WP0CA2995XS6540281999 PORSCHE 911Cabrio
1999 PORSCHE 911 was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There is 1 open recall on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 8 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
Executive Summary
1999 PORSCHE 911
1999 PORSCHE 911 was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There is 1 open recall on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 8 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
- 1 open recall — verify these have been repaired before purchase
8 owner complaints filed — top areas: Engine/Powertrain (38%), Safety Systems (25%), Electrical (25%).
Title Brand Check
Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle Specifications
Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- PORSCHE
- Model
- 911
- Year
- 1999
- Trim / Series
- Cabrio
- Body Style
- Convertible/Cabriolet
- Vehicle Type
- PASSENGER CAR
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline
- Engine
- 6-cyl 3.4L 296 hp
- Doors
- 2
- Manufacturer
- DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AG
- Assembly
- STUTTGART-ZUFFENHAUSEN, GERMANY
- GVWR
- Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Assembly Plant Quality
Plant: STUTTGART-ZUFFENHAUSEN, GERMANY
No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.
Safety Intelligence
Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
- ▸Fuel system recall
- ▸1 fuel system recall(s) — potential ignition risk
- ⚠Safety system appears in both official recalls and owner complaints
Lemon law eligibility depends on state law, number of repair attempts, and days out of service. Consult an attorney for actual eligibility.
Deferred Failure Risk
Components and defects approaching or past their known service milestones
Worn chain tensioners cause timing chain skip or snap — common on GM 5.3L/6.2L, Ford EcoBoost, VW/Audi EA888, BMW N47/N63. Listen for cold-start rattles.
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
Dirty or failing injectors cause rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and increased emissions. Cleaning costs $100–$200; replacement $800–$1,600.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
1 RECALLNHTSA VIN-specific recall lookup returned no data for this VIN. The 1 recall below are model-wide and may or may not apply to this exact vehicle depending on production date. Verify at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Average repair completion across 1 recall is ~69%. Always ask the seller for dealer service records confirming each repair.
Statistical model based on recall age, component type, and manufacturer. Not a repair confirmation. Demand dealer service records.
PORSCHE completes recalls at a fair rate (84%). If this vehicle has open recalls, follow up with a dealer — average remedy time is ~22 months.
Avg time to remedy open recall: ~22 months · Source: NHTSA Recall Completion Rate Reports
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
SummaryVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INCORRECT PROGRAMMING OF THE ELECTRONIC LOGIC UNIT CAN CAUSE AN INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL.Read full details...
~31% chance this recall was never fixed
Moderate RiskSource: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type
Recall Intelligence
Detailed analysis of recall history and severity
⚠ One or more recalls have been open for over 5 years — may never have been repaired on this vehicle.
Recall Remedy Effectiveness — Complaints Continue After Fix
RECALL DIDN'T FIX ITOwner complaints filed AFTER recall remedies were issued for the same components
100% of complaints about "FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY" were filed AFTER recall campaign 00V109000 (2000-10-04) — the recall remedy may not have fully resolved the issue.
Continuing complaints after a recall may indicate an inadequate fix, a new failure mode, or that many vehicles never had the recall performed. Verify recall completion status directly with NHTSA.
Manufacturer Recall Response Time
Time between first owner complaint and recall issuance
20 months elapsed between first complaint and recall issuance — a significant delay in consumer protection.
Complaint Intelligence
8 complaints analyzed across 4 system categories
Owner Complaints
HIGH VOLUME8 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
ENGINE HAS SEIZED DUE TO INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING FAILUE (IMS BEARING FAILURE), THE ENGINE IS A 3.4 LITER FLAT 6 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH ONLY 95,500 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN OF AN ISSUE. TURNED OFF CAR WHEN I GOT HOME THEN WHEN I TURNED IT ON THE NAEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO CRANK. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP TO GET IT TESTED AND WAS TOLD I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF $13,000 BECAUSE OF AN IMS BEARING FAILURE.
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. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
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. *TR
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. THE DEALER ALSO SAID THERE IS A 3RD PARTY RETROFIT KIT THAT THE PORSCHE DEALERS ARE AWARE OF BUT DON'T USE BECAUSE IT WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, SO PORSCHE TURNED A BLIND EYE AND LET THE ENGINES FAIL. PORSCHE HAS MODIFIED THE BEARING DESIGN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ABANDONING THE DESIGN IN THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. ALL THESE MODELS ARE UNSAFE WHEN THEY WILL FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE AND PUT DRIVERS IN HARMS WAY. *TR
CONSUMER STATES: VEHICLE DOORS UNLOCK AND WINDOWS ROLL DOWN AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED. THE VEHICLE DOES THIS WHETHER KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. DEALER INSTALLED NEW DRIVERS DOOR KEY SWITCH ASSEMBLY AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. *TT
NEED KIT TO SOLVE AIRBAG PROBLEM. *BF 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) *SC
REAR SEAT BELTS CAUSES OCCUPANTS TO BE TRAPPED. THEY CAN NOT ESCAPE OR BE RESCUED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.*TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761712
ENGINE HEAT SENSOR FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK FROM VEHICLE. YH
Complaint & Reliability Timeline
Annual complaints (blue) vs. composite reliability score (amber) — recall years marked in red
The blue line shows 8 NHTSA complaints on file for the PORSCHE 911 — a relatively low volume that spans from 1999 to 2019.
The amber reliability line averaged 100/100 across the vehicle's life — relatively stable, with the lowest point of 99/100 in 1999.
The recall (red dashed line) followed the first complaints by 1 year — a typical response window; neither unusually fast nor a pattern of denial.
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Known class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $46,614 (~$777/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Negotiation Ammunition
Use these data-backed findings to negotiate the price down
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 1999 PORSCHE 911 — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
Recall Probability Forecast
Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.
Maintenance Schedule
OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
Auction History
Public sale records from Copart, IAAI, and auction aggregators
Searching Public Auction Records
Checking Copart, IAAI, BidFax, and other sources for WP0CA2995XS654028. Results appear automatically when found.
Insurance Cost Estimate
Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
State-Specific Legal Protections
What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data Table
All decoded fields in a single flattened view
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | WP0CA2995XS654028 |
| Model Year | 1999 |
| Make | PORSCHE |
| Model | 911 |
| Trim | Cabrio |
| Series | Carrera |
| Vehicle Type | PASSENGER CAR |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Convertible/Cabriolet |
| Doors | 2 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
Engine
| Engine Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.4 |
| Horsepower | 296 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AG |
| Assembly City | STUTTGART-ZUFFENHAUSEN |
| Assembly Country | GERMANY |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | WP0 |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 5 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | X |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | S |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 654028 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 1 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 8 |
VIN Structure Decode
ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 6/19/2026, 12:12:15 PM.