NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints for the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4. Most complaints involve exterior lighting (1) and electrical system (1). The EPA rates it 21 mpg combined.
Porsche is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 vehicles manufactured from March 7, 2012, through November 12, 2012, and equipped with a standard (not sport) exhaust system. The exhaust tail pipe may fracture and separate from the rear muffler.
PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 911 SPEEDSTER AND 911 GTS RS 4.0; AND MODEL YEAR 2012 BOXSTER (INCLUDING S AND SPYDER); CAYMAN (INCLUDING S AND R); 911 CARRERA (INCLUDING S, GTS, 4, 4S, AND 4 GTS); 911 TARGA 4 AND TARGA 4S; AND 911 TURBO AND TURBO S MODELS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 31, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 10, 2011. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE MOUNTING HOLES IN THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATES FITTED TO THE VEHICLE ARE TOO SMALL. IF THE HOLE DIAMETER IS TOO SMALL, THE ANCHOR PLATE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ROTATE ABOUT THE FASTENING BOLT AS DESIGNED.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“Tail light fall off the car while driving, catching it dangling from the car holding by only one wire. Upon inspection, they came off due to a broken plastic lug that was holding the taillights together. It appears that Porsche changed the taillight mounting design in the 991 after the 2013 model year, adding a metal piece to keep it together even after the plastic cracks, melts, or fails. Mine is 2012 so it will cost us a fortune for get it fixed, for something it was clearly a design failure from the beginning.”
“1. Door panel Issue. I have a 2012 911, and have noticed last year that the door panels have popped up on both sides, it looks like the glue has given way. It seems that this is a common issue for Porsche 911. 2. Keyless Entry Issue. I was not able to lock my car by pressing by the door handle's button. I was able to unlock the car. I then tried on the passenger's side and was able to lock it. It's been going on for months, and every time it occurs I will have to spend minutes to get into the car.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 911 Carrera 4 Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| 911 Carrera 4 Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| 911 Carrera 4 Targa Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| 911 Carrera 4 Targa Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
2 safety recalls as of Nov 8, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are exterior lighting (1), electrical system (1), structure (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 at 21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).