Most common 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Porsche 911 Carrera complaints by model year
Best 911 Carrera years: 2012, 2017, 2020. Compare all years →
1999 Porsche 911 Carrera recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Incorrect programming of the electronic logic unit can cause an incorrect fuel level.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software in the instrument cluster so that the fuel level and the range of remaining fuel are determined and displayed correctly.
What 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera owners say
Air bags
There is a persistent problem with the air bag. Records (from previous owner) show that there were repairs to the wiring harness and seat buckle at 39,786 miles, again at 44,056 miles, and once again at 45,157 miles. Over the past two years (as the current owner), I have had the air bag light turned off twice by the dealer (at around 50,000 and 52,000 miles) but the light has reappeared after a period of operation. Although this is safety related item, Porsche says it is not obligated to make the repair since the car is out of warranty. Their dealer also stated (last year) that if I paid for such a repair (about $1000) and the problem reoccurred over time, I would still have to pay for the repair a second time. …
I own a 1999 Carrera cabriolet. The air bag light on the dash displays continuously and the front driver' s side lap belt does not engage. This problem was noted shortly after purchase. The dealer identified the problems and the parts were never obtained and the warranty repair never completed. The seat belt would intermittently work but now it is completely inoperable. This is apparently a relatively common occurrence according to the dealer. I believe that Porsche is not meeting federal safety requirements by its failure to provide safety equipment that is not defective and by its failure to repair such defects. The dealer estimate to get the seat belt and air bag functioning is $1200. My car presently has only 11,000 original miles. Not only was this defect not corrected under warranty, but it is hard to imagine that an auto with such few miles has malfunctioning safety equipment. …
Seat belts
I own a 1999 Carrera cabriolet. The air bag light on the dash displays continuously and the front driver' s side lap belt does not engage. This problem was noted shortly after purchase. The dealer identified the problems and the parts were never obtained and the warranty repair never completed. The seat belt would intermittently work but now it is completely inoperable. This is apparently a relatively common occurrence according to the dealer. I believe that Porsche is not meeting federal safety requirements by its failure to provide safety equipment that is not defective and by its failure to repair such defects. The dealer estimate to get the seat belt and air bag functioning is $1200. My car presently has only 11,000 original miles. Not only was this defect not corrected under warranty, but it is hard to imagine that an auto with such few miles has malfunctioning safety equipment. …
Air bag light stays on. My '1999 911 Carrera just had it's 30000 major service completed at stevinson Porsche in denver, co. The next day the airbag light came on and stays on. I made an appointment and was informed that the cost of repair would be "$250 and up". I have since read thru numerous forums that this is a "reported"/"common" issue involving the seat belt wiring system and that Porsche is aware of it, has a repair kit available, but that it is not their responsibility to provide the correction to this saftey issue. Has there been a "recall" issued for this problem?
1999 Porsche 911 Carrera engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 911 Carrera rates average: 2.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the 911 Carrera at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera?
The air bags — 7 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the seat belts (4) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera have?
There is 1 recall for the 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera, the most recent from April 10, 2000 (tank assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Porsche 911 Carrera?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2017 and 2020. See the full Porsche 911 Carrera years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 51,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.