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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Porsche 9281978–1995

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🏎️ SPORTS
Porsche 928
1978–1995
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
0.0/yr · seg. median 1.3
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
12
Recalls
3
Complaints
—
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
18
Years Analyzed
12
Total Recalls
3
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Porsche 928 — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
199500——
82
39
67
Excellent
199400——
82
39
67
Excellent
199302——
57
39
51
Good
199200——
82
39
67
Excellent
199110——
57
39
51
Caution
199010——
57
39
51
Caution
198900——
82
39
67
Excellent
198800——
82
39
67
Excellent
198720——
57
39
51
Avoid
198610——
57
39
51
Caution
198520——
57
39
51
Avoid
198401——
72
39
60
Good
198300——
82
39
67
Excellent
198200——
82
39
67
Excellent
198110——
57
39
51
Caution
198010——
57
39
51
Caution
197910——
57
39
51
Caution
197820——
57
39
51
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Porsche 928 Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

POWER TRAIN
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the 928 compares — best year within each era shown.

Pre-2013

Older 928 models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution
1982 · 671983 · 671988 · 671989 · 671992 · 671994 · 671995 · 671984 · 60

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year 928 to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every 928 model year.

Which 928 years have the most problems?+

See the year-by-year problem table for a complete breakdown.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common 928 problems?+

The most frequently reported Porsche 928 issues involve: POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Porsche 928.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar sports vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every 928 year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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