NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Porsche 911 Turbo Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 13 owner complaints 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 Turbo. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2003 Porsche 911 Turbo owner complaints

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo, describing incidents dated May 19, 2007 to December 4, 2015.

Most-cited components

Engine 13 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10939285 · Filed January 3, 2017
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…
ODI #10765255 · Filed September 18, 2015
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…
ODI #10682527 · Filed February 10, 2015
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…

Read all 13 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE13-009: Rapid coolant loss
Closed March 10, 2014

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Strut Pin May Fracture

NHTSA #20E091000 · Suspension — Front — Macpherson Strut · NHTSA notice

Reported December 11, 2020 · Tenneco Automotive

Potentially affected: 584 vehicles

Repair completion: 52.96% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified December 22, 2020

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

If the pin fails, it will cause separation of the strut from the vehicle, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ohlins will notify owners, and dealers will request the return of all unsold kits containing the subject part from dealer/distributor inventory for a full refund. All owners who purchased one of the kits (POZ MN02 or POZ MN05) will receive replacement front struts (POS 5N20 or POS 5N21 - These parts are interchangeable), along with new top mount interface solutions, free of charge. The recall began December 22, 2020. Owners may contact Ohlins customer service at 1-800-336-9029.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

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).

PORSCHE/POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY

NHTSA #03V218000 · Steering — Hydraulic Power Assist — Hose, Piping, and Connections · NHTSA notice

Reported June 16, 2003 · PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 1,043 vehicles

Porsche campaign A307 · Owners notified December 1, 2003 · Vehicles built July 24, 2002 – March 1, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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

Safety consequence

IF THE FITTING IS LOOSE, THE HYDRAULIC FLUID COULD LEAK OUT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST AND, FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, LOSS OF CLUTCH ASSISTANCE. IF THE LEAKING FLUID COMES INTO CONTACT WITH HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS, IT COULD IGNITE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE FITTING TO SPECIFICATIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.

Notes

PORSCHE RECALL NO. A307.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 Turbo. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

13 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo.

Engine

ODI #10939285

Incident: December 4, 2015 · Filed: January 3, 2017

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

Engine

ODI #10765255

Incident: September 12, 2015 · Filed: September 18, 2015

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.

Vehicle Speed Control; Engine

ODI #10682527

Incident: February 2, 2015 · Filed: February 10, 2015

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 DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THIS MANUFACTURING ISSUE. *TR

Engine

ODI #10681862

Incident: February 6, 2015 · Filed: February 7, 2015

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

Engine

ODI #10522217

Incident: June 8, 2013 · Filed: June 28, 2013

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

Engine

ODI #10511347

Incident: December 26, 2010 · Filed: May 10, 2013

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

Engine

ODI #10510624

Incident: April 5, 2013 · Filed: May 4, 2013

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

Engine

ODI #10510138

Incident: May 19, 2007 · Filed: April 30, 2013

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

Engine

ODI #10509283

Incident: April 5, 2013 · Filed: April 23, 2013

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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10508894

Incident: June 29, 2012 · Filed: April 20, 2013

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

Other Porsche 911 Turbo model years

Check your 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo VIN

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

Check a Porsche VIN