NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Porsche dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, describing incidents dated October 1, 2007.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10319400 · Filed March 13, 2010
2003 PORSCHE 911 C4S COUPE: CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IN NEW YORK. WOULD LIKELY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, IF HAD STILL BEEN ON I-87. MOMENTS BEFORE, DIVERTED TO NEARLY EMPTY RT-9. FROM WEB RESEARCH AND DISCUSSIONS WITH PORSCHE SERVICE CENTERS, I ESTIMATE THAT 1ST GEN WATER COOLED BOXER…

Read the full complaint

PORSCHE/FRONT SEAT BACKS

NHTSA #04V070000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported February 18, 2004 · PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 1,805 vehicles

Owners notified April 26, 2004 · Vehicles built September 16, 2002 – March 17, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEATS COULD TWIST, TILTING ON ONE SIDE TO THE REAR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE FRONT SEATS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10319400

Incident: October 1, 2007 · Filed: March 13, 2010

2003 PORSCHE 911 C4S COUPE: CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IN NEW YORK. WOULD LIKELY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, IF HAD STILL BEEN ON I-87. MOMENTS BEFORE, DIVERTED TO NEARLY EMPTY RT-9. FROM WEB RESEARCH AND DISCUSSIONS WITH PORSCHE SERVICE CENTERS, I ESTIMATE THAT 1ST GEN WATER COOLED BOXER ENGINES IN BOXSTER AND 911 DURING '99-'08 HAVE HAD > 5% CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SYSTEM (SHAFT, BEARINGS, LUBRICATION SYSTEM). THE 2ND GEN WATER COOLED BOXER ENGINES INTRODUCED IN 2009 ELIMINATED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES PORSCHE AG AND PORSCHE NA HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A COVER-UP BY PERSUADING AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS TO RETURN THE ENGINES UNOPENED TO PORSCHE AG, WHERE THEY DO A NICE BUSINESS SALVAGING THE CASE FOR REMANUFACTURED ENGINES SOLD BACK TO VICTIMS. THAT HAPPENED TO ME AT PEPE PORSCHE. AT FIRST, THEY SAID THE 'INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BOLT' BROKE. THERE IS NO SUCH PART, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A THREADED END. MY 3RD PARTY WARRANTY COMPANY SAID, 'SORRY, FINE PRINT, WE DO NOT COVER FAILURES CAUSED BY BROKEN BOLTS'. PEPE LATER ADMITTED THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL FAILURE MECHANISM WAS LIKELY INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARINGS. THE WARRANTY COMPANY DEMANDED AN INSPECTION. BY THEN, THE BROKEN ENGINE WAS LONG GONE, AND I HAD SPENT $13,000 FOR INSTALLATION OF A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. I FOUGHT PORSCHE AG, PORSCHE NA, AND PEPE FOR SATISFACTION (BY MYSELF, WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY). I FINALLY SETTLED FOR 50% BACK FROM PEPE. WATCHING THE TOYOTA STORY VIS A VIS THE NHTSA, I HAVE RENEWED HOPE THAT THE NHTSA WOULD PRO-ACTIVELY RECEIVE MY COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATE. I SUGGEST YOU POLL AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS TO FIND OUT HOW MANY '996-SERIES' ENGINES THEY HAVE SEEN FROM 1999-2008 MODEL YEARS WITH CATASTROPHIC FAILURES, HOW MANY WERE ASSOCIATED WITH A CRASH, AND HOW MANY ENGINES WERE RETURNED TO PORSCHE AG UNOPENED, WITHOUT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE MECHANISM. *TR

Other Porsche 911 Carrera 4S model years

Check your 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Porsche 911 Carrera 4S at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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