Model year record
2003 Porsche 911 recalls & problems
The 2003 Porsche 911 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 9 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 Porsche 911.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 69,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 3 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner | 2 | — |
| Seats | 1 | — |
| Electrical system | 1 | — |
| Wheels | 1 | — |
| Engine | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Unknown or other
I bought this vehicle from the Mecum auction. It was represented as a vehicle with 2651 miles on the odometer after purchase. I later ran a Carfax and saw that it had upwards of 60,000 miles and had potential odometer. Roll Back. I contacted Mecum and they said they could not do anything about it. The seller who sold it to Mecum was a dealership in Michigan.
- Unknown or other
ODOMETER READING ON THE CLUSTER AND TITLE DO NOT MATCH WHAT THE CAR ACTUALLY HAS. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM MULLINS FORD OF VERO BEACH. FOUND MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE MILEAGE TRUE MILEAGE WAS ACTUALLY 13,000 MILES MORE. SPOKE TO TWO MANAGERS AND NEITHER OF THEM WANTED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I REALLY LOVED THE CAR AND WANTED TO KEEP IT BUT FOR SOMEONE TO LIE AND DO SOMETHING FRAUDULENT IS NOT A PLEASURE I WANTED TO BE APART SO I INFORMED THEM OF IT AND MADE THEM REFUND MY MONEY. AFTER 9 HOURS OF MY LIFE WASTED FOR THIS HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE I FEEL THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THEY ARE RESELLING THE CAR WITH INCORRECT MILEAGE AGAIN.
- Unknown or other
THIS VEHICLE HAS A DARK HISTORY AROUND 2010 ! THERE WERE FIVE TITLE ISSUES REPORTED ALL STAYING LEMON LAW ISSUES ! I CAN'T GET ANYONE TO VLARIFY
- Engine
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
- Engine and engine cooling
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
- Engine and engine cooling
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
- Engine and engine cooling
COOLANT FITTING ON ENGINE BLEW OFF ON THE FREEWAY, DUMPING ALL THE COOLANT AND CAUSING A MAJOR TRAFFIC SLOWDOWN. CAR WAS ABLE TO BE REPAIRED BY BONDING (JB WELD) IN THE FITTING INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. NO ISSUES SINCE. ALSO, THE LEFT FRONT RADIATOR LEAKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
- Seats
CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL A309 NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT SEATS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SERVICE MANAGER PAT COLLINS. *AK *NM
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Rapid coolant lossClosed
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…