2003 Porsche 911 Turbo recalls and problems

The 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo has 2 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Porsche dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

0 / 0

Injuries / deaths

0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2003 Porsche 911 Turbo recalls

Recall 04V-070: Seats

Reported Feb 18, 2004 · 1,805 vehicles affected · PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles fitted with front seat backs, which do not meet porsche's strength standards.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Dealers will replace both the front seats. Owner notification began on april 26, 2004. Owners should contact porsche at 1-800-545-8039.

Recall 03V-218: Steering

Reported Jun 16, 2003 · 1,043 vehicles affected · PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles may have a loose fitting in the pressure line of the power steering assembly.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Dealers will tighten the fitting to specifications. Owner notification began on december 1, 2003. Owners should contact porsche at 1-800-545-8039.

2003 Porsche 911 Turbo problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Engine	11
Engine and Engine Cooling	2
Vehicle Speed Control	1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 51,285 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · at 47,000 miles · reported Jan 3, 2017

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 the issues as one of the coolant pipes had separated from the engine and dumped all of the coolant on the road. In the attached image you can see the separated coolant pipe from the engine towards the back of the picture. Given the cost of repair, I had to wait until summer of 2016 to have the repair…

Engine · at 33,200 miles · reported Sep 18, 2015

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 situation by pinning the fittings and applying new adhesive.

Engine · at 63,421 miles · reported Feb 10, 2015

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 transported home and then to a repair shop where they identified the problem as a coolant line that became separated from the engine block. It was explained to me that porsche, from the factory, used an adhesive like material to mate the connectors of the coolant lines and engine and after usage they…

Engine · at 51,285 miles · reported Feb 7, 2015

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 approximately 1 minute later. This is exactly what happened in NHTSA action pe13009.

Engine · at 81,000 miles · reported Jun 28, 2013

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.

Other Porsche 911 Turbo years

2024 2023 2022 2012 2011 2010 2007 200420032002 2001

Compare all Porsche 911 Turbo years · All Porsche models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo: 04V-070 (seats), 03V-218 (steering). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo?

Owners report engine problems most often (11 reports), followed by engine and engine cooling (2). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 51,285 miles.

Are Porsche recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Porsche dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.