Most common 2002 Porsche 911 problems
Share of the 9 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 →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Porsche 911:
Rapid coolant loss
On April 26, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE13-009 to investigate 10 complaints alleging incidents of sudden coolant loss while traveling on public roadways in certain model year (MY) 2001 through 2007 Porsche 911 vehicles.The complaints alleged that pipe ends joined by epoxy to certain cooling system components may fail suddenly and separate, resulting in large volumes of coolant…
What 2002 Porsche 911 owners say
Engine & cooling
Aluminum coolant tubes which apparently are glued together via the OEM factory become old and brittle and blow apart. Coolant is then pouring out of the engine at a high rate into the city street. In my case, I was sitting at a red traffic light when the coolant pipe burst/separated. In order to fix/repair the issue, the engine must be removed from the vehicle and the 8 coolant tubes must be welded and/or drilled and pinned to keep the issue from happening again
I own a 2002 911 carrera turbo, which has a well-know and documented design defect in the engine (gt1 motor). It is know as the coolant-pipe failure issue. While my car has not yet suffered a failure, there is a reasonable probability that the coolant pipes May fail during regular use, causing a substantial likelihood of property damage and personal injury to myself and others utilizing the public right-of-way. It is a clear safety issue that must be addressed by way of recall and repair. There is a known solution to the problem. Here is a hyperlink to one of the sources of information for this issue. Http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/997-gt2-gt3-forum/613440-gt1-coolant-pipe-prevention-fix-on-2011-gt3rs-shark-werks.html the manufacturer should be required by the NHTSA to recall and repair all vehicles with this known defect. …
2002 Porsche 911 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 21 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Porsche 911 a good car?
Based on 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 911 rates few complaints: about 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 2002 Porsche 911?
The engine & cooling — 7 complaints, 78% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (2) and air bags (1).
How many recalls does the 2002 Porsche 911 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Porsche 911. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2002 Porsche 911 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 52,000 miles; 43% 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.