Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Porsche 911 Turbo year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model (naming may differ or it predates EPA records).
1 open NHTSA investigation into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo 2-DR w/SAB
NHTSA lists 1 recall for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: Ohlins USA, Inc (Ohlins) is recalling certain Front Struts, part number POS 5N20. These struts were sold as part of Ohlins strut kits part number POZ MN02, intended for installation on 1999-2005 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S (generation 996), and 2001-2006 Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S (generation 996) and kit part number POZ MN05, intended for installation on 2005-2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S (generation 997), and 2006-2013 Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S (generation 997). The pin of the strut may experience excessive stress during maximum steering, possibly resulting breakage of the pin.
Risk: If the pin fails, it will cause separation of the strut from the vehicle, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ohlins will notify owners, and dealers will request the return of all unsold kits containing the subject part from dealer/distributor inventory for a full refund. All owners who purchased one of the kits (POZ MN02 or POZ MN05) will receive replacement front struts (POS 5N20 or POS 5N21 - These parts are interchangeable), along with new top mount interface solutions, free of charge. The recall began December 22, 2020. Owners may contact Ohlins customer service at 1-800-336-9029.
Campaign 20E091000
The parts named most often across 6 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON CITY STREETS WHEN A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT I SHOULD CHECK MY ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL. I DROVE ON FOR A SHORT TIME (A FEW MINUTES) AND THEN PARKED BRIEFLY, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE (AGAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES) TO CONSIDER THE SITUATION AND TO CALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALERSHIP (WHICH WAS CLOSED SINCE IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY). AS I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR THERE. ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE WARNING MESSAGE CHANGED TO AN INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS TOO HIGH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND ARRANGED TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE OF A COOLANT PIPE THAT LED TO COOLANT LOSS, WHICH REQUIRES AN ESTIMATED $7,500 IN REPAIR WORK. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL, MAKE, AND YEAR OF MY CAR. AN NHTSA REPORT HAS BEEN FILED ABOUT THIS, WITH AN ACTION NUMBER OF PE13009 (OPENED ON APRIL 26, 2013). WHILE I WAS NOT DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED AND THERE WAS NO CRASH, FIRE, INJURY, OR FATALITY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS EVENT, THIS ISSUE POSES SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISKS GIVEN HOW QUICKLY THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE TEMPERATURE EXCEEDED SAFE OPERATING LIMITS. UNDER HIGHER VELOCITY CONDITIONS THE SITUATION COULD HAVE POSED SIGNIFICANT RISKS TO MY AND OTHERS' SAFETY. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION GIVEN THAT IT IS A RECOGNIZED AND ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR CAR AND THAT IT APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW. *TR
EPOXY HOLDING PIPE IN WATER PUMP HOUSING FAILED CAUSING PIPE TO SEPARATE, COOLANT TO DUMP ON REAR WHEELS AND BRAKES, AND LOSS OF TRACTION/DEGRADED REAR BRAKING. *TR
DUE TO HIGHLIGHTED PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM (NAMELY THE FITTINGS POPPING OFF) ON THE 2005 PORSCHE 911 GT3 IN VARIOUS FORUMS AND WEB SITES. I HAVE DECIDED TO PERFORM PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND TO ALLEVIATE SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM (FITTING AND HOSES) TO WELD THE COOLANT CUPLINGS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON A SATURDAY NIGHT ON INTERSTATE 79 NORTHBOUND AT APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 3 BETWEEN MINK SHOALS AND ELKVIEW, WV. I HAD JUST PICKED UP A PIZZA AND I WAS HEADED HOME A FEW MILES FROM MY HOUSE. I WAS GOING UPHILL WHEN I HEARD A POP AND SAW A HUGE PLUME OF STEAM SHOOT OUT FROM BEHIND MY CAR. I THEN TAPPED THE BRAKES AND THE REAR RIGHT TIRE GOT A LITTLE LOOSE AS IT HAD ANTIFREEZE COOLANT SPRAYING DIRECTLY ON IT. I MANAGED TO GET MY CAR HOME AS IT WAS QUICKLY STARTING TO GET HOT AND CLOSE TO OVERHEATING AS THERE WAS NO COOLANT LEFT. I GOOGLED "PORSCHE 911 COOLANT LINE FAILURE" AND QUICKLY LEARNED THAT MY ISSUE HAD HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS.I LEARNED THAT FROM THE FACTORY PORSCHE GLUES/EPOXIES THE COOLANT FITTINGS INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND OVER TIME AND MANY HEAT CYCLES LATER THE GLUE/EPOXY FAILS AND THE COOLANT SPRAYS EVERYWHERE AND MANY TIMES DIRECTLY ON THE REAR TIRES. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AND ANYONE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. I PERFORMED A QUICK FIX ON MY CAR AND PINNED THE FITTING BACK INTO THE BLOCK. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE DROPPED AND EACH OF THE 6 COOLANT LINES NEEDED TO BE WELDED TOGETHER TO TRULY PREVENT THIS FROM BEING A HAZARD. I PAID SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE THE ENGINE DROPPED AND FIXED LIKE PORSCHE SHOULD HAVE DONE FROM THE FACTORY. THEY SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AND OFFERED TO FIX THE FAILED COOLANT LINES UNDER A RECALL BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE. PORSCHE CLAIMS NO FAULT OF THEIRS. MANY PERFORMANCE DRIVING EVENTS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AND WON'T LET YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR AT THEIR EVENT UNLESS THE ISSUE HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADDRESSED BY DROPPING THE ENGINE. WHEN YOU SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON A CAR OR ANY MONEY FOR THAT MANNER YOU EXPECT THE CAR MANUFACTURE TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS A HIGH PRIORITY. *TR
COOLANT PIPE FAILURE AT GLUED FITTINGS WITHIN ENGINE. *TR
PORSCHE 911 TURBO 2005, CATASTROPHIC COOLANT LOSS/FAILURE. CATASTROPHIC COOLANT FAILURE OF A WATER CONNECTION TO THE ENGINE. FAILURE OF ADHESIVE BOND. COOLANT SPRAYED ON REAR TIRES, AND LOSS OF TRACTION. *TR