Most common 1999 Porsche 911 problems
Share of the 8 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Porsche 911 complaints by model year
Best 911 years: 2000, 2001. Compare all years →
1999 Porsche 911 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 owners say
Engine & cooling
I was driving on a 16 lane major highway in toronto in the express lanes at 70 MPH. Without warning the engine lost all power and stalled. The check engine light was flashing. It was difficult to stop safely since the power steering and power brakes were not functioning with the engine stopped. It would not restart and I was lucky to change lanes in heavy traffic and pull onto the hard shoulder of the road. I was stuck sitting in the express lanes by a guard rail until a tow truck came, which took an hour. After taking it to the Porsche dealer it was diagnosed as a ims bearing failure that required a new engine. I was also told this bearing is a common problem with the 1997 to 2008 water cooled 911 and boxster porsches with a 10 percent failure rate to date, and that they will all fail eventually. …
Was driving and massive amounts of antifreeze leaked out of the back onto the road and on my tires. Engine then started to smoke and overheat. Could have been very dangerous. Overflow reservoir cap was screwed on tightly so that was not the issue. I read that there were some issues with the 2001-07 Porsche 911. My engine was replaced in 2003 so perhaps it was retrofitted with the problem parts. It will be at the ray catena Porsche dealership in edison nj tomorrow for repairs.
Seat belts
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Porsche 911. Upon starting the vehicle, the SRS indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Porsche of arlington (3100 jefferson davis hwy, arlington, va 22202). The contact did not know the diagnosis results; however, the seat belts were replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the seat belts failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred once again. The vehicle was taken to Porsche of arlington where it was diagnosed that there was a sensor failure. The air bag module failed and needed to be replaced along with the seat belts in order to fully repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the failure was due to maintenance issues and they could not assist. …
Need kit to solve airbag problem. The air bag warning light had come on and did so each time the vehicle was in motion. The consumer was informed that the seat belts had come in contact with the wiring and a kit was needed to solve the problem. (vehicle model/ Porsche 996 c2)
1999 Porsche 911 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 a good car?
Based on 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 911 rates few complaints: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the 911 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?
The engine & cooling — 4 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system. Next are the seat belts (3) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 1999 Porsche 911 have?
There is 1 recall for the 1999 Porsche 911, 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000 and 2001. See the full Porsche 911 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Porsche 911 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 48,000 miles; 60% 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.