HAS A NEW TYPE OF CLUTCH PRESSURE LINE. ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN OCTOBER 13 AND NOVEMBER 28, 2000, AN ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 1, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.

Reported: 2001-01-23 (January 23, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE COULD LEAK DUE TO CHAFFING WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND/OR THE FUEL RETURN LINE COULD LEAK DUE TO CHAFFING WITH A SPRING BAND CLAMP USED TO SECURE A COOLANT LINE.

Consequence: THE LEAKING FUEL COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE SHEATH ON THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE. IN ADDITION, FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN APRIL 7 AND MAY 22, 2000, THE SPRING BAND CLAMP WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SCREW TYPE HOSE CLAMP AND INSTALLED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CANNOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE FUEL RETURN LINE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 1, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.