Porsche recalls 2023-model-year 911 vehicles for risky automatic locking seat-belt retractors. According to Porsche and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall focuses in on the back-seat retractors — which thus pose an even greater-than-expected risk by deactivating earlier than specified as originally designed: Such failure would render an attached child restraint system unsecure, especially during a crash. To date, 910 Porsche 911 sports cars are affected.
Recall at a Glance
- Recall Issue: Potential seat-belt locking retractor malfunction
- Model(s): Porsche 911 (992-gen only)
- Model Year(s) Affected: 2023
- Units Affected: 910
- NHTSA February 20, 2024, Campaign No.: 24V123000
- Components: Seat belts
- Defect Notice 573 Report PDF link: RCLRPT-24V123-5124.PDF 222.581KB
- Recall Acknowledgement PDF link: RCAK-24V123-3674.pdf 645.561KB
- Porsche Recall No.: ARA2
- Porsche Customer Service: 1-800-767-7243
- NHTSA Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153)
- NHTSA VIN Check Page: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
Porsche 911 Automatic Locking Seat-Belt Retractor Recall — Summary of Details
In other words, the seat-belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) in the back seat may deactivate early, thus preventing the child restraint system from staying fastened properly. Here, in the States, such a malfunction renders any recalled Porsche 911 sports car — aka Neunelfer — in material breach of and non-compliant with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.”
These are the ten (10) exposed 2023-model-year-only trim levels:
- 911 Carrera
- 911 Carrera S
- 911 Carrera T
- 911 Carrera GTS
- 911 Carrera 4
- 911 Carrera 4S
- 911 Carrera 4 GTS
- 911 Targa 4S
- 911 Turbo
- 911 Turbo S
Also factored into the mix here is the Porsche 911 Edition 50 Years Porsche Design sports car.
All aforementioned 992-gen sports cars were built in the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen assembly halls from May 12, 2023, through June 29, 2023.
What are the nuts and bolts of the 911 automatic locking seat-belt retractor recall?
The released documents on the NHTSA’s webpages pertaining to the subject recall indicate the following basic facts:
- Joyson Safety Systems Aschaffenburg GmbH supplied the back-seat three-point seat-belt assemblies
- Porsche part numbers making up the seat-belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) assemblies are:
- 992.857.805A
- 992.857.805C
- 992.857.806C
- Porsche discovered the potentially defective seat-belt retractors sometime in January 2024
Porsche 911 Automatic Locking Seat-Belt Retractor Recall — Remedy
On or about March 6, 2024, Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) dealerships learned of the imminent remedial steps needed to be taken. Specifically, they were instructed to inspect both the left-side and right-side rear belt ALR assemblies. If found to be defective, they resolved to replace both mechanisms.
The solution to this problem has already gotten a head start. Joyson Safety Systems reportedly took action to upgrade the ALR assembly jig around August 4, 2023.
Porsche is about to assure concerned owners that all Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) dealers will inspect and replace the rear three-point belts as necessary, free of charge.
To that effect, Porsche expects to send out owner notification letters via first-class mail on or about April 19, 2024.
In the meantime, owners are encouraged, if desired, to contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243 for further information. Be sure to reference Porsche Recall No. ARA2.
Owners are also able to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). Alternatively, you can go to https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls to punch in your car’s VIN to see if your vehicle is affected, or to get the latest details and information.