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Porsche 911 Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Every Porsche 911 model year (1965–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

62
Years Tracked
83
Total Recalls
2
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Porsche 911 Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2020

4 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 12

#2 WORST
2021

4 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 12

#3 WORST
1989

3 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 9

Best Porsche 911 Years to Buy

#1 BEST
1987

0 recalls · 2 complaints

Main area: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Problem score: 2

#2 BEST
1966

1 recall · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 3

#3 BEST
1967

1 recall · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 3

Found the right year? Verify that specific 911 with a free VIN report.

Porsche 911 — Year-by-Year Problem Report

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsProblem ScoreVerdict
202600——
0
Excellent
202520——
6
Caution
202410——
3
Good
202330——
9
Avoid
202220——
6
Caution
202140——
12
Avoid
202040——
12
Avoid
201920——
6
Caution
201820——
6
Caution
201730——
9
Avoid
201620——
6
Caution
201510——
3
Good
201420——
6
Caution
201320——
6
Caution
201220——
6
Caution
201110——
3
Good
201010——
3
Good
200910——
3
Good
200810——
3
Good
200710——
3
Good
200620——
6
Caution
200520——
6
Caution
200410——
3
Good
200330——
9
Avoid
200230——
9
Avoid
200120——
6
Caution
200020——
6
Caution
199920——
6
Caution
199820——
6
Caution
199720——
6
Caution
199610——
3
Good
199510——
3
Good
199400——
0
Excellent
199300——
0
Excellent
199210——
3
Good
199110——
3
Good
199020——
6
Caution
198930——
9
Avoid
198800——
0
Excellent
198702——
2
Good
198600——
0
Excellent
198500——
0
Excellent
198400——
0
Excellent
198300——
0
Excellent
198200——
0
Excellent
198100——
0
Excellent
198000——
0
Excellent
197910——
3
Good
197810——
3
Good
197720——
6
Caution
197620——
6
Caution
197510——
3
Good
197420——
6
Caution
197310——
3
Good
197220——
6
Caution
197100——
0
Excellent
197000——
0
Excellent
196920——
6
Caution
196800——
0
Excellent
196710——
3
Good
196610——
3
Good
196500——
0
Excellent

All 62 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Porsche 911 Shopping Guide by Era

2018–Present

Best: 2026

Recent 911 models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 0 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.

2013–2017

Best: 2015

Mid-decade 911 units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2015 shows the lowest problem count for this era.

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older 911 models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year 911 should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2020 Porsche 911 if possible. It has 4 recalls, 0 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 12 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year 911 to buy?+

The 1987 Porsche 911 is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 2. It has only 0 recalls and 2 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which 911 has the fewest problems?+

The 1987, 1966, 1967 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Porsche 911 Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Porsche 911.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Porsche 911.

Check a Specific Porsche 911 VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →