PORSCHE 911 · model year

2003 PORSCHE 911

12 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003PORSCHE911 carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 911 is engine and engine cooling with 3 filings, followed by unknown or other (3) and equipment:appliance:air conditioner (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2003 911. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
EQUIPMENT1
SEATS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
WHEELS1
ENGINE1

Recent Complaints

20250403UNKNOWN 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.

20200128UNKNOWN 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.

Mileage: 75,894

20180801UNKNOWN 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

20140507ENGINE

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

Mileage: 62,000

20130604ENGINE 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

Mileage: 52,000

20130502ENGINE 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

Mileage: 69,000

20130502ENGINE 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

Mileage: 96,601

20130502ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 96,601

20130502WHEELS

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

Mileage: 96,601

20040521SEATS

CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL A309 NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT SEATS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SERVICE MANAGER PAT COLLINS. *AK *NM

20031205EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER A/C WAS ENGAGED CONDENSATION APPEARED AND SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY DOOR REMOTE OPENER FAILED TO FUNCTION. *AK *MR

Mileage: 2,000

20031205EQUIPMENT

WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER A/C WAS ENGAGED CONDENSATION APPEARED AND SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY DOOR REMOTE OPENER FAILED TO FUNCTION. *AK *MR

Mileage: 2,000

Compare 2003PORSCHE911 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 PORSCHE 911 have?
The 2003 PORSCHE 911 has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 PORSCHE 911?
The most-complained component for the 2003 PORSCHE 911 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER.
Is the 2003 PORSCHE 911 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.