Porsche 911 Complaints (2004)

47 consumer complaints on file.

#11503856January 26, 2023
SUSPENSION, STEERING
The contact owns a 2004 Porsche 911. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH he heard a loud creaking sound coming from the front-end. The contact stated that he was entering the highway and the sound became louder while speeding to merge. The contact stated that after driving over some slight imperfections in the roadway, the front-end started pulling to the left and right with force. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to keep the vehicle in the lane. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact exited the highway and drove the vehicle to his residence. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457590March 21, 2022
ENGINE
Yesterday as I was driving in freeway, my friend was following me from behind, he noticed smoke and coolant leaking making his car's windshield dirty. So we stopped at gas station and noticed good amount of coolant leakage from underneath which make the back of the car and tires big mess. I noticed, before my friend's call, the handling and grip of the car was little off, I didn't know why but then I realized leaking made the tires slippery. Tow the car to my house and just wanted to report this. It seems lot of people complain about this issue when I started reading about it last night.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11092777May 9, 2018
ENGINE
AFTER 1 HOUR OF SLOW 880-N HIGHWAY STOP AND GO DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, A LARGE COLUMN OF STEAM WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM REAR DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE EXITING INTERSTATE. IMMEDIATELY OBSERVED HUGE COOLANT PUDDLE DEVELOPING ON FREEWAY OFFRAMP, AND ALERTS ON DASHBOARD GAUGES ("CHECK COOLANT LEVEL"). UPON STOPPING THE CAR IT WAS OBSERVED ONE OF THE COOLANT HOSES LEADING FROM THE WATER PUMP HAD COME LOOSE. THESE ARE HOSE FITTINGS WHICH ARE EPOXIED INTO THE ALUMINUM WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WHICH COME LOOSE OVER TIME AFTER THE EPOXY BECOMES BRITTLE WITH AGE. THE ENGINE DEPOSITED ITS ENTIRE COOLANT SYSTEM QUANTITY RAPIDLY ONTO THE EXIT OFFRAMP OF THE HIGHWAY WHICH MAY POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AFFECTING GT1 BLOCK ENGINES MADE BY PORSCHE IN THE 996TT, 996 GT2, GT3, AND 997 TT VEHICLES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10947116January 23, 2017
ENGINE
THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN SUDDENLY THE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED AND COOLANT SPILLED FROM UNDER THE ENGINE CAUSING MY CAR TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL. THE COOLANT ALSO POSED A HAZARD TO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY NATURE OF THE LIQUID. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE COOLANT LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WELDED RATHER THAN THE EPOXY GLUE THAT WAS USED IN THE ORIGINAL COOLANT FITTINGS. PORSCHE DEALERSHIPS WOULD ONLY USE EPOXY TO SEAL THE FITTINGS WHICH WOULD ONLY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO ANOTHER FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748249August 12, 2015
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CORNER ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SPUN AROUND. I THEN SAW STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THERE WAS COOLANT ON THE GROUND. ONE OF THE COOLANT FITTINGS HAD COME COMPLETELY LOOSE, AND ALL THE COOLANT HAD LEAKED OUT. THE ONLY REAL FIX IS TO WELD ALL THE COOLANT FITTINGS. THERE ARE 9 OF THEM AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED TO DO THE WELDING. IT COST ME $2500 TO FIX THIS DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I WAS LUCKY I DID NOT HIT ANY ONE OR ANY THING. JUST PURE LUCK. WHEN YOU DUMP LARGE QUANTITIES OF SLIPPERY COOLANT ON TO THE REAR TIRES IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THIS PROBLEM IS SO PREVALENT THAT MOST RACE TRACKS WON'T ALLOW A 996 OR 997 GT3, GT2 OR TURBO ON THE TRACK UNTIL THE COOLANT LINES ARE FIXED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725341June 15, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE
ON VERY HOT DAY, OVER 100 DEGREES F, AFTER HAVING JUST EXITED A FREEWAY ONTO A CITY STREET, WHILE ACCELERATING FROM RED LIGHT, A GLUED-IN WATER COOLANT PIPE/TUBE POPPED OUT FROM ITS CAST HOUSING, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF ALL COOLING FLUIDS WHICH SPILLED ONTO THE ROADWAY, IMMEDIATE INCREASE IN ENGINE TEMPERATURE FROM 185 TO OVER 260 DEGREES F, AND LOSS OF POWER. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668966December 30, 2014
ENGINE
A COOLANT LINE FITTING THAT IS EPOXIED INTO THE BLOCK BECAME SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED. THE COOLANT ALL FLOWED OUT OF THE LEAK NEARLY INSTANTLY. THE POOL OF COOLANT CREATED A HAZARD FOR FOLLOWING CARS AND THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY AND THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE FACILITY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610822July 15, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND FAILED TO RESTART AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (IMS) FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559755January 14, 2014
ENGINE
WENT TO STREETS OF WILLOW DRIVING EVENT. DURING 3RD RUN SESSION I NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM BEHIND AS I WAS TAKING A 180 DEGREE TURN. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR WHEN IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. STEAM KEPT BILLOWING AND THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE LOST ALL IT'S COOLANT IN A FEW SECONDS. 5(!) CARS BEHIND ME ALL SPUN IN THE 180 DEGREE TURN BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. FORTUNATELY NONE OF THEM CRASHED. AFTER EXAMINATION IT TURNS OUT ONE OF THE COOLANT FITTINGS THAT PORSCHE GLUED INTO THE MOTOR BLOCK WITH EPOXY HAD POPPED OUT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THESE GT ENGINES. NOT ONLY IS THIS DANGEROUS (EVERY GT2/3 ON THE ROAD IS A TICKING TIME BOMB, STREET OR TRACK) BUT IT IS ALSO COSTLY TO HAVE IT FIXED PROPERLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A SHOP THAT IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT. THE SOLUTION IS TO WELD THESE FITTINGS INTO THE MOTOR BLOCK. THERE ARE 8 OF THEM AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO COME OUT OF THE CAR, THE FITTINGS ALL REMOVED AND CLEANED FROM THE EPOXY BEFORE THEY CAN BE CAREFULLY WELDED BACK INTO PLACE AGAIN. IT IS THE ONLY VALID FIX. I HAVE A RECEIPT SHOWING $2750 TO HAVE THIS DONE. I FEEL THIS WAS MY ONLY COURSE OF ACTION TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN AND I THINK PORSCHE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THERE IS A PROBLEM THERE AND REIMBURSE OWNERS THAT HAD THIS DONE AND OFFER IT UNDER A RECALL TO OWNERS THAT STILL NEED TO GET THIS DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547657October 11, 2013
ENGINE
THE M96 MOTOR SUPPLIED WITH THIS VEHICLE LINE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS. ENGINE BLOCK LEAKS THE BLOCK IS POROUS. RESLEEVED CYLINDERS WERE MAKER FIX ,THE SLEEVES MOVED CAUSING ENGINE DESTRUCTION. A MAIN CRANKSHAFT BEARING WAS DESIGNED OUT. ALLOWING THE CRANKSHAFT TO MOVE FRT TO BACK AND WITH GRAVITY CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE REAR MAIN SEAL COULD NOT FIX IF CRANK HAD MOVED MORE THAN A FEW DEGREES FROM ORIG SPEC.PRIMARY PROBLEM IMS( INTERMEDIATE SHAFT) FAILURE. RESULT, COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF MOTOR. NO FIX FROM MANUFACTURE. AFTER MARKET ONLY SUPPLY. OVER TEN THOUSAND AFTER MARKET REPAIRS DONE.CONSERVATIVE APX COST $,3000 I HAVE MUCH MORE EVIDENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546931October 6, 2013
ENGINE
MY GT3 HAS COOLING PIPE ON THE ENGINE EXTERNAL TO THE BLOCK. I HAVE READ THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE USED IN GT3 AND TURBOS (METZGER MOTOR). A FITTING COMES LOOSE DUE TO ADHESIVE FAILURE RESULTING I LOSS OF ALL OR MOST OF THE COOLANT FLUID. THE REPAIR REQUIRES ENGINE REMOVAL AND REPAIR OF THE FITTINGS. THERE IS SOME ISSUE AS TO THE PROPER OR BEST REPAIR APPROACH. WHAT IS KNOW IS THAT THE ADHESIVE FAILURE IS ALMOST SURE TO OCCUR. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AS I HAVE FEW MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE, BUT VERY CONCERNED THIS WILL OCCUR AND THE SUDDEN LOSS OF COOLANT FLUID WILL MOST LIKE RESULT IN A SPINOUT OR CRASH. EVEN IF NO ACCIDENT WERE TO RESULT, I AM OUT OF NORMAL WARRANTY, THIS FAILURE WILL SET ME BACK $1500-2000. I HAVE FOLLOWED REPORTS OF THE NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THESE FITTINGS ON 6SPEEDONLINE.COM. AS I HAVE NOT YET HAD A FAILURE, I STILL WANT TO REGISTER MY CONCERN SHOULD THERE BE A NHTSA DIRECTED RECALL TO PORSCHE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545300September 25, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING AT MILLER MOTORSPORTS IN TOOELE UTAH IN DRIVERS EDUCATION EVENT WHEN MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO INCREASE FROM 180 DEGREES UP PAST 200 DEGREES. AS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO 250 DEGREES, A COOLANT FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OFF THE TRACK AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF THE FAILURE LIGHT AND I HAD TO BE TOWED OFF THE MILLER MOTORSPORTS TRACK. I HAD LOST ALL OF MY COOLANT FROM THE CAR. THE NEXT MORNING (SUNDAY) I TOOK A RENTAL CAR BACK TO MILLER MOTORSPORTS ALONG WITH 9 GALLONS OF DISTILLED WATER. I POURED 2 GALLONS OF DISTILLED WATER INTO THE CAR, AND THEN STARTED IT. ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES LATER, WATER STARTED SPURTING FROM AN ALUMINUM COOLANT LINE ATTACHMENT THAT HAD COME UNGLUED. THIS ALUMINUM ATTACHMENT WAS IN A PLACE ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE THAT WAS READILY DETERMINABLE AS THE WATER WAS SHOOTING STRAIGHT UP FROM WHERE THE FITTING HAD COME UNGLUED AND SLIPPED OFF. I DO NOT CURRENTLY KNOW WHETHER I GOT THE CAR STOPPED IN TIME FOR THE ENGINE TO BE OK. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BEFORE I GET ALL OF THE ALUMINUM FITTINGS REGLUED OR WELDED. BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, THE COOLANT DID NOT CREATE A SITUATION THAT WAS A SAFETY RISK TO ME, BUT IF IT HAD BEEN A DIFFERENT ALUMINUM COOLANT ATTACHMENT THAT LET LOOSE, I COULD HAVE CRASHED AT 115 MPH DUE TO COOLANT ON THE TIRES OR SOMEONE BEHIND ME COULD HAVE CRASHED. THE MILLER MOTORSPORT PERSONNEL SAID THEY NOTICED A PLUME OF STEAM AT THE END OF THE FRONT STRAIGHT. AT THE END OF THE FRONT STRAIGHT, I HAD SLOWED TO 115 MPH. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THIS CAR AND DID NOT THINK I WAS AT RISK FOR THIS TYPE OF SAFETY ISSUE ON A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. IT ALSO ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 28,000 MILES. *LN UPDATED 1/8/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542207September 6, 2013
ENGINE
THE EPOXY HOLDING AN ALUMINUM ELBOW THAT CONNECTS A COOLANT HOSE TO THE WATER PUMP (I BELIEVE) LET GO, THE ELBOW WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE FROM THE PUMP AND EMPTIED THE COOLANT FROM THE SYSTEM OUT ONTO THE ROAD SURFACE. I BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE NEEDLE HAD PEGGED AT THE HIGH END OF THE GAUGE RANGE, AFTER WHICH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. PRIOR THERETO, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD BEEN READING AT NORMAL LEVELS AND RESPONDING NORMALLY. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT, BUT I NOTICED AFTER STOPPING THAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND WHEEL WELL WERE WET AND SLIPPERY WITH COOLANT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534463August 9, 2013
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT A DRIVERS EDUCATION EVENT AT WATKINS GLEN RACE TRACK, A COOLANT FITTING CAME APART AND OUT OF ITS HOUSING RELEASING ABOUT 3-4 GALLONS OF COOLANT ONTO THE TRACK. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. SINCE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY PORSCHE AGREED TO COVER THE FAILURE UNDER GOOD WILL AND A NEW HOUSING (SAME DESIGN) WAS INSTALLED BY THE LOCAL PORSCHE DEALER. HOWEVER, IN OCTOBER, 2011 WHILE DRIVING AT ANOTHER DRIVERS EDUCATION EVENT, THE SAME FITTING FAILED. THIS TIME 3 CARS FOLLOWING ME SLID OFF THE TRACK DUE TO THE COOLANT WITH ONE CRASHING INTO ANOTHER. ONE CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE OTHER SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532634July 30, 2013
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
A COOLANT LINE CAME LOOSE THEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I WAS VERY LUCKY I DID NOT SPIN IN THE COOLANT, AND GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE LINES WERE ORIGINALLY "GLUED" IN FROM THE FACTORY. THIS WAS A POOR DESIGN AND IS A WEAKNESS OF THE CAR WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IN TERMS OF DESTROYING THE ENGINE, AND GETTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IN ORDER TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THE DESIGN ISSUE I WAS QUOTED OVER $3,000 TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS INVOLVES TAKING THE ENGINE OUT AND WELDING THE LINES. I BELIEVE PORSCHE SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532180July 28, 2013
ENGINE
SUMMARY: FAILURE OF COOLANT HOSES DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE FLUSHING OF ALL COOLANT ONTO ROAD SURFACE AND INTO ENGINE BAY. IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUTDOWN REQUIRED TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. OBSERVED RISKS INCLUDE: PANIC SITUATION TO OPERATOR AND PASSENGERS OF VEHICLE; CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING AND CONSEQUENT ACCIDENT THREAT; LOSS OF TRACTION TO VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENT TRAFFIC DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF COOLANT ON ROAD SURFACE; VAPOR TRAIL LIMITING VISIBILITY OF SUBSEQUENT TRAFFIC; ROADSIDE ACCIDENT HAZARD AFFECTING VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENT TRAFFIC. DETAILS: SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013, ~7:15PM ET, NASSAU COUNTY NY - WESTBOUND ON STATE ROUTE 24 - HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE. DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH IN 3RD GEAR, VEHICLE OPERATOR NOTICED A THICK CLOUD OF VAPOR EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OPERATOR BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WHEREUPON THE ODOR OF BURNING COOLANT WAS DETECTED. HAVING BEEN FAMILIARIZED WITH REPORTS OF LIKE VEHICLES BEING AFFLICTED WITH THESE SYMPTOMS, OPERATOR IMMEDIATELY PLACED VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND BACKED VEHICLE OFF OF ROUTE 24 AND ONTO A SIDE STREET, AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE BY REMOVING THE KEY. OPERATOR OBSERVED THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 75 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND THE VEHICLE'S REPORTED (REMAINING) COOLANT TEMPERATURE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 190 DEGREES CENTIGRADE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. ALL OTHER VEHICLE SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND ITS ENGINE, INTAKE, AND COOLING SYSTEMS ARE UNMODIFIED, FACTORY SPECIFICATION. OPERATOR HAS PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF THE EVENT AND WILL PROVIDE TO NHTSA AND RELATED PARTIES UPON LAWFUL REQUEST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522702July 1, 2013
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON TRACK, A COOLANT FITTING BROKE LOOSE AND DUMPED ALL THE ANTIFREEZE DOWN ONTO THE TRACK SURFACE. A VEHICLE ON TRACK BEHIND ME RAN OVER THE ANTIFREEZE, LOST CONTROL AND SKIDDED OFF THE TRACK. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR WASN'T INJURED AND THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE MUCH DAMAGE TO HIS CAR, EXCEPT PERHAPS SOME SCUFFING OF THE PAINT ON HIS FRONT BUMPER. THE FITTING THAT CAME LOOSE IS ONE OF 8 FITTINGS THAT PORSCHE GLUED INTO PLACE WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY BUILT THE ENGINE OF MY 04 GT3. WHEN THE GLUE GETS OLD IT LETS GO, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I HAD TO FLAT BED THE CAR FROM THE TRACK TO A REPAIR SHOP, PAY THEM TO DROP THE ENGINE, COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLE ALL THE COOLANT MANIFOLDS THAT USE THESE GLUED-IN FITTINGS, BRING THE MANIFOLDS TO A WELDING SHOP, HAVE THE WELDING SHOP WELD ALL THE FITTINGS INTO PLACE, AND THEN HAVE MY REPAIR SHOP REASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND RE-INSTALL IN THE CAR. THIS RESULTED IN A CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE, AND THE LOSS OF USE OF MY CAR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHILE THIS WORK WAS BEING PERFORMED, WAITING ON PARTS TO ARRIVE, ETC. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE FITTINGS THAT HAD TO BE WELDED, WHILE MY ENGINE WAS STILL IN PIECES DURING THE REPAIR PROCESS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521117June 21, 2013
ENGINE
COOLANT PIPES LEAKING AFTER DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520895June 20, 2013
ENGINE
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO MY AWARENESS OF NHTSA PE13-009. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF A 2004 PORSCHE GT3 THAT I USE PRIMARILY FOR TRACK DRIVING DAYS AND OCCASIONALLY FOR STREET USE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2010, I WAS AWARE OF MANY REPORTS FROM OWNERS OF SIMILAR CARS THAT HAD EXPERIENCED SUDDEN COOLANT LOSS FROM ANY OF EIGHT GLUED-IN TUBE-LIKE ALUMINUM FITTINGS TO WHICH COOLANT HOSES ARE ATTACHED. THE REPORTS DESCRIBED THE CATASTROPHIC EFFECTS OF COOLANT LOSS, PRIMARILY ON THE TRACK, THAT IN SOME CASES RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL TO THE AFFECTED CAR AND/OR LOSS OF CONTROL TO CARS FOLLOWING THAT CAR. A NUMBER OF CRASHES WERE REPORTED. THESE REPORTS ARE CONTAINED IN VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS, INCLUDING RENNLIST.COM. BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS FAILURE OCCURRING TO MY CAR, I PROPHYLACTICALLY HAD MY ENGINE REMOVED AND ALL EIGHT COOLANT PIPES WELDED INTO THE ALUMINUM MANIFOLDS THAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN GLUED INTO. I DID THIS AT A COST OF $2500. I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA TO RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE CREATED BY THIS POOR DESIGN AND CORRECT IT BY RECALLING CARS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED, AND REIMBURSING OWNERS, LIKE ME, WHO TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE WERE ANY CONSEQUENCES. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT VARIOUS SIMILAR-ENGINED FACTORY RACE CARS MADE BY PORSCHE DURING THAT ERA, INCLUDING THE 2001 GT3 RS THAT I OWN, USED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (AND MORE ROBUST) THREADED MEANS OF ATTACHING THESE COOLANT FITTINGS TO THE COOLANT MANIFOLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519858June 14, 2013
ENGINE
I PURCHASED MY 2004 PORSCHE GT3 IN MAY OF 2009. IT HAD JUST UNDER 20,000 MILES ON IT. IN AUGUST, 2010, I WAS DRIVING ON TRACK AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND ONE OF THE COOLANT FITTINGS CAME LOOSE FROM THE ENGINE. THE EPOXY THAT HOLDS THE PRESS-FIT COUPLER TO ONE OF THE HEAT EXCHANGERS HAD LOST ITS ABILITY TO RETAIN THE FITTING AND CAME DISCONNECTED. ALL OF THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LOST IN A SINGLE INSTANCE. [CATASTROPHIC COOLANT LOSS]. I HAD THAT FITTING REPLACED BY THE PORSCHE DEALER IN DALLAS UNDER AFTERMARKET WARRANTY. I CAN PROVIDE INFO REGARDING THE ON THIS AT YOUR REQUEST, AND I HAVE SOME PICTURES OF THE OFFENDING PART. I HAD A SECOND (AND SEPARATE) FITTING FAIL IN JANUARY 2011 AT 35,000 WHILE DRIVING ON TRACK AT MOTORSPORT RANCH HOUSTON. THEY SAME SYMPTOMS WERE FOUND - THE PRESS-FIT COUPLING HAD COME LOOSE RESULTING IN COMPLETE COOLANT LOSS. THIS WAS ALSO REPAIRED WITH A FACTORY REPLACEMENT PART UNDER AFTERMARKET WARRANTY AT THE PORSCHE DEALER IN HOUSTON. I BELIEVE THERE ARE 8 KNOWN PRESS-FIT COUPLERS ON THE GT1 ENGINE BLOCK IN THE 996 AND 997 MODEL GT AND TURBO CARS. EACH OF THESE IS KNOWN TO FAIL BASED ON THE PRESS-FIT COUPLER AND POOR DESIGN (USE OF EPOXY ON A HIGH PRESSURE COMPONENT). I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON PORSCHE GT/TURBO CARS AND HAS BEEN DISCUSSED ON THE INTERNET (E.G. RENNLIST) FOR MANY YEARS. 25% OF MINE HAVE FAILED, AND ALMOST EVERY OTHER GT DRIVER I KNOW HAS HAD AT LEAST ONE FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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