FaultScore

FaultScore report

1995 Porsche 911 problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 1995 Porsche 911 with NHTSA between 1997 and 2014. The largest single group is the electrical system. Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 7 worst.

D

FaultScore 76/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Porsche 911.

How this is worked out

The numbers

15

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

5

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 62 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure not reported
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 62
Against the median year of the Porsche 911. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
40% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.

How 1995 compares with every other Porsche 911

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1995 Porsche 911

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 6 40.0%

0 crashes, 3 fires

Brakes 2 13.3%
Engine & Cooling 2 13.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Equipment & Accessories 1 6.7%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Wheels 1 6.7%
Suspension 1 6.7%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Steering 1 6.7%

Median failure at 110,500 miles

Airbags 1 6.7%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Aug 1997 peak 3 Dec 2014

NHTSA investigations into the 1995 Porsche 911

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE01031 Opened 30 Aug 2001 Closed 31 Jan 2002 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WIRING HARNESS

RQ98017 Opened 6 Oct 1998 Closed 16 Feb 1999 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

INADVERTENT DRIVER'S SID AIR BAG

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG REPORTEDLY CAN DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Greenbrae, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY DIED, UPON RECHARGE, CAR WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED AND WE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING IN NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AND AIR COND CONTROLLER AT THE COST OF 3600.

NHTSA complaint #760050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenbrae, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

BATTERY DIED, UPON RECHARGE, CAR WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED AND WE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING IN NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AND AIR COND CONTROLLER AT THE COST OF 3600.

NHTSA complaint #760050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenbrae, CA Fire

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

BATTERY DIED, UPON RECHARGE, CAR WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED AND WE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING IN NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AND AIR COND CONTROLLER AT THE COST OF 3600.

NHTSA complaint #760050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonvil, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS KINKED DURING INSTALLATION FROM THE FACTORY CAUSING A SMALL FIRE (THE SIZE OF THREE LIT MATCHES) WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #561221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Liverpool, NY Crash

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

BOLT HOLDING BALL JOINT TO UPRIGHT BROKE AT BALL, THREW CAR TO LEFT AGAINST RAILING FROM STRAIGHT UPHILL AT WATKINS GLEN DRIVER ED.

NHTSA complaint #708232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coconut Grove, FL Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROIVDE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #826387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 110,500 miles Pawleys Island, SC

STEERING

RECENTLY, I PURCHASED TIE RODS FOR MY 1995 PORSCHE 911. I ORDERED THROUGH ECS TUNING (ORDER #: [XXX]), SHIPPED TO MY HOME. I INSPECTED THE TIE RODS, AND WHILE NOT IDENTICAL TO THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS PARTS, THEY LOOKED SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME. I INSTALLED THE TIE RODS (MADE BY HAMBURG TECHNIC) WITHOUT INSTALLATION DIFFICULTY. AS YOU ARE AWARE, TIE RODS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING SYSTEM AND ARE DESIGNED TO BE ADJUSTED FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I EYEBALLED THE ALIGNMENT AND PROMPTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCHANTS TIRE AND AUTO (3419 HWY 17 S, MURRELLS INLET, SC 29576, 843-651-4816) FOR A PROFESSIONAL ALIGNMENT ON A HUNTER LASER RACK. AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED UP AT THEIR FACILITY, THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD SEGMENT SEPARATED. THE INNER SLEEVE BECAME COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE OUTER SLEEVE, RENDERING THE CAR INCAPACITATED. I DON'T KNOW HOW I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THEM SEPARATING ON THE ROAD, LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. AS I HAD ORDERED 2 SETS OF TIE RODS, I RETURNED HOME AND GOT THE SECOND SET, AND THEY PUSHED THE CAR INTO A SERVICE BAY. THEY REPLACED THE TIE RODS WITH THE SECOND SET. WHILE BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE SERVICE BAY, TO MOVE IT TO THE ALIGNMENT RACK, THE LEFT TIE ROD SEPARATED AGAIN, RENDERING THE CAR INCAPACITATED FOR THE SECOND TIME. AS THERE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTS, I OBTAINED TIE RODS FROM ANOTHER VENDOR. THOSE TIE RODS WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ISSUE, AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10663384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm Beach, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND WHEN PRESSED. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SPRING FOR HORN WAS LOCATED BEHIND THE AIR BAG. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10101970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenbrae, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY DIED, UPON RECHARGE, CAR WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED AND WE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING IN NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AND AIR COND CONTROLLER AT THE COST OF 3600.

NHTSA complaint #760050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenbrae, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

BATTERY DIED, UPON RECHARGE, CAR WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED AND WE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING IN NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AND AIR COND CONTROLLER AT THE COST OF 3600.

NHTSA complaint #760050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenbrae, CA Fire

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

BATTERY DIED, UPON RECHARGE, CAR WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED AND WE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING IN NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AND AIR COND CONTROLLER AT THE COST OF 3600.

NHTSA complaint #760050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ATTENTION : FRANK BORRIS NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #753288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beverly Hills, CA

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

LUGS: NUTS ON WHEEL HAD TO BE BROKEN IN ORDER TO REPLACE TIRES OR BRAKES. WHEELS WERE CHROMED BY DEALERSHIP FOR PREVIOUS OWNER AND WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #897114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonvil, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS KINKED DURING INSTALLATION FROM THE FACTORY CAUSING A SMALL FIRE (THE SIZE OF THREE LIT MATCHES) WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #561221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS EXHIBITS DRY ROT AND INSULATION BREAKDOWN (CRACKS) THROUGHOUT. THIS MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE FAILURE OF AN ENGINE COOLING FAN. MECHANIC (A PORSCHE CERTIFIED MASTER TECNHICIAN) EXPLAINS THAT THIS CONDITION WILL BE PROGRESSIVE, WILL LIKELY CAUSE DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS IN THE SHORT-TERM, AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. HE THUS RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF AROUND $1800. STEVE CHAN OF NHTSA IS COLLECTING INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN OF WIRING HARNESS DEFECTS THAT AFFECTED 1995 PORSCHE MODELS. PORSCHE APPARENTLY SWITCHED SUPPLIERS THE FOLLOWING YEAR. PLEASE FORWARD THIS CASE TO HIM.

NHTSA complaint #740742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS EXHIBITS DRY ROT AND INSULATION BREAKDOWN (CRACKS) THROUGHOUT. THIS MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE FAILURE OF AN ENGINE COOLING FAN. MECHANIC (A PORSCHE CERTIFIED MASTER TECNHICIAN) EXPLAINS THAT THIS CONDITION WILL BE PROGRESSIVE, WILL LIKELY CAUSE DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS IN THE SHORT-TERM, AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. HE THUS RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF AROUND $1800. STEVE CHAN OF NHTSA IS COLLECTING INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN OF WIRING HARNESS DEFECTS THAT AFFECTED 1995 PORSCHE MODELS. PORSCHE APPARENTLY SWITCHED SUPPLIERS THE FOLLOWING YEAR. PLEASE FORWARD THIS CASE TO HIM.

NHTSA complaint #740742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portola Hills, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

SOME WIRE INSULATION HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND BROKEN AWAY, EXPOSING BARE WIRES. AS THIS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, I FEEL AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. THE EFFECTED AREA IS WITHIN THE WIRE HARNESS, NEAR THE ALTERNATOR. ALTHOUGH IM HAVING MY CAR REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, A NUMBER OF PORSCHE DEALERS (VERIFIED BY AN INTERNET PORSCHE BOARD AND MY MECHANIC) HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, AND HAVE REPLACED HARNESSES WITH A NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION.

NHTSA complaint #732161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Liverpool, NY Crash

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

BOLT HOLDING BALL JOINT TO UPRIGHT BROKE AT BALL, THREW CAR TO LEFT AGAINST RAILING FROM STRAIGHT UPHILL AT WATKINS GLEN DRIVER ED.

NHTSA complaint #708232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coconut Grove, FL Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROIVDE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #826387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millburn, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BRAKE CALIPERS IN PLACE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE BRAKE CALIPER TO LOCK ONTO THE ROTOR/ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #519501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alexandria, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON TWO OCCASIONS. DURING BOTH INCIDENTS OWNER PUSHED PEDAL TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR, AND PUMPED THE BRAKES AT LEAST 4 TIMES BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED. DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #815345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.