61 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHActual 996 engine failure statistics? (Searched)
Reported or suspected cause
anyone
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause
The problem is anyone with the problem will respond, the ones without may.
Leading evidence: 'anyone' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'anyone' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check alert 3 days ago' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I haven't had it above 4,200 rpms, use the throttle relatively sparingly, changed the oil after the first 800 miles, and I gotta say, it's cramping my driving style.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I had a transmission replaced under warranty and there was no disclosure statement involved in that.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Just had my engine replaced under CPO 2 weeks ago.
famous 'cause everybody would be horrified about it
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suspected cause
This issue is famous 'cause everybody would be horrified about it.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I haven't had it above 4,200 rpms, use the throttle relatively sparingly, changed the oil after the first 800 miles, and I gotta say, it's cramping my driving style.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I know that driving a car with more than 100,000 miles on the clock is running a risk for a lot of things, but I still can't find anything that I could get for the equivalent price that gives as much driving pleasure.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I do know that when Porsche's design engineers are discussing the new 2008 engine and are directly asked if the engine addresses "all the problems" found in the 3.4L and 3.6L, they do not deny that problems existed (they don't discuss the problems either), they simply state "it has been addressed." Now if I was an engineer and someone said my product had a bunch of problems, when it in fact did not, I would set the record straight.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
61 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T161109Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Passively searching for another P-car and considering the 996...
Although there are plenty of threads discussing the reliability of both the 3.4L and the 3.6L, I don't seem to be able to find (anywhere) any sort of concrete numbers for actual failures.
Through all the discussion, the impression is given that they all pop. Since negative experiences have a habit of being posted with far more frequency than positive experiences, I'm operating under the impression that the stigma surrounding the engines is more based in unsubstantiated, qualitative opinion than actual, quantitative fact.
Looking to verify that...
Anyone have a source keeping track of this?
Thanks.
This has been debated several times on this board. As far as I know, no one outside of Porsche has any statistics and most of the stats thrown about have been largely anecdotal. Unfortunately, I don't think you're going to find what you're looking for.
I would start a poll of 996 owners asking them to share their blown engines experiences, that's always a winner.
Good luck whatever you choose, try Adrian's book for comfort, or search the Internet if you want to worry.
"They all pop." This has been the subject of several letter to Pano. They have no answer and refer to PCNA, which of course is tight lipped about it. Polls, surveys, etc. are naturally biased to reflect to opinions and experiences of the minority of owners that respond to them.
Dell, old matey!
It's like laying out a honey trap - posting about engine failures - Dell will be drawn to the post even though he doesn't want to be
Still, at least no-one has tried any homebrew stats analysis yet for us to mull over....
Its not my intention to start a **** storm at all - honestly.
While this topic is discussed to death on just about every 996 board on the internet - discussion is not what I'm asking for.
What I *am* asking for is whether or not concrete statistics exist. The answer appears to be 'no.'
Thanks.
The answer is, most definitively, "no". The only repository of information worth considering is the one that theoretically would be maintained by Stuttgart. This of course could not account for every failure either (as many dealers weren't and aren't universally connected on the service side, secondary market dealers likely wouldn't report the failure to Porsche, etc), but would be the only authoritative data, assuming they even hold onto it.
The most valid response, in my most humble opinion, is a powertrain warranty, either CPO or 3rd party, or the equivalent reserve/investment strategy.
If it's any comfort, I have yet to meet a person in real life who had their 996 motor blow up, but have spoken to dozens on the internet who experienced catastrophic failures. But nearly everyone I know, in real life and online, has done a coolant tank!
One way to determine the reliability or lack of it would be a comparison of the third-party warranty rates for Porsche vs. other similar( I know there's nothing like a Porsche!) cars. Say, like Corvette, Mercedes sports-cars, Audi etc. If there is really an extrordinary failure rate of engines, the most expensive warranty repair, it should be reflected in extended warranty rates.
I think it's the "(searched)" in your original post.
Just about every engine thread has the statistics argument somewhere in it.
It's better to start with a thread about 19" wheels and then somewhere in the middle get into the engine blowing stuff.
Having lusted after a Porsche for most of my life I bought an '04 40th anniversary last August. The car had no sign of abuse and less that 11,000 miles on the clock. Five months later while sitting at idle the intermeadiate shaft failed, requiring a complete engine tear-down to repair. Of course I did a lot of reading on forums about this subject. I note there have been many threads on this subject, for good reason. Porsche does not make to stats available for what I suspect is also a good reason. I invite those interested to go to BMW and Corvette forums and search "engine failure", "engine replacement", etc. You won't find much.
While I love my car, I am a bit uneasy about the engine issue, and will be more so when my CPO expires. Simply put, no other cars seem to have an issue so serious and long standing. To date I am unaware if Porsche has identified and resolved this problem, offering instead only the assurance that the latest iteration of "improvements" is better.
No doubt this post will be followed by some complaining once again about this being raised.
It keeps coming up because these engines keep failing!
With so many failures Porsche owes an explanation.
Holy crap now you've got me scared! Your '04 engine went? I just replaced my '99 996 engine and I had assumed these issues were fixed years ago. But '04 is uncomfortably close to '08!
Only Porsche has the most accurate statistics, which they refuse to divulge. I've spent countless hours, days, weeks, on many many different car forums and I have to agree with some on this forum, I've never come across another brand or specific engine with so much discussion about low mileage engine failures on properly maintained cars. Is it scientific? No. But when the company that holds all the science refuses to discuss the subject, what are you left with? Porsche has the ability to set the record straight and they don't do it. That speaks for itself. Clearly these engines fail at a rate which is unacceptable for any manufacturer, and downright criminal when you're taking about a $65,000+ (new) high performance sports car.
I do know that when Porsche's design engineers are discussing the new 2008 engine and are directly asked if the engine addresses "all the problems" found in the 3.4L and 3.6L, they do not deny that problems existed (they don't discuss the problems either), they simply state "it has been addressed." Now if I was an engineer and someone said my product had a bunch of problems, when it in fact did not, I would set the record straight. A German engineer would always set the record straight. So in my opinion, the engine has problems. Having said that, I own a 1999 996 and I like it!
they way i tried to resolve the % failure was by looking at what Porsche did to change the engine design. we know that the turbo 996 didn't have the issue so at a minimum they could have moved that engineering to the normally apirated 996. they could have also do some other re-design ealier then the intro of the 997.
the fact that they really did none of these suggested to me that the failure rate was low enough that the warranty costs of engine replacements was cheaper than the re-design options. basically, i concluded that a bean counter told the engineers to go work on something else that had a better ROI.
this doesn't get you your % stugggart, but it does put it in some context imo.
That's absolutely the reason for the reaction this thread received. I think we're a perfectly welcoming group that's overwhelmingly tired of people claiming to have searched about all the blowed-up engines...and this is coming from someone that had a blowed-up engine.
My year 2000 996 has 57,000 miles and keeps on ticking flawlessly....running like a bat out of hell......my 1985 went 250,000 miles before an engine rebuild.....
Pop in next time you're in San Diego.
I'll introduce you to my wife (99 986 with a new engine)
My Buddy Gregg (98 986 with new engine)
My buddy Mark (had an 01 - sold after engine failed)
And of course myself (97 986 sold after engine failed)
I'll pick you up in my 03 996 (still on engine #1)
Thanks for sparing us the lecture oh wise one.
We are not worthy.
For the past year I have been wearing ear plugs while driving my 996 so that the coming explosion does not damage my hearing. LOL
HAHA You haven�t seen anything. If the other know-it-all professor and Ben were still here you would be receiving far more s**t than this.
Good luck to you.
Would love to get to SD again sometime!
My unofficial stats (apologies to Dell) are that in 3 years of hosting a weekly Saturday morning rennlist GTG here in Toronto, I've never met anyone who's had an engine grenade on a 3.6 or a 3.4. Probably a couple of hundred p-cars have come through the GTG's over the years.
In our spanish forum
www.soloporsche.com
there are some engine failures in the last weeks. This issue is famous 'cause everybody would be horrified about it.
And there is always someone who wants to know the real stadistics. Me too, but It's impossible.
I'm terrified
My car showed the oil pressure check alert 3 days ago.
I was in second gear at 2000 rpm, and I passed through a great pothole. Suddenly the oil check alerted me , and the oil pressure gauge fall down to zero.
I swichted off the car and sent to my specialist and confident mechanic.
He was on Portugal for a hollyday and till september 4th, will not come back. So I don't know what would happen to my loved p-car yet.
let's hope everything turns out all right! I am dreaming about it'd be the oil pressure sensor... if not, you know what we are talking about
The car has only 26.600 kms
Mine is a '99 with 68K, orig engine. I've been in several Porsche specialist repair/build shops and mentioned the engine failures, and they have all said they don't really see/hear much at all. It can happen, I sweated it before buying mine in Jan 08, but read a thread on here that basically said "these cars are too good, to not be able to enjoy one, because of that possiblilty". I fully agree, and they are priced RIGHT- lots of bargains, fantastic cars. If I have to replace the engine, I still won't be out that much...... it's worth it.
I directly asked my service manager how many engines he has had to replace and he told me he averages about 2 a year. While that may be 2 too many, it makes me feel a bit safer. I asked the question when I was there having my ignition switch fixed and on that one he sayes he does about 10 of those a month.
While I have no doubt that engines do fail, I think the risk remains low and within the limits you would expect of a car that gets driven a lot harder than your average car. I know that driving a car with more than 100,000 miles on the clock is running a risk for a lot of things, but I still can't find anything that I could get for the equivalent price that gives as much driving pleasure.
You are assuming that your service manager is free to speak on the subject - which he isn't.
Porsche ask owners to sign Non Disclosure paperwork when they have an engine replacement, so you might imagine that dealership personnel are under even tighter control as to what they can publicly discuss.
I tend to doubt that. I have a good relationship with this service manager and he has always been upfront and honest about these sorts of things. If he was under a gag rule he would have probably said he couldn't say or said none.
While I don't doubt that Porsche itself would never publish these kinds of statistics, I doubt if they would or could control what an individual service manager or mechanic or anyone else working at an independently owned dealership says. And if they did try that, I think someone would have reported the gag order on this web site. There are just too many people involved to keep that kind of a thing secret.
I had a transmission replaced under warranty and there was no disclosure statement involved in that. Are you sure every engine replacement under warranty requires a non-disclosure statement?
Well, I have good news
My mechanic told me that the oil pressure sensor was "the guilty"
He ordered a new one to Porsche dealer, and that's all.
I was very worried about this, but I can see that God listened to my prayers
GT3 series have the "GT1" block engine with dry sump. It's a very high reliable engine. 996 TT aslo gets the Gt1 block, but GT3 series have a Porsche procedure to clean up the engine if coolant mixes to oil, to avoid change the engine.
It's one of the best engine made by Porsche, and nothing closer to 996 Carrera series provided with wet sump
Just had my engine replaced under CPO 2 weeks ago. Failed intermediate shaft. Non-Disclosure paperwork??? No. If they once did this, they do it no longer.... perhaps just an urban myth.
Anyone else (first-hand) signed an NDA for an engine?
Are you asking for people who have signed a non disclosure agreeemnt to
disclose
that they've signed a non disclosure agreement? Sort of a "Catch 22"...
Touche - technically. I'm sure the NDA, if it exists, stipulates not disclosing the specifics. However, having a rennlist member simply state that they signed an NDA probably won't unleash the legal hounds at PCNA to hunt someone down....
Of course, I make no warranties as to this, explicit or implied, yada yada yada -
I know that IF I were to have signed one, I wouldn't lose any sleep posting a reply - but feel free to PM me if you want to conduct a "secret anonymous survey!"
2 points...
GT1 based motors will take more abuse and are more reliable short term, but they wear faster and need to be rebuilt sooner than the M96 engines.
My 03 M96 X51 has over 500 race/de hours on it with no problems at all. That is at least 4 rebuilds on a cup motor.
Okay, you got me. I signed an agreement that there wasn't an agreement that I didn't have my engine replaced, and it wasn't PCNA who authorized and paid the bill. Uh-oh, too many double negatives there... all I know is I was only $900 out of pocket with a new clutch, new coolant tank & coolant, and new brake fluid.
Regardless - I'm driving around nursing my car through break-in - and it's killing me. I haven't had it above 4,200 rpms, use the throttle relatively sparingly, changed the oil after the first 800 miles, and I gotta say, it's cramping my driving style. One thing I've learned and respected is that it takes a good 10 minutes - sometimes 20 just to get the oil temp up. On the bright side, all this attention to limits makes it feel like I just got a brand new car.
Once I'm into the 1,500 mile range, I'll start to loosen up and push it a bit more, maybe 5.5k rpms... I also need to have a bit of the oil drained as it's just above the top line on the dipstick - probably not a good thing.
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