Seat-related and structural issues are the cause of top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Launched in 1964, the Porsche 911 has evolved through eight model generations. The automaker says it’s always been “modern but never fashionable.” Whatever that means, it’s a sports car that comes in many guises, including a Heritage Design. But problems and recalls are common to most variants. Customers are complaining about dangerous seat problems and equipment that affects steering. There are also recalls relating to disturbing seat issues.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2020
The Porsche 911 is regarded as one of the most reliable performance cars on the road. But it certainly isn’t perfect.
There are only a couple of complaints that owners have registered with the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). However, there are four recalls in total for the range of 911 variants. Most are common to all of them.
The two complaint issues involve a faulty strap release on the back seat that the owner maintains could be a safety danger if the sports car crashes. The other relates to a vital computer chip that could affect steering.
There are two recalls that relate to seats, both of which have injury risks. The other two are structural problems that increase the risk of the sports car crashing.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility:vehicle Controls:steering | |
| Seats |
When you get into the seat of any car, you need to feel safe. If there is a risk that you wouldn’t be able to get out of the seat after a crash, you’d want to know about the issue.
The owner of a 2021 Porsche 911 from Chino Hill in California states in an NHTSA complaint that “the seat back release on both seats is very hard to pull.” The complaint explains that the side strap broke loose on the driver’s side while the driver was trying to get out of the seat, but it wouldn’t release.
“This could be a safety danger in a crash when rear seat occupants would not be able to exit.”
The recall that affects 911 seats is even more serious. Issued on June 23, 2021, the recall states that 149 Porsche 911 sports cars may cause an Occupant Classification System (OCS) malfunction because the incorrect passenger seat was installed. An even greater problem is that this could affect the front passenger airbag, increasing the risk of injury.
Another seat-related recall is the result of a seat belt locking retractor malfunction. Issued on August 4, 2021, it warns that an unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury if the car crashes. Close to 5,000 2021 Porsche cars could have seat belt locking retractors that malfunction. Porsche Taycans are also affected.
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There are several consumer complaints on the Edmunds website about the 2020 Porsche 911. This is relevant, because the eighth generation 911 was launched in 2019, so it’s basically the same through 2021.
One that stands out states that the 2020 Porsche 911 is a “hunk of junk.” After only 4,000 miles, the Carrera two-door convertible was reportedly “falling apart,” with “constant problems” that Porsche wasn’t prepared to assist with.
An owner of a 2021 Porsche 911 from Florida complained to the NHTSA that there is a missing computer chip for proper steering. The complaint doesn’t provide any further details, but if you can’t steer a sports car properly, you could be in big trouble.
The first structure-related recall, issued on March 19, 2021, relates to suspension components that are not tightened properly. If these loose suspension components detach, the risk is that vehicle stability and control will suddenly be lost and the car could crash. Only 396 2021 cars are affected, mostly 911 variants, but also Taycans, Boxsters, and 718 Spyder vehicles.
The fourth recall only affects 11 2020-2021 Carrera 911 and Taycan vehicles. The recall warns that the pressure input rod on the brake booster could be loose. If it detaches, the brake pedal will fail, and there’s a good chance that the Porsche will crash.
If you think your 2021 Porsche 911 could be a lemon, Lemberg Law will assess your issues and advise you free of charge. We have helped many vehicle owners settle cases against manufacturers who commonly agree to settle, either by trading the vehicle in, buying it back, replacing it, or paying out cash.
All you need to do is call the Lemberg Law Helpline or fill out a contact form. It’s not going to cost you anything because the law says Porsche must pay the legal bills for lemon law cases.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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