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991.1 GT3 Global Recall from 'multi car fires', UPDATED 2017

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Porsche has reportedly stopped deliveries of the 911 GT3 after no less than five cars caught fire in recent weeks.

When it comes to fires involving supercars, the first name that pops into our heads is Ferrari but it seems Porsche is having a similar problem with the 911 GT3. The latest incident occurred on the Wilerstrasse in Switzerland and the car was declared a total loss in the amount of 200,000 CHF.

The driver was on the A1 highway en route to St. Gallen and heard some weird noises coming from the engine area. He decided to exit the highway and stopped the car on the Wilerstrasse. When he got out of the vehicle he noticed leaking oil and smoke coming from the back and shortly after that a fire ignited. The fire department arrived shortly and put out the flames but the car is beyond salvage.

Another similar incident occurred just last week with a brand new 911 GT3 (driven for only about 60 km) near Avellino in Italy. At first a low oil pressure warning showed up in the display and after a few seconds the car caught fire and had the same faith as the car in Switzerland.

Update I: 20 Feb 2014

Following the reports of the GT3's catching fire......

BERLIN (Reuters) -- Porsche said today it will recall all 785 examples of its 911 GT3 sports car that have been delivered worldwide this year as it continues to investigate fires that broke out in two cars.

Porsche said it would check the engines of the GT3 and recommended owners not to use the vehicles.

Engineers at Porsche's headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, are examining the remains of the gutted vehicles from Switzerland and Italy to determine the cause of the fires, a spokesman said on Tuesday. The Volkswagen Group unit expects to conclude the investigation into the fires this week, the spokesman added.

Porsche expects to hit a target of selling more than 200,000 sports cars and SUVs in 2015, three years earlier than first scheduled, CEO Matthias Mueller said last week.

Original article from Automotive News http://europe.autonews.com/article/...probe?cciid=email-ane-daily&r=0552A6930134D9T


Update II: 22 Feb 2014

Apparently Porsche GB are now sending out the following letter:

Your Porsche XXX
Porsche VIN: XXXX

Dear Mr Customer,

Media reports are currently in circulation regarding engine problems that may cause a fire on new 911 GT3 vehicles and we apologise unreservedly for the fact that you may have learned of this from a third party rather than directly from Porsche.

At this point, we would like to update you on the situation and provide you with additional information about our current findings and how we intend to proceed.

In Europe, two vehicles were found to have engine damage - the crankcase was significantly damaged. Leaking engine oil ignited on the hot engine components, causing the vehicles to catch fire. This did not cause an accident or result in personal injury of any kind.

Since safety is the top priority at Porsche, the vehicles were examined on-site by specialists immediately after the damage occurred and were then analysed at the factory by Porsche engineers.
On 11.02.2014, Porsche decided to stop delivery of the 911 GT3 until further notice.

Porsche is working intensively on analysing the engine problems to ensure that the cause is fully understood and corrected for the long-term. This work is extensive and time-consuming and regrettably may take some time.

For safety reasons, Porsche strongly advises you not to drive your vehicle until further notice.

We will keep you informed about further progress in this matter and contact you to arrange collection of your vehicle to the Centre should any identified work need to be carried out.

The required transportation of the vehicle, storage of the vehicle in the Porsche Centre and any required repair measures that are carried out will of course be free of charge.

Porsche is critically aware that because of this situation, we have failed to meet your expectations and we realise this may impact on your participation in motor racing events.

We are currently working on an appropriate compensation offer for any inconvenience that this may cause.

We will continue to keep you informed about new findings, however should you have any immediate questions please contact your Porsche Centre directly or alternatively call the Porsche Customer Assistance Centre on 0118 9191740.

We again apologise for the delay in communication and inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.



Update III: 18 Mar 2014

GT3 Engine Update

Dear Mr. ________

I am writing to you in connection with the deposit you have placed for a Porsche 911 GT3.
As you are aware Porsche have been investigating potential issues with the new 911 GT3 Engine.

The analysis is now complete, and I would like to inform you about our findings and how this may affect you.

Two vehicles in Europe suffered engine damage causing the vehicles to catch fire.

Analysis has revealed that in both cases the engine damage was caused by a loosened piston rod screw connection, which damaged the crankcase. In order to avoid this in the future an optimised screw connection is currently being tested. For the final validation we are currently carrying out extensive tests.

At Porsche we do not make any compromises when implementing an engineering solution, therefore, after the successful testing and validation we will be installing new engines with optimised piston rod screw connections in all 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 vehicles.

I trust you will understand that this large-scale operation is inevitably a great challenge for Porsche, Porsche Centres and suppliers as we strive to establish the required resources in production and logistics for the new engine installations at short notice.

Regrettably therefore we are currently unable to confirm the potential impact on the production date of your Porsche 911 GT3.

We will contact you with a further update within three weeks but in the interim, should you have any immediate questions or concerns, please contact your Porsche Centre directly or alternatively call our team at the Porsche Customer Assistance Centre on 0118 9191 740.

I sincerely apologise for any concerns or frustration that may be caused by this unforeseen issue and thank you for your patience and loyalty to the Porsche brand whilst we resolve the problem.

Yours Sincerely,

Chris Craft
Managing Director


Update IV: 14 April 2014

Engine production starts on April 22

More details have emerged about Porsche's plans to solve the 911 GT3 fire risk issue, based on a recent leaked (and confirmed) letter sent by Porsche to a 911 GT3 owner.

The Porsche 911 GT3 saga is about to end as the company is sending all 785 owners letters informing them engine production will begin on April 22. To make up for all this trouble, Richard Hammond and the others are going to receive an additional year of warranty. Once the repairs will be complete, all owners are going to get a certificate as a method of documentation for the work necessary to replace the engine.

Last month Porsche CEO Matthias Müller said the 911 GT3 RS could be delayed due to the fire-related recall of the regular 911 GT3. The RS was initially planned for a summer launch but could be pushed back until the "motor [is] no longer a problem."



Update V: 14 April 2014

Dear Mr. [REDACTED]: I am writing as promised to inform you about the current status of our solution to the issue with the Porsche 911 GT3 model you have purchased. We are aware that you are currently faced with an unsatisfactory situation.

As a Porsche customer, you rightfully expect excellence in product and service performance. This particularly applies to you as a GT3 customer, as a brand ambassador with a shared passion for Porsche. We are in the final phase of logistics planning and technical validation for the optimized piston rod screw connection and we will start production of the new engines the week of April 22nd.

These engines will be distributed worldwide for installation in all 991-generation GT3 models built to date. As soon as the new engine for your Porsche 911 GT3 is available, we will make contact with you again to make specific arrangements. Please be assured that we will document the installation of the new engine into your vehicle and will provide you with a certificate to this effect. Furthermore, as a gesture of our appreciation for your loyalty to Porsche, we will apply an additional 12-month Porsche Approved warranty to your 991 GT3 which will commence upon the expiration of the normal Porsche New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Additionally, we wish to compensate you for your inability to drive your GT3 during this time.

Our GT3 Concierge will be in touch with you shortly to discuss the specifics and will also be at your service for any other individual assistance you may need. I apologize once again for the inconvenience caused by this issue and thank you for your patience.

Yours sincerely, Tim Quinn Vice President, AfterSales Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you have questions, please contact 1-800-PORSCHE. Please read our privacy policy. If you would rather not receive future e-mails from Porsche Cars North America, Inc., please contact 1-800-PORSCHE


Update VI: 14 April 2014

Disgruntled Porsche GT3 owners demand compensation

UK owners seek £145 a day compensation for time and money lost while Porsche replaces fire-risk engine in all new 911 GT3s

Disgruntled owners of the Porsche 911 GT3 have united to demand compensation of £145 a day for costs incurred while Porsche replaces the engine.

Porsche called back the newly launched high-performance model after two of the £100,000 sports cars caught fire in Europe earlier this year. The firm traced the problem to faulty piston-rod connectors and has halted production of the car while it looks for a solution. The firm, owned by the Volkswagen Group, has yet to say when owners will get their cars back.

The British-based owners and customers behind the GT3 Worldwide Action Group claim they are missing out on compensation offered to those with affected cars in other parts of the world. According to a statement put out the by the group, US owners are being offered $2,000 (£1,190) a month compensation, and owners in Germany 175 euros (£145) a day. The Telegraph has seen an email from Dubai's official Porsche dealer confirming to one GT3 customer it will pay a total of $12,000 in compensation.

However UK owners have been offered no cash settlement, according to the group's founder, north-east England property developer Sunil Mehra. 'We are massively disappointed by the way the manufacturer has conducted itself with its lack of transparency and blatant discrimination between markets," he said in a statement.

According to Mehra, the group represents between 30-35 UK owners and those waiting for delivery after paying a deposit on the car. Porsche has said about 100 owners in the UK are affected, while deliveries of about 1,000 more cars were halted.

The group is pressing for 175 euros a day payable from February 18 when owners were first advised to stop driving the car to cover lease costs, deprecation, reduced warranty, Insurance costs and lack of intended use. It wants 100 euros a day for customers whose car was halted in production and 50 euros a day for those who paid a deposit but hadn't been given a build slot. Porsche UK wouldn't comment on the group's claim.

GT3 owners forced to hand back their car include Top Gear's Richard Hammond and McLaren Automotive. The car-making arm of the F1 racing team bought one of the hardcore Porsches as it prepares a rival of its own in the form of a £120,000 two-seat sports car, dubbed the P13. 'The GT3 is one of the most impressive new cars I've driven," McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt said at the recent launch of the 650S supercar. He confirmed the company has handed the car back to Porsche for the engine replacement.

The GT3 impressed journalists enough for them to name it Performance Car of the Year in New York earlier this month, despite that fact that none of the cars are currently driveable.

A full copy of the communication to both dealers and PAG appears here

GT3 WORLDWIDE
ACTION GROUP


<<First Name>>
The GT3 Action Group formed quickly out of the frustration customers faced over the poor handling of the recent engine rod bolt recall by Porsche AG and its regional distributors. The Group currently represents in excess of one hundred members globally. Please note that our membership includes some of your customers and our correspondence has resulted following consultation with the Group's members.

We understand you appreciate our passion for Porsche and our expectation for excellent customer service just as you know that we expect excellence in all that you do. We hope this email will help you meet your customers' expectations just as Nick Murray's recent Youtube video ultimately helped Porsche meet his expectations by Porsche Cars North America.

We recognise that, as a Porsche dealer, you are likely to be an independent business. We also appreciate that you have been given limited information by your regional distributor most of whom are owned by Porsche AG.

Please find a letter below to Matthias Müller, the Chief Executive Officer, of Porsche AG which outlines our grievances and proposals. We ask that you contact your regional distributor and use our correspondence to argue the case for clearer and more frequent communication regarding the GT3 situation as well harmonisation of compensation for your customers in line with other markets where Porsche has already made offers. Please refer to the Compensation Matrix which was compiled based on information from different markets and consultation with our Group.

We hope this information is helpful and wish you all the best in your efforts to support your customers by meeting their expectations.

Regards,
GT3 Worldwide Action Group


Herr Müller
Porsche AG Board
Volkswagen AG Board


We represent a Group comprising over one hundred Porsche 991 GT3 customers from around the world. We have a documented interest in excess of US$18m in this vehicle. As a group, most of us are professionals and business people, many of whom are longstanding, repeat Porsche customers and ambassadors of the brand. By our nature, we are driving enthusiasts who planned to use the GT3 as it was intended - for spirited driving and occasional track use.

The GT3 Worldwide Action Group formed out of necessity due to the overall dissatisfaction and frustration we have all experienced due to Porsche's absolute failure to meet its customers' expectations with regards to the recent engine rod bolt recall.

Following consultation with the group, we are writing to express our collective concerns and submit proposals to remedy the complaints. Our goal is to see these proposals accepted and implemented by Porsche on a global basis with equal treatment, rights, and compensation for your affected 991 GT3 customers regardless of region.

Communication

Porsche AG distributors have failed to communicate effectively, and to date, communication on the recall issue has been infrequent, inconsistent, contradictory and lacking in substance. We recognise the complexity of the task at hand for Porsche AG and its partners however, the current situation is inexcusable and unacceptable.

The Group requires clarity of information regarding their vehicles, which were delivered, built or ordered. We ask that your dealers are better informed so they may communicate effectively to their customers using VIN/case number and the Porsche Integrated Workshop Information System (PIWIS) to determine the manufacture stage and location of their engine/vehicle. Distributors and dealers alike should be able to quickly inform their customers of the likely delivery date for their vehicles.

Compensation

Many of us have suffered significant inconvenience and loss due to the GT3 being withdrawn from use. Confidence in the brand has been shaken not only by the engineering issue but also due to Porsche's poor handling of the situation.

In terms of recompense we have consulted the Group and created a Compensation Matrix which categorises classes of GT3 stakeholder given individual circumstances and the level of compensation considered appropriate based on a variety of factors.

Whilst some of your regional distributors have been forthcoming with compensation details/offers, such as Porsche Cars North America, others, such as Porsche Cars Great Britain, have not. Furthermore, in compiling our data archive, it has come to our attention that different levels of compensation are being offered in different markets. For example, US$2,000 per month in the US in contrast to US$4,000 per month in the United Arab Emirates for a three month period. However, we find it particularly revealing our members in certain European countries, including Porsche's home market, report being offered €175 per day whilst Porsche Cars Great Britain has removed any mention of compensation altogether in its correspondence. It is clear from our findings that not only is Porsche AG discriminating between global markets but it also appears to be discriminating within the European Single Market.

Porsche AG standardises its approach to global markets in terms of product, marketing, training and sales to name but a few key areas. The situation surrounding the GT3 is unprecedented and its management by Porsche AG has caused significant distress amongst many loyal customers. Whilst this is simply a business matter for Porsche AG, the decision to buy a Porsche 991 GT3 by the Group was very much borne out of a passion for driving and for Porsche as a brand. Unfortunately, Porsche has so far failed every GT3 stakeholder in this regard. We therefore ask that you treat every customer the same and harmonise compensation across markets so that everyone is paid the same consideration. We feel it is the least Porsche AG can do to remedy the situation for its longstanding customers who have been loyal to the brand.

Although this may be sufficient to recover lost faith and trust in Porsche for many customers, it may be insufficient for others. Therefore the option of a full refund or cancellation of an order should be offered to every customer. We appreciate that legislation already exists in various markets to exercise that right but we feel that it is in both Porsche's and its customers' interests to avoid complicating matters by resorting to legal remedies as this would only serve to create ill will on both sides. If the compensation package is set at the correct level, i.e. in line with our proposed figures which were formulated following our consultations, we anticipate there will be very few requests for refunds or cancellations.

The Compensation Matrix has been agreed after lengthy consultation with our members, and is based on compensation Porsche has already offered in various markets. We propose Porsche AG adopts this matrix and coordinates its communication accordingly through its distributors so that the offer of compensation can be made to each of its customers with the option of a refund or cancellation of an order. We seek this not just for our Group but for every GT3 customer across all regions globally.

Final_Matrix_1.08F.JPG


We have written to you not just as the senior management at Porsche AG but as guardians of the Porsche brand; a brand which has undoubtedly suffered due to this unfortunate situation.

Although legislation exists in most regions to protect our consumer rights, as a Group, we ask again that Porsche AG acts fairly out of choice to remedy the situation rather than out of obligation. There are no borders in the digital era and every customer should be of equal value to Porsche AG. It is therefore important to act fairly to all and send a clear message that no customer is of any less value than another.

The Porsche 991 GT3 is a great car but stands tainted. We encourage you to accept our proposal so that the Group and others who are some of your most loyal customers can regain some faith and trust in Porsche as a brand and it's Management. The Porsche 991 GT3 is one car for all markets and its customers expect, and should receive, the same level of treatment from Porsche regardless of their region.

Since we are already engaged in the consultation process with GT3 customers across multiple markets, we invite any questions you may have of us or the Group. We thank you for your consideration and, for the sake of giving your customers some clarity and certainty, we hope to hear of your acceptance of these proposals by Friday 2nd May 2014.

Regards,

GT3 Worldwide Action Group


Update VII: 02 May 2014 - RESOLVED

A UK pressure group formed by disgruntled owners of Porsche's fire-hit 911 GT3 has successfully secured compensation from the German brand after complaining they were missing out on payments made to owners elsewhere.

Owners have been without their cars since February when Porsche told to stop driving the 911s while the VW-owned firm investigated two cases in Europe where fire had gutted the £100,000 hardcore sports car. Porsche traced the fault back to faulty piston-rod connectors and offered to replace all the engines.

Porsche in the UK has now agreed via its dealers to pay owners a £5,500 lump sum, as well as £1,500 a month until their car is returned, according to Sunil Mehra, the founder of the GT3 Action Group. Those buyers whose car was shipped to the UK but not handed over will get £4,000 off the list price, as well as the same £1,500 a month until delivery.

'It's good to see. I just wish it had happened sooner,"Mehra, a property developer based in the north east of England, set up the group after it was clear that owners in other parts of the world were being compensated while UK owners weren't. In one case, The media saw an email from Dubai's official Porsche dealer confirming to a GT3 customer it would pay a total of $12,000 (£7,000) in compensation.

However Mehra is unhappy that owners who've paid a deposit but whose already-built car hadn't left Germany won't be given compensation. 'I've heard from two members of the same family, one with a car here and the other with a car in Germany, and only one of them is getting compensated. It's grossly unfair," he said.

Just over 100 owners in the UK had to return their brand-new car after deliveries started late last year, while orders for a further 1,000 were halted, according to Porsche. In total 785 of the newest shape GT3 were delivered worldwide. Porsche has not yet said when it will fit the new engines or restart production.
 

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Oh dear...I feel a recall or two is on the agenda... :roll:
 
Not good for Porsche PR but I'm sure a recall will sort it.....nick it makes your 997 gt3 even more desirable than it already was :thumb:
 
For now...maybe !! 8)
 
Once fixed the 991 GT3 will be more desirable due to lower numbers.

MC
 
nick w said:
For now...maybe !! 8)

991 has made the 997 an instant classic :floor:
 
MisterCorn said:
Once fixed the 991 GT3 will be more desirable due to lower numbers.

MC

Yep, for sale: 991 GT3 (rare non bonfire example hence no fire damage) offers?

TBH you are 100% right, at this level there are loaded people that are spunking their money over any badge that will mop up the mess and still look good afterwards.
:thumbs:
 
Senoj said:
nick w said:
For now...maybe !! 8)

991 has made the 997 an instant classic :floor:

.........and the 996!

Christ that's a bad situation for the new GT3 to find itself in. They need to sort this issue ASAP, otherwise the media will go straight for the neck of Porsche.

I do hope its got nothing to do with the fact that VAG are in control of the company now but the GT3 has been rumoured to have been suffering form engine problems.

Never seen anything like it from Porsche......the Motorsports engineers must be gutted as they have a reputation of getting GT and RS's right, straight out the box.
 
wizard993 said:
Senoj said:
nick w said:
For now...maybe !! 8)

991 has made the 997 an instant classic :floor:

.........and the 996!

Christ that's a bad situation for the new GT3 to find itself in. They need to sort this issue ASAP, otherwise the media will go straight for the neck of Porsche.

I do hope its got nothing to do with the fact that VAG are in control of the company now but the GT3 has been rumoured to have been suffering form engine problems.

Never seen anything like it from Porsche......the Motorsports engineers must be gutted as they have a reputation of getting GT and RS's right, straight out the box.

... But I think they were always building on an already well known, reliable, proven race engine previously, the Mezger, I think this is the first non-Mezger engine they've ever produced? The first engine they've produced from scratch?
 
It's turning into a 'sure fire classic' ! :mrgreen:
 
Flaming heated seats playing up again.
 
Roro said:
wizard993 said:
Senoj said:
nick w said:
For now...maybe !! 8)

991 has made the 997 an instant classic :floor:

.........and the 996!

Christ that's a bad situation for the new GT3 to find itself in. They need to sort this issue ASAP, otherwise the media will go straight for the neck of Porsche.

I do hope its got nothing to do with the fact that VAG are in control of the company now but the GT3 has been rumoured to have been suffering form engine problems.

Never seen anything like it from Porsche......the Motorsports engineers must be gutted as they have a reputation of getting GT and RS's right, straight out the box.

... But I think they were always building on an already well known, reliable, proven race engine previously, the Mezger, I think this is the first non-Mezger engine they've ever produced? The first engine they've produced from scratch?

Possibly just one of the reasons why they don't use this engine in the 2013 RSR's.

If it's letting go at high RPM and spilling oil onto a hot exhaust they will be in serious trouble with this engine.

Lets hope it is a minor issue.
 
Apparently there are also issues with the new
larger PCCB rotors....."there may be trouble
ahead".... :dont know:
 
wizard993 said:
the Motorsports engineers must be gutted as they have a reputation of getting GT and RS's right, straight out the box.

Not really. With the 997, the Gen1 needed a different ARB (part even now superseded in the parts catalogue) and the Gen2 has fragile wheel hubs and a weak diff. Both also acquired an unwelcome appetite for rear brakes, compounded by the necessity (introduced for no particular reason) to remove the rear callipers in order to change the pads. There were also a small number of 997.1 GT3s that inexplicably blew up their engines (supposedly QC problems with the con-rods I think, but Cunno has the full story on that). Oh, and several 4 litres lunched their engines due to an air box problem that resulted in a recall. The only one that they didn't ***** up in some way was the 997.1 GT2 AFAIK?

The 996.1 had weak gearbox synchros, slightly inadequate gearbox cooling and was slightly under-braked too, making the 996.2 GT3/2/RS their finest hour. That said, the 996RS had paint issues on the carbon parts and wheel lacquer problems too (both resulting in widespread incidences of yellowing, bubbling and wheel corrosion after only a couple of years), so wasn't faultless...

Obviously all of the weaknesses only came to light quite some time after the cars were actually bought by people though. The concerning part is that with the cures for the issues seem to be getting successively more expensive...

The worry for the 991 is that it has so many completely new systems with significantly more complicated and expensive elements than previous cars that it may be financial suicide to try to run one out of warranty.

:soapbox:
 

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