Used Car Expert Fault Guides tell you the common Porsche 911 faults and wear items that can become problems and big bills for their owner.
Independent research indicated that using our fault guides to check a car before you buy it can save you an average of £300 in surprise bills and hidden problems.
That's because our Porsche 911 fault guides are written so that anyone can understand them – even if you know nothing about cars and have no tools. For every common fault, we tell you what to look for, what it means and what it costs.
Select your Porsche 911 fault guide:
Porsche 911 (1993 - 1996) Fault Guide
Porsche 911 (1997 - 2005) Fault Guide
Porsche 911 (2005 - Present) Fault Guide
Porsche 911 (1993 - 1996) Fault Guide
We know of 20 PORSCHE 911 (1993 - 1996) faults which our fault check guide makes it easy for you to spot and avoid.
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3 engine faults
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2 suspension wear items or faults
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4 interior problems
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1 bodywork issues
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10 recalls
Here's an example fault on the PORSCHE 911 (1993 - 1996)
What to look for:
The 1989 - 1990 (964) 911 is more prone to oil leaks than the 1993 - 1994 (993) 911. Look at the rear bumper to see if there is a thin film of oil building up there. Open the engine cover (rear of car) and use a torch to look down at the under tray. There is sponge on the tray that absorbs oil from leaks. Does it look saturated with oil?
What it means:
The 911 can have many small leaks from a range of places. The cost can vary from £50 - £5,000.
What to do
If you suspect an oil leak have a specialist inspect the car.
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Porsche 911 (1997 - 2005) Fault Guide
We know of 15 PORSCHE 911 (1997 - 2005) faults which our fault check guide makes it easy for you to spot and avoid.
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2 engine faults
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1 suspension wear items or faults
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1 interior problems
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1 bodywork issues
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10 recalls
Here's an example fault on the PORSCHE 911 (1997 - 2005)
What to look for:
Start the engine from cold. Listen to the engine for a noisy chain rattle. This should quieten down after a few minutes.
What it means:
If the chain doesn't quieten down quickly it is likely to fail and cause significant valve and engine damage. This has happened on mileages between 20,000 and 80,000.
What to do
Have the car inspected by a specialist. If caught before it breaks it can be repaired for £1,500.
Register to have full access to the PORSCHE 911 (1997 - 2005) fault guide.
Registered users also get access to our regional price guides, cars for sale email alerts, and many other benefits to help you buy a safe, reliable used car at a great price.
Porsche 911 (2005 - Present) Fault Guide
We know of 23 PORSCHE 911 (2005 - Present) faults which our fault check guide makes it easy for you to spot and avoid.
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3 engine faults
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5 suspension wear items or faults
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4 interior problems
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1 bodywork issues
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10 recalls
Here's an example fault on the PORSCHE 911 (2005 - Present)
What to look for:
With the engine cold, and where safe, look under the engine of the car. Toward the front of the engine, just behind the sump plate, is the Rear Main Seal (RMS) which is the seal between the engine and the gearbox. This seal can fail, a known and common problem on later variants of the 911. Check the service history to see if this has already been repaired. Even if it has, there is still a chance it will break again.
What it means:
If this seal is leaking it will need to be replaced.
What to do
If the car is under warranty (2 years) then Porsche may replace it for free. Otherwise try to negotiate at discount of £1200 off of the price of the vehicle.
Register to have full access to the PORSCHE 911 (2005 - Present) fault guide.
Registered users also get access to our regional price guides, cars for sale email alerts, and many other benefits to help you buy a safe, reliable used car at a great price.