NHTSA Complaint #10150266 — 1999 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA

PORSCHE HAS A FAULT WITH THEIR 911 AND BOXSTER AUTOMOBILES THAT CAUSES AN AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE CAUSE OF THIS IS WELL KNOWN BY PORSCHE AND HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH A PORSCHE TSB 911 (996) 1/04 6924 AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON: FAULT CODES 45, 46, 48 AND 49. THIS TSB OUTLINES THE PROBLEM AND GIVES THE PROCEDURE FOR CORRECTING IT. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT RELATES TO THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DETAILS OF MY SITUATION ARE BELOW. ON OR AROUND 12/15/2005, MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ON 12/20/2005, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (MIDWEST AUTO GROUP, DUBLIN, OHIO) FOR TROUBLESHOOTING AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT ERROR CODE 45 WAS PRESENT AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $800. I ASKED THEM TO REST THE LIGHT JUST TO SEE IF MAYBE THE LIGHT CAME ON BY A FLUKE. THEY CHARGED ME $55.00 TO RESET THE LIGHT AND I LEFT. THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITHIN 24 HOURS. I CALLED PORSCHE CUSTOMER CARE TO DISCUSS THIS AS I DID NOT WANT TO PAY $800 FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY COULD DO NOTHING. MY CAR IS A 1999 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA WITH 30,500 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAULT. THIS PLACES MY CAR OUT OF WARRANTY BY TIME EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL WITHIN THE MILEAGE OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT PORSCHE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A SAFETY RELATED SYSTEM ON A CART WITH THIS FEW MILES. I HAVE HAD MY ATTORNEY CONTACT PORSCHE REGARDING THIS, BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. I AM LEFT WITH NO RECOURSE BUT TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT WITH YOU IN HOPE OF A RESOLUTION. THE INFORMATION ON MY CAR AND CONTACT FOR PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA IS BELOW. THANKS AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THIS IS COMING. *JB