I HAD TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THE COOLANT LINES SECURED INTO THE ENGINE OF MY CAR. THIS CAR HAS A KNOWN FAULT IN WHERE THE COOLANT LINES COME UNSECURED FROM THE VEHICLE, DUMPING ALL COOLANT WITHIN SECONDS. NOT ONLY DOES THIS OVERHEAT THE ENGINE, BUT SLIPPERY COOLANT ALL OVER THE REAR TIRES OF A VEHICLE MEANS A CRASH CAN OCCUR.
NHTSA complaint #11321014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10947116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10725341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10668966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"PERMANENT" COOLANT HOSE ATTACHMENT FAILED; IT CAME LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING IN THE ENGINE RESULTING IN COOLANT SPRAYED ONTO TIRE, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING A TURN , INCLUDING 270 DEGREE SPIN, AND LEAVING ROADWAY; FORTUNATELY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE NEARBY, SO A COLLISION WAS AVOIDED. APPARENTLY, THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL FAILURE WITH THE GT3 ENGINE. NOTE: THIS WAS NOT A COOLANT HOSE OR HOSE CLAMP FAILURE, THIS WAS A STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF A PERMANENT ENGINE COMPONENT TO WHICH THE COOLANT HOSE MOUNTS. GIVEN THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES AT STAKE, BOTH TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND THOSE ALSO USING THE ROADWAY NEAR THE AFFECTED VEHICLE, IT SHOULD, IN MY OPINION, BE ADDRESSED WITH A SAFETY RECALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT IS UNDETECTABLE UNTIL THE PART FAILS, WITH POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE AND SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10595928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10559755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10545300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COOLANT HOSE COUPLING CAME LOSE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL ENGINE COOLANT. COOLANT SPILLED RESULTED IN TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF VEHICLE TRACTION, FORTUNATELY WITHOUT INCIDENT. ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO POSSIBLE OVERHEATING IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
NHTSA complaint #10543555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COOLANT HOSE COUPLING CAME LOSE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL ENGINE COOLANT. COOLANT SPILLED RESULTED IN TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF VEHICLE TRACTION, FORTUNATELY WITHOUT INCIDENT. ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO POSSIBLE OVERHEATING IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
NHTSA complaint #10543556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10542207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUDDEN COOLANT LINE FITTING FAILURE. THE EPOXY FAILED AND A COOLANT FITTING COMPLETELY POPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE HOUSING NEAR THE ALTERNATOR. RESULTED IN RAPID COOLANT LOSS. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED/HAULED APPROX 140 MILES TO REPAIR FACILITY NEAR MY HOME. I HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE BILL FOR THIS SERVICE. I AM HAVING ALL COOLANT FITTINGS WELDED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO ANY OF THE OTHER LINES. WORK IS NOT YET COMPLETE BUT THE ESTIMATED BILL IS $3500+.
NHTSA complaint #10534755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10534463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10532634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON I-79(3 LANE HIGHWAY) AT 70 MPH WHEN I NOTICED A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE/STEAM FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. I THEN NOTICED OTHER CARS PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE TO GET AWAY FROM ALL THE COOLANT SPRAYING FROM MY CAR. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. OUNCE I WAS ABLE TO GET PORSCHE DEALER TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE, IT WAS INDICATED THAT MY COOLANT FITTINGS FAILED AND SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE(KNOW ISSUE).
NHTSA complaint #10525242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10522702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10520895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING AT UPPER COOLANT CONSOLE. EPOXY FAILED AT ALUMINUM COOLING HOSE AND COOLING CONSOLE CONNECTION POINT. AT A LATER DATE, REPEATED FAILURE OF COOLING HOSE CONNECTIONS AT RIGHT FRONT RADIATOR.
NHTSA complaint #10519985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10519858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.