2017 Porsche 911: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 3 owner complaints on record; most reports concern engine.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2019
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“While driving 40 miles per hour a sudden explosion happened with no warning. Thought it was the engine due to the smoke coming out of rear of the vehicle but realized that engine was still on and steam was coming out. All coolant drained out of vehicle and on road. Vehicle was towed to a Porsche dealership in Duluth Ga. The coolant tank exploded causing minor body damage and sudden loss of all coolant. The dealer replaced the shattered coolant tank but found no cause as to why the pressure got so high to cause the tank to explode. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2025
“The rear window seal is severely breaking apart, severely cracked and others are melting. This may affect condensation inside the vehicle and potentially be a safety hazard. Several reports on this problem can be seen at porsche forums. I believe this is a manufacturing defect and is a potential safety hazard on many porsche vehicles.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Dec 2024
“My air conditioner/heater fan does not come on after car has been sitting for a few days in a humid climate. This problem is documented with a temporary fix on the static.nhsta.gov site. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10186302-0001.pdf The problem is it happens to me every week or so. There is no permanent fix. This is a safety issue because without the fan motor the defroster doesn't work and the windows can fog up creating a dangerous situation.”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2022
Recalls - 3 campaigns
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Targa S, 911 Targa 4S, 911 Turbo Cabriolet, 718 Boxter and 718 Boxter S vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will rebond the windshield, free of charge. The recall began on May 12, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for the recall is AH04.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2016-2017 911 and Boxster, 2016 Cayman and Panamera vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 13, 2019. Owners received a second notice and the recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB4.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2017 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, 718 Cayman S, 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Turbo, 911 Turbo S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, and 911 Turbo Cabriolet vehicles. The seat mounted side air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG10.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2017 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
Check your exact 911 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Porsche 911 reliable?
NHTSA has 3 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2017 Porsche 911. The most complained-about area is engine.
Does the 2017 Porsche 911 have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning visibility:windshield. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.