PORSCHE 911 TURBO · model year

2003 PORSCHE 911 TURBO

14 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003PORSCHE911 TURBO carries 14 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 TURBO is engine with 11 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (2) and vehicle speed control (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. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2003 911 TURBO. 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.

14
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

14 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
ENGINE11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recalls (3)

04V07000018/02/2004

SEATS

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FITTED WITH FRONT SEAT BACKS, WHICH DO NOT MEET PORSCHE'S STRENGTH STANDARDS.

03V21800016/06/2003

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE A LOOSE FITTING IN THE PRESSURE LINE OF THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY.

20E09100011/12/2020

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

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

Recent Complaints

20170103ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN DECEMBER 2015, ON A LOCAL ROAD NEAR MY HOME, THE ENGINE BEGAN EMITTING A LARGE STEAM CLOUD BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND THE COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT APPEARED. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS A MAJOR COOLANT LEAK BEHIND THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A SHOP, AND THEY IDENTIFIED THE ISSUES AS ONE OF THE COOLANT PIPES HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND DUMPED ALL OF THE COOLANT ON THE ROAD. IN THE ATTACHED IMAGE YOU CAN SEE THE SEPARATED COOLANT PIPE FROM THE ENGINE TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE PICTURE. GIVEN THE COST OF REPAIR, I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL SUMMER OF 2016 TO HAVE THE REPAIR COMPLETED. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

20150918ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING ON THE PUTNAM PARK ROAD COURSE TRACK ON 9/12/15, AND ONE OF MY COOLANT FITTINGS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE DEFECTIVE PORSCHE ADHESIVE. IT SPEWED COOLANT ALL OVER THE TRACK, CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL. I HAD A PORSCHE DEALER REMEDY THE SITUATION BY PINNING THE FITTINGS AND APPLYING NEW ADHESIVE.

Mileage: 33,200

20150210ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHILE ACCELERATING WHEN I FELT THE CAR SQUIRM AND NOTICED A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS A CATASTROPHIC COOLANT LEAK FROM THE ENGINE AREA (REAR) OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TRANSPORTED HOME AND THEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A COOLANT LINE THAT BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT PORSCHE, FROM THE FACTORY, USED AN ADHESIVE LIKE MATERIAL TO MATE THE CONNECTORS OF THE COOLANT LINES AND ENGINE AND AFTER USAGE THEY WILL COME APART CAUSING COOLANT TO BE HEMORRHAGED ONTO THE ENGINE AND POTENTIALLY WHEELS/TIRES CAUSING FOR VERY DANGEROUS ROAD CONDITIONS. DURING THE INCIDENT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE COOLANT CONTACTING THE TIRES WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE HAPPENED HAD PORSCHE NOT MANUFACTURED THEIR VEHICLES IN THE AFOREMENTIONED WAY. I AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD WERE PUT IN A VERY DANGER

Mileage: 63,421

20150210VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHILE ACCELERATING WHEN I FELT THE CAR SQUIRM AND NOTICED A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS A CATASTROPHIC COOLANT LEAK FROM THE ENGINE AREA (REAR) OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TRANSPORTED HOME AND THEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A COOLANT LINE THAT BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT PORSCHE, FROM THE FACTORY, USED AN ADHESIVE LIKE MATERIAL TO MATE THE CONNECTORS OF THE COOLANT LINES AND ENGINE AND AFTER USAGE THEY WILL COME APART CAUSING COOLANT TO BE HEMORRHAGED ONTO THE ENGINE AND POTENTIALLY WHEELS/TIRES CAUSING FOR VERY DANGEROUS ROAD CONDITIONS. DURING THE INCIDENT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE COOLANT CONTACTING THE TIRES WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE HAPPENED HAD PORSCHE NOT MANUFACTURED THEIR VEHICLES IN THE AFOREMENTIONED WAY. I AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD WERE PUT IN A VERY DANGER

Mileage: 63,421

20150207ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 15 NORTHBOUND WHEN I FELT THE REAR END OF MY CAR SLIP. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPG IN 5TH GEAR ON A 68 DEGREE EVENING. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE / STEAM COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE LATER. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN NHTSA ACTION PE13009. *JS

Mileage: 51,285

20130628ENGINE

ALUMINUM COOLANT PIPE, THAT IS GLUED INTO WATER PUMP MANIFOLD, CAME LOOSE CAUSING MASSIVE LOSS OF COOLANT ALL OVER THE ROAD CAUSING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS FOR OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

20130510ENGINE

AN EPOXIED COOLANT FITTING FOR THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THIS RESULTED IN THE SUDDEN LOSS OF MOST ALL THE ENGINES COOLANT ON THE ROADWAY. PERMANENT FIX WAS TO HAVE AUTO REPAIR SHOP WELD THE FITTING IN PLACE. *TR

Mileage: 45,479

20130504ENGINE

COOLANT HOSE FAILURE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUN MEDIUM/HARD. I LOST 1/2 LITER THE FIRST COUPLE TIMES IN TOTAL, AND ROUGHLY 1 LITER OF COOLANT THE LAST TIME, ALL OVER THE EXHAUST AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL TIRE. LUCKY I DID NOT SPIN OUT OR HAVE MANY CARS BEHIND ME. I CAPTURED PICTURES OF THE LAST LEAK AFTER RETURNING TO MY GARAGE ON 05/03/2013. PRIOR TO THE LAST LEAK, I HAD THE FRONT RADIATOR REPLACED AND THE PORSCHE MECHANIC PRESSURE TESTED THE COOLANT SYSTEM TO ENSURE THERE WERE NO LEAKS, AS I HAD MENTIONED IT WOULD LEAK FROM NEAR THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. HE DID NOT FIND ANY LEAKS WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF AND PRESSURE TESTED. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

20130430ENGINE

DRIVING ON PRIVATE ROAD AND A RADIATOR HOSE (IN FRONT OF CAR) CAME OFF CAUSING IMMEDIATE AND RAPID PURGING OF COOLANT ON TO ALL 4 TIRES AND ME SPINNING OFF OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY ONLY INTO THE GRASS ON SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WAS FLAT BEDDED TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS ON REPAIRS. HAVE SINCE SPENT THOUSANDS ON ADDITIONAL PREVENTATIVE MEASURES DUE TO MECHANICS ALERTING ME THAT THE HOSES IN THE REAR WILL LET GO AND CAUSE COOLANT LOSS. HAD TO PAY FOR ENGINE REMOVAL AND WELDING OF LINES FOR MY SAFETY. COSTS WAS WELL OVER $3000. *TR

Mileage: 30,124

20130423ENGINE

REPAIR TO THE ENGINE COOLANT HARD PIPES WAS REQUIRED TO PROPHYLACTICALLY PREVENT FAILURE OF THE FACTORY EPOXY SEAL. WELDING THE PIPES WAS REQUIRED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 26,000

20130420ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FACTORY CONNECTION AT COOLANT PIPES HAD COME APART DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING PROCESS, USE OF GLUE. WEEPING OF COOLANT AT CONNECTIONS. HAD SHOP WELD COOLANT PIPES TO RECTIFY THE IMMINENT ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 63,400

20130419ENGINE

I WAS CRUISING WITH THE FAMILY AT 65MPH AND HEARD MY BELTS SQUEEL AND THEN STOP AFTER 2 OR 3 SECONDS. ABOUT 20 SECONDS LATER A LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND MY TEMP LIGHT WAS BLINKING. TEMP WAS ONLY AROUND 195 TO 205, PRETTY FAR FROM THE RED. I IMMEDIATLY PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT DOWN. THERE WAS A LOT OF COOLANT LEAKING, A LARGE TRAIL FOLLOWED ME OFF THE INTERSTATE. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

20130223ENGINE

COOLANT PIPE FAILURE AT "COOLANT CONSOLE" ON TOP OF THE ENGINE CAUSING ALL COOLANT TO IMMEDIATELY SPILL ON TOP THE ENGINE, SPRAYING THE REAR TIRES CAUSING REAR TIRES TO LOSE TRACTION. THE COOLANT PIPE IS PRESS FIT WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN ADHESIVE WHICH FAILED LEAVING THE EXIT PIPE MADE OF STEEL SEPARATED FROM AN ALUMINUM " CONSOLE OR BLOCK". THE COOLANT LOSS WAS IMMEDIATE CAUSING TOTAL COOLANT LOSS. VERY DISCONCERTING AT 70MPH HAVING COOLANT SPRAY ALL OVER THE REAR TIRES (PARTICULARLY THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR). CAUSING THE REAR OF THE CAR TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS ON A GENTLE RIGHT HAND BEND ON AN INTERSTATE. *TR

Mileage: 80,244

20120304ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE COOLANT LINE CONNECTORS THAT COME OUT OF THE ENGINE / BLOCK ARE DISLODGING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCKS AND BLOWING OUT ALL OF THE COOLANT IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. PORSCHE USED SOME SORT OF ADHESIVE TO HOLD THE CONNECTORS IN THE BLOCK INSTEAD OF WELDING THEM IN; AS THE CARS AGE AND GO THROUGH LOTS OF HEAT CYCLES, THE ADHESIVE IS WEARING OUT AND THE CONNECTORS ARE BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING A MASSIVE COOLANT DUMP WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS IF TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

Compare 2003PORSCHE911 TURBO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 PORSCHE 911 TURBO have?
The 2003 PORSCHE 911 TURBO has 14 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 PORSCHE 911 TURBO?
Yes, the 2003 PORSCHE 911 TURBO has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEATS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 PORSCHE 911 TURBO?
The most-complained component for the 2003 PORSCHE 911 TURBO is ENGINE with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2003 PORSCHE 911 TURBO 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.