Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reports
41,000 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD, ABNORMAL BANG. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A LARGE OIL SPILL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE TAKEN APART TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD, ABNORMAL BANG. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A LARGE OIL SPILL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE TAKEN APART TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE INTERMEDIATE MAIN SHAFT (IMF) HAD COLLAPSED AND EXPLODED, KILLING THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,000.
NHTSA ODI #10339683
69,875 miles · Apr 9, 2010
Air Bags
ERRONEOUS AIRBAG FAILURE ERROR CODE DETECTED. AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT ON DASH AND AIRBAG FAILURE TEXT ALSO APPEARS ON DASH. PORSCHE DEALER REPORTS THAT THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY PORSCHE CARS OF NORTH AMERICA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE FIX INVOLVES RE-WIRING THE GROUND SYSTEM AND REPLACING THE SEAT BELT CLASPS. D…
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ERRONEOUS AIRBAG FAILURE ERROR CODE DETECTED. AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT ON DASH AND AIRBAG FAILURE TEXT ALSO APPEARS ON DASH. PORSCHE DEALER REPORTS THAT THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY PORSCHE CARS OF NORTH AMERICA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE FIX INVOLVES RE-WIRING THE GROUND SYSTEM AND REPLACING THE SEAT BELT CLASPS. DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS WOULD COST ME $850 TO HAVE THIS REPAIR WORK DONE. DEALER RESET THE ERROR CODE BUT IT RE-APPEARED THE FOLLOWING DAY INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT. PORSCHE SHOULD FIX THIS ADMITTED DEFECT FOR FREE AND ISSUE A RECALL AS THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. IGNORING THE FALSE FAILURE INDICATION MAY VERY WELL MASK MORE SERIOUS UNDERLYING ERROR CONDITIONS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324727
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2007
Steering
2002 PORSCHE 996 WITH POWER STEERING VALVE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR VALVE MADE A HIGH PITCHED NOISE. HE STATED THAT THIS FAILURE COULD CAUSE A FIRE SINCE THE VALVE IS LOCATED RIGHT OVER THE EXHAUST AND OR THE TURBO. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10207132
8,000 miles · Mar 29, 2007
Electrical SystemFire
PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURNED IT TO START THE VEHICLE, AND THE BATTERY COMPLETELY EXPLODED. ACID VAPORS FILLED THE GARAGE AND BURNED EYES AND CAUSED COUGHING AND BURNING THROAT SENSATION. *JB
US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera, one 1997 BMW 750IL, and two 1986 BMW 635 CSI vehicles for failing to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors." While performing conformity-related modifications for the US market, labels with an incorrect size font were applied to the passenger side mirror.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Drivers of these vehicles may not know the proximity of the objects in the passenger side mirror, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: US Specs will notify owners and correct the statement on the passenger mirror of the affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact US Specs at 1-443-502-2331.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:other:labels
US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera, one 1997 BMW 750IL, and two 1986 BMW 635 CSI vehicles for failing to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors." While performing conformity-related modifications for the US market, labels with an incorrect size font were applied to the passenger side mirror.
Consequence: Drivers of these vehicles may not know the proximity of the objects in the passenger side mirror, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: US Specs will notify owners and correct the statement on the passenger mirror of the affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact US Specs at 1-443-502-2331.
Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera, one 1997 BMW 750IL, and two 1986 BMW 635 CSI vehicles for failing to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors." While performing conformity-related modifications for the US market, labels with an incorrect size font were applied to the passenger side mirror.
Consequence: Drivers of these vehicles may not know the proximity of the objects in the passenger side mirror, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: US Specs will notify owners and correct the statement on the passenger mirror of the affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact US Specs at 1-443-502-2331.
US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera 911. This vehicle fails to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." After performing conformity-related modifications for the US market, this vehicle was released with passenger seatbelts that lack the required Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without the ALR function, the seatbelts do not allow for the secure installation of a child restraint, which can increase the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
Remedy: US Specs will notify the owner and replace all of the passenger seat belts, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact US Specs at 1-443-502-2331.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts:front:retractor
US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera 911. This vehicle fails to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." After performing conformity-related modifications for the US market, this vehicle was released with passenger seatbelts that lack the required Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function.
Consequence: Without the ALR function, the seatbelts do not allow for the secure installation of a child restraint, which can increase the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
Remedy: US Specs will notify the owner and replace all of the passenger seat belts, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact US Specs at 1-443-502-2331.
Seat Belts
US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera 911. This vehicle fails to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." After performing conformity-related modifications for the US market, this vehicle was released with passenger seatbelts that lack the required Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function.
Consequence: Without the ALR function, the seatbelts do not allow for the secure installation of a child restraint, which can increase the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
Remedy: US Specs will notify the owner and replace all of the passenger seat belts, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact US Specs at 1-443-502-2331.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2002 Porsche 911 Carrera Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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