Porsche

911 (991)

2012-2019 · Sports Car · 2 engines
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (3.0)
405 NHTSA Complaints
9 Recalls
32 Fire Reports
0 Crash Reports
Includes data from: 911911 CARRERA911 CARRERA 4911 CARRERA 4 CABRIOLET911 CARRERA 4 GTS911 CARRERA 4 GTS CABRIOLET911 CARRERA 4S911 CARRERA 4S CABRIOLET911 CARRERA CABRIOLET911 CARRERA GTS911 CARRERA GTS CABRIOLET911 CARRERA S911 CARRERA S CABRIOLET911 CARRERA T911 GT2 RS911 GT3911 GT3 RS911 GTS911 GTS 4911 TARGA 4911 TARGA 4 GTS911 TARGA 4S911 TURBO911 TURBO CABRIOLET911 TURBO S911 TURBO S CABRIOLET911 TURBO S CABRIOLET EXCLUSIVE SERIES
View all 4 generations of the Porsche 911 → 📋 Inspection checklist

Engine Reliability Ratings

9A2 4.0

4.0L 6-cyl / 518 hp
⚠️ Caution (3.0)
43 complaints 14.3 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission
23
exterior
19
safety systems
1

Known Issues

Transmission Issues (23 complaints)
Exterior Issues (19 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (1 complaints)

MA1.01

3.8L 6-cyl / 400 hp
Avoid (1.1)
206 complaints 29.4 per year Gasoline
21 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
71
electrical
70
other
38
body
31
brakes
20

Known Issues

Engine Issues (71 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (70 complaints)
Body/Trim Issues (31 complaints)

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Porsche 911 regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (71 complaints)
engine critical
Electrical System Issues (70 complaints)
electrical critical
Exterior Issues (34 complaints)
exterior critical
Body/Trim Issues (31 complaints)
body critical
Transmission Issues (23 complaints)
transmission cosmetic

Recalls (9)

20E091000Nov 11, 2020serious
Suspension

Ohlins USA, Inc (Ohlins) is recalling certain Front Struts, part number POS 5N20. These struts were sold as part of Ohlins strut kits part number POZ MN02, intended for installation on 1999-2005 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S (generation 996), and 2001-2006 Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S (generation 996) and kit part number POZ MN05, intended for installation on 2005-2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S (generation 997), and 2006-2013 Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S (generation 997). The pin of the strut may experience excessive stress during maximum steering, possibly resulting breakage of the pin.

19V875000Nov 11, 2019serious
Equipment

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2014 Cayman and Cayman S, 2014-2016 911 GT3, 2016 911 GT3 RS and 911 R, 2018 911 GT3 and 911 GT2 RS and 2019 911 GT3 RS, 911 GT3, and 911 GT2 RS vehicles. The Child Restraint System (CRS) instructions within the Owner's Manual may not provide enough specificity for proper installation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

17V054000Jan 24, 2017serious
Fuel System

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Targa 4, 911 Targa 4S + GTS, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, and 718 Cayman S vehicles. The screws that fasten the fuel collection pipes in the engine compartment may shear off, resulting in a fuel leak.

17V134000Feb 2, 2017serious
Air Bags

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2016 911 GT3 RS and 911 R vehicles and 2017 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Targa 4, 911 Targa 4S, 911 Turbo S, 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S vehicles. The passenger frontal air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash.

14V698000Apr 10, 2014serious
Latches/Locks/Linkages

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Porsche 911, Boxster, and Cayman vehicles manufactured May 7, 2014, to September 23, 2014. The front hood upper lock components were not manufactured to specification and may fail to securely latch the vehicle's hood during operation.

13V058000Feb 21, 2013serious
Engine & Cooling

Porsche is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 vehicles manufactured from March 7, 2012, through November 12, 2012, and equipped with a standard (not sport) exhaust system. The exhaust tail pipe may fracture and separate from the rear muffler.

13V502000Oct 16, 2013serious
Electrical System

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2014 Boxster, Boxster S, Cayman, Cayman S and 911 Carrera (S, Cabriolet, S Cabriolet, 4, 4S, 4 Cabriolet, 4s Cabriolet) vehicles manufactured September 2, 2013, through September 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the passenger seats may be equipped with defective wiring harnesses resulting in intermittent contact with the harness plug.

12V107000Mar 20, 2012serious
Fuel System

PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 911 CARRERA S VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 26, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 24, 2012. INTERFERENCE BETWEEN A COOLANT LINE AND A FUEL LINE MAY CAUSE THE FUEL LINE TO BECOME DISCONNECTED AT THE QUICK CONNECTOR.

11V409000May 7, 2011serious
Seat Belts

PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 911 SPEEDSTER AND 911 GTS RS 4.0; AND MODEL YEAR 2012 BOXSTER (INCLUDING S AND SPYDER); CAYMAN (INCLUDING S AND R); 911 CARRERA (INCLUDING S, GTS, 4, 4S, AND 4 GTS); 911 TARGA 4 AND TARGA 4S; AND 911 TURBO AND TURBO S MODELS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 31, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 10, 2011. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE MOUNTING HOLES IN THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATES FITTED TO THE VEHICLE ARE TOO SMALL. IF THE HOLE DIAMETER IS TOO SMALL, THE ANCHOR PLATE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ROTATE ABOUT THE FASTENING BOLT AS DESIGNED.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2012-2019 Porsche 911 problems?

The 2012-2019 Porsche 911 has accumulated 405 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Electrical System, Exterior. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Porsche 911 engine is most reliable?

The 2012-2019 Porsche 911 was offered with 2 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3.8L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2012-2019 Porsche 911 a good used car?

The 2012-2019 Porsche 911 can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 405 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012-2019 Porsche 911 have?

The 2012-2019 Porsche 911 has 405 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2012-2019 Porsche 911?

There are 9 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2012-2019 Porsche 911 vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Porsche 911?

Before buying a used Porsche 911, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, Electrical System, Exterior, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

Does the 911 have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2012-2019 Porsche 911. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 405 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-18.

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