There are 4 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2003 Porsche 911in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
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
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
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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026