Reliability
Porsche

911 (991)

2012-2019 · Sports Car · 1 engine
41 NHTSA Complaints
16 Recalls
4 Fire Reports
0 Crash Reports
Data covers 27 NHTSA model names
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

Reliability Score

9.6 / 10

Reliability score

Very few owner complaints against similar sports cars

A score of 7.0 means as many complaints as similar vehicles. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 16 powertrain complaints. A typical sports car fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 128.

Scores this high have held: three years on they had moved 0.1 points in the typical case.

Breakdown
Complaints overall16 complaints against about 128 for similar vehicles
9.6
Last three years3 complaints against about 36 for similar vehicles
9.6
Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced3 complaints against about 27 for similar vehicles
9.7
Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating2 complaints against about 9 for similar vehicles
9.3

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is 7.0, as many complaints as similar vehicles. A line shows a number once similar vehicles would draw at least 5 of its complaints (20 for the last three years).

By model year
  • 20129.6
  • 20139.7
  • 20149.7
  • 20159.6
  • 20169.7
  • 20179.7
  • 20189.7
  • 20199.6

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

Every complaint of any kind (brakes, airbags, electrical and the rest) whose VIN names the engine, across all model years. The score above counts only engine, transmission and drivetrain complaints, so its figures for the same engine are smaller. Fire, injury and death figures count complaints that report one.

MA1.01

3.8L 6-cyl / 400 hp
19 complaints 3.2 per year Gasoline
2 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

other
5
engine
5
electrical
4
exterior
2
body
2
Show 6 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

3.4-6cyl-Gas

3.4L 6-cyl / 350 hp
6 complaints 2.0 per year Gasoline
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
3
electrical
3
fuel system
2

Porsche 911 Unidentified Engine

5 complaints 1.2 per year
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

body
1
engine
1
exterior
1
transmission
1
other
1

M97.70

3.6L 6-cyl / 345 hp
5 complaints 2.5 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

exterior
2
transmission
1
wheels tires
1
safety systems
1

4.0-6cyl-Gas

4.0L 6-cyl
3 complaints 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

exterior
1
transmission
1
safety systems
1

3.0-6cyl-Gas

3.0L 6-cyl Turbo / 370 hp
2 complaints 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
1
engine
1

3.8T-6cyl-Gas

3.8L 6-cyl Turbo / 520 hp
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

exterior
1

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Porsche 911, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Engine: 10 owner complaints
Electrical System: 8 owner complaints
Exterior: 7 owner complaints

Recalls (16)

21V201000Mar 24, 2021serious
Suspension

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster, 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe, Carrera 4S Coupe, and Carrera S Cabriolet vehicles. The screw connection on the rear axle upper control arm may be loose.

20E091000Dec 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.

19V875000Dec 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."

19V533000Jul 17, 2019serious
Air Bags

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2016-2017 911 and Boxster, 2016 Cayman and Panamera vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

19V445000Jun 12, 2019serious
Powertrain

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2019 911 GT2 RS and 2020 911 Carrera S Coupe vehicles. The bolts connecting the driveshaft to the wheel hub may not have been properly tightened.

Show 11 older recalls
19V179000Mar 6, 2019serious
Air Bags

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2018 718 Boxster, Boxster S and Boxster GTS, 718 Cayman, Cayman S and Cayman GTS, 911 Carrera, Carrera T, Targa 4 GTS, Carrera 4, Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Carrera GTS, Carrera 4 GTS, Carrera Cabriolet, Carrera S Cabriolet, Carrera 4S Cabriolet, Carrera GTS Cabriolet, Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, Targa 4, Targa 4S, Turbo, Turbo S, Turbo S Exclusive Series, Turbo Cabriolet, Turbo S Cabriolet and GT3 vehicles. The side air bag impact sensors may not have been properly tightened to the vehicle.

17V134000Mar 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.

17V135000Mar 2, 2017serious
Visibility

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Targa S, 911 Targa 4S, 911 Turbo Cabriolet, 718 Boxter and 718 Boxter S vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."

17V054000Jan 25, 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.

16V946000Dec 30, 2016serious
Air Bags

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2017 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, 718 Cayman S, 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Turbo, 911 Turbo S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, and 911 Turbo Cabriolet vehicles. The seat mounted side air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash.

14V698000Nov 4, 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.

14V090000Mar 24, 2014serious
Engine & Cooling

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2014 911 GT3 vehicles manufactured October 19, 2013, through January 16, 2014. In the affected vehicles, a piston connecting rod may come loose and damage the engine crankcase.

13V502000Oct 17, 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.

13V058000Feb 22, 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.

12V107000Mar 21, 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.

11V409000Aug 5, 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.

Alternatives in Sports Car

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012-2019 Porsche 911. The systems they name most often are the engine, the electrical system and the exterior.

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

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012-2019 Porsche 911. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

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

NHTSA has 41 owner complaints on file for the 2012-2019 Porsche 911 as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2012-2019 Porsche 911?

NHTSA lists 16 recalls covering some 2012-2019 Porsche 911 vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used Porsche 911?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the engine, the electrical system and the exterior, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and 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. 41 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: moderate. Last updated: 2026-10-18.

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