The 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,848 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS04V0700002004-02-181,805 affected
Defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FITTED WITH FRONT SEAT BACKS, WHICH DO NOT MEET PORSCHE'S STRENGTH STANDARDS.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEATS COULD TWIST, TILTING ON ONE SIDE TO THE REAR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE FRONT SEATS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.
STEERING03V2180002003-06-161,043 affected
Defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE A LOOSE FITTING IN THE PRESSURE LINE OF THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence
IF THE FITTING IS LOOSE, THE HYDRAULIC FLUID COULD LEAK OUT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST AND, FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, LOSS OF CLUTCH ASSISTANCE. IF THE LEAKING FLUID COMES INTO CONTACT WITH HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS, IT COULD IGNITE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE FITTING TO SPECIFICATIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
Total complaints14
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While driving home from work in december 2015, on a local road near my home, the engine began emitting a large steam cloud behind the vehicle and the coolant level light appeared. I pulled over and there was a major coolant leak behind the car. I had the car taken to a shop, and they identified…”
“I was driving on the putnam park road course track on 9/12/15, and one of my coolant fittings broke loose from the defective porsche adhesive. It spewed coolant all over the track, creating a very dangerous situation causing other drivers to lose control. I had a porsche dealer remedy the…”
“I was driving on interstate 15 northbound when I felt the rear end of my car slip. I was traveling at approximately 70 mpg in 5th gear on a 68 degree evening. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw smoke / steam coming out of the engine compartment. I pulled over as soon as I could, which was…”
“I was driving my vehicle down the highway while accelerating when I felt the car squirm and noticed a large cloud of smoke billowing from the rear of the vehicle. I pulled over and identified the issue as a catastrophic coolant leak from the engine area (rear) of the vehicle. I had the vehicle…”
“I was driving my vehicle down the highway while accelerating when I felt the car squirm and noticed a large cloud of smoke billowing from the rear of the vehicle. I pulled over and identified the issue as a catastrophic coolant leak from the engine area (rear) of the vehicle. I had the vehicle…”
“Aluminum coolant pipe, that is glued into water pump manifold, came loose causing massive loss of coolant all over the road causing slippery conditions for other drivers. *tr”
“Repair to the engine coolant hard pipes was required to prophylactically prevent failure of the factory epoxy seal. Welding the pipes was required while the engine was out of the vehicle. *tr”
“Coolant hose failure when the vehicle is run medium/hard. I lost 1/2 liter the first couple times in total, and roughly 1 liter of coolant the last time, all over the exhaust and rear driver's side wheel tire. Lucky I did not spin out or have many cars behind me. I captured pictures of the last…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE13009 Opened 2013-04-26 · closed 2014-03-10
Rapid coolant loss
On April 26, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE13-009 to investigate 10 complaints alleging incidents of sudden coolant loss while traveling on public roadways in certain model year (MY) 2001 through 2007 Porsche 911 vehicles.The complaints alleged that pipe ends joined by epoxy to certain…
InvestigationPE13009 Opened 2013-04-26 · closed 2014-03-10
Rapid coolant loss
On April 26, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE13-009 to investigate 10 complaints alleging incidents of sudden coolant loss while traveling on public roadways in certain model year (MY) 2001 through 2007 Porsche 911 vehicles.The complaints alleged that pipe ends joined by epoxy to certain…
InvestigationPE13009 Opened 2013-04-26 · closed 2014-03-10
Rapid coolant loss
On April 26, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE13-009 to investigate 10 complaints alleging incidents of sudden coolant loss while traveling on public roadways in certain model year (MY) 2001 through 2007 Porsche 911 vehicles.The complaints alleged that pipe ends joined by epoxy to certain…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.