NHTSA Complaint #10510189 — 2002 PORSCHE 911 TURBO

OVER TIME I NOTICED A COOLANT SMELL FROM THE CAR WHENEVER I WOULD DRIVE IT WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I THEN NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER THE ENGINE AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE COOLANT PIPE ON THE ENGINE WAS LOOSE AND COOLANT WAS BEGINNING TO DRIP FROM THE JUNCTION WHERE THE PIPE ATTACHES TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. AFTER SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THE COOLANT PIPES ARE GLUED INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND OVER TIME THERE IS A TENDENCY FOR THE GLUE TO DETERIORATE AND THE PIPES TO COME LOOSE IN TURN CAUSING A MAJOR COOLANT LEAK IN THE AREA OF THE ENGINE AND REAR TIRES. IF COOLANT WERE TO LEAK ONTO THE REAR TIRES, THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF TRACTION OF THE REAR TIRES LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ELECTED TO HAVE THE ENGINE REMOVED AND ALL 8 THE COOLANT PIPES PERMANENTLY WELDED INSTEAD OF GLUED AS THIS IS THE ONLY PERMANENT AND SAFE SOLUTION. I AM APPALLED THAT PORSCHE WOULD CHOOSE TO GLUE COOLANT FITTING ON THE ENGINE WHEN A FAILURE COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT. *TR