NHTSA Complaint #10559755 — 2004 PORSCHE 911 GT3

WENT TO STREETS OF WILLOW DRIVING EVENT. DURING 3RD RUN SESSION I NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM BEHIND AS I WAS TAKING A 180 DEGREE TURN. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR WHEN IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. STEAM KEPT BILLOWING AND THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE LOST ALL IT'S COOLANT IN A FEW SECONDS. 5(!) CARS BEHIND ME ALL SPUN IN THE 180 DEGREE TURN BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. FORTUNATELY NONE OF THEM CRASHED. AFTER EXAMINATION IT TURNS OUT ONE OF THE COOLANT FITTINGS THAT PORSCHE GLUED INTO THE MOTOR BLOCK WITH EPOXY HAD POPPED OUT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THESE GT ENGINES. NOT ONLY IS THIS DANGEROUS (EVERY GT2/3 ON THE ROAD IS A TICKING TIME BOMB, STREET OR TRACK) BUT IT IS ALSO COSTLY TO HAVE IT FIXED PROPERLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A SHOP THAT IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT. THE SOLUTION IS TO WELD THESE FITTINGS INTO THE MOTOR BLOCK. THERE ARE 8 OF THEM AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO COME OUT OF THE CAR, THE FITTINGS ALL REMOVED AND CLEANED FROM THE EPOXY BEFORE THEY CAN BE CAREFULLY WELDED BACK INTO PLACE AGAIN. IT IS THE ONLY VALID FIX. I HAVE A RECEIPT SHOWING $2750 TO HAVE THIS DONE. I FEEL THIS WAS MY ONLY COURSE OF ACTION TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN AND I THINK PORSCHE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THERE IS A PROBLEM THERE AND REIMBURSE OWNERS THAT HAD THIS DONE AND OFFER IT UNDER A RECALL TO OWNERS THAT STILL NEED TO GET THIS DONE. *TR