2002 Porsche 911 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 67%of 9 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,300miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the engine of the 2002 Porsche 911, 67% of the 9 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,300 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Aluminum coolant tubes which apparently are glued together via the oem factory become old and brittle and blow apart. Coolant is then pouring out of the engine at a high rate into the city street. In my case, I was sitting at a red traffic light when the coolant pipe burst/separated. In order to fix/repair the issue, the engine must be removed from the vehicle and the 8 coolant tubes must be welded and/or drilled and pinned to keep the issue from happening again”
NHTSA complaint #10928575, filed 2016-11, 72,135 miles“I own a 2002 911 carrera turbo, which has a well-know and documented design defect in the engine (gt1 motor). It is know as the coolant-pipe failure issue. While my car has not yet suffered a failure, there is a reasonable probability that the coolant pipes may fail during regular use, causing a substantial likelihood of property damage and personal injury to myself and others utilizing the public right-of-way. It is a clear safety issue that must be addressed by way of recall and repair. There is a known solution to the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10510421, filed 2013-05, 60,300 miles“There was no incident, but there is a coolant smell which regularly happens after a long drive. My mechanic told me that this is because the coolant fittings weep; I've found many forum posts, and was told by my mechanic that the lines bursting and/or spilling is common in 996 turbos ('01-'05). He advised me that I should have preventive welds to make sure that the coolant lines do not unseat and spill all of my coolant. I was told that it could happen tomorrow, or could happen 50k miles from now; either way, I would be stranded wherever I was. …”
NHTSA complaint #10511813, filed 2013-05, 39,000 miles“Intermediate shaft bearing failed, causing catastrophic engine failure and loss of all engine oil on the roadway. Luckily, the car was stopped at the time.”
NHTSA complaint #10469113, filed 2012-08, 85,200 miles“I noticed steam coming from the engine bay while driving in a residential area. Stopped the car immediately and contacted a tow service. A coolant line came loose due to a failed fitting at the manifold and discharged the entire reservoir, leaving a puddle of coolant underneath the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10683181, filed 2015-02Related service bulletins
- 11037816Sep 22, 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C40 Engine Oils. Note that this bulletin covers all models back to model year 1984, for which C40 engine oils are…
- 11037813Sep 22, 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils. Note that the bulletin covers all models back to model year 1984, for which C20 engine oils are…
- 11037812Sep 22, 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils. Note that the bulletin includes all models back to model year 1984, for which C30 engine oils are…
- 11037808Sep 22, 2026Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche A40 Engine Oils. Note that this bulletin covers all vehicles from model year 1997 to 2020, for which A40 engine oils…
- 11035916Jul 22, 2026Allocation of Approved Engine Oils MY 2027 (13/26)
- 11034777Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils (20/26)
- 11034776Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils (19/26)
- 11034775Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche C40 Engine Oils (21/26)
- 11034774Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche A40 Engine Oils (15/26)
- 11034773Jun 25, 2026Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils (16/26)
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 33% |
| 2022 | 1 | 10% |
| 2020 | 3 | 60% |
| 2015 | 3 | 38% |
| 2013 | 1 | 17% |
| 2012 | 1 | 20% |
| 2004 | 6 | 75% |
| 2003 | 1 | 11% |
| 2002 | 6 | 67% |
| 2001 | 5 | 63% |
| 1999 | 2 | 25% |
Other parts of the 2002 Porsche 911
← All problems reported for the 2002 Porsche 911
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology