NHTSA Complaint #10532180 — 2004 PORSCHE 911 TURBO

SUMMARY: FAILURE OF COOLANT HOSES DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE FLUSHING OF ALL COOLANT ONTO ROAD SURFACE AND INTO ENGINE BAY. IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUTDOWN REQUIRED TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. OBSERVED RISKS INCLUDE: PANIC SITUATION TO OPERATOR AND PASSENGERS OF VEHICLE; CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING AND CONSEQUENT ACCIDENT THREAT; LOSS OF TRACTION TO VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENT TRAFFIC DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF COOLANT ON ROAD SURFACE; VAPOR TRAIL LIMITING VISIBILITY OF SUBSEQUENT TRAFFIC; ROADSIDE ACCIDENT HAZARD AFFECTING VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENT TRAFFIC. DETAILS: SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013, ~7:15PM ET, NASSAU COUNTY NY - WESTBOUND ON STATE ROUTE 24 - HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE. DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH IN 3RD GEAR, VEHICLE OPERATOR NOTICED A THICK CLOUD OF VAPOR EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OPERATOR BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WHEREUPON THE ODOR OF BURNING COOLANT WAS DETECTED. HAVING BEEN FAMILIARIZED WITH REPORTS OF LIKE VEHICLES BEING AFFLICTED WITH THESE SYMPTOMS, OPERATOR IMMEDIATELY PLACED VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND BACKED VEHICLE OFF OF ROUTE 24 AND ONTO A SIDE STREET, AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE BY REMOVING THE KEY. OPERATOR OBSERVED THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 75 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND THE VEHICLE'S REPORTED (REMAINING) COOLANT TEMPERATURE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 190 DEGREES CENTIGRADE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. ALL OTHER VEHICLE SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND ITS ENGINE, INTAKE, AND COOLING SYSTEMS ARE UNMODIFIED, FACTORY SPECIFICATION. OPERATOR HAS PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF THE EVENT AND WILL PROVIDE TO NHTSA AND RELATED PARTIES UPON LAWFUL REQUEST. *TR