AI Damage1987 Porsche 944: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Porsche 944 filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 50% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 25% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Under hood fire occured from fuel line seperation while being driven and approaching a stop sign. Nlm
Brakes faded, increasing the overall stopping distance/caused accident.
The vehicle was being driven and went up in flames due to the fuel lines. This component is under recall and was allegedly repaired in 1991.
False deployment of air bags when braking. "dup: see 956540".
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 944 has 3 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Porsche 944?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, air bags, service brakes. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (50%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Porsche 944?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1987 Porsche 944 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.