The Porsche 924 spans 1981–1988 with 4 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 1988, 1987, 1986 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1981, 1982, 1985. It delivers up to 21 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Porsche 924 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1981 to 1988 across multiple generations.
How to read a Porsche 924 VIN — every digit explained
Every Porsche 924 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Porsche and the country it was built in (real Porsche codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this 924.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- GermanyWP0 · WP1
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your 924, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Porsche 924 have?
The Porsche 924 has 4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1981–1988. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1988 Porsche 924 recalls 1
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
What's wrong. THE HOSE MATERIAL USED IN THE SHORT SECTION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE HOSE, BETWEEN THE FUEL RAIL AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, IS SUBJECT TO HARDENING, AND COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKS BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE METAL PIPE FITTINGS.
Risk. FUEL LEAKS COULD IGNITE ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM, OR ANY OTHER SOURCE OF IGNITION, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Fix. REPLACE FUEL LINE HOSE WITH HOSES MADE OF IMPROVED MATERIAL.
1987 Porsche 924 recalls 1
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
What's wrong. THE HOSE MATERIAL USED IN THE SHORT SECTION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE HOSE, BETWEEN THE FUEL RAIL AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, IS SUBJECT TO HARDENING, AND COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKS BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE METAL PIPE FITTINGS.
Risk. FUEL LEAKS COULD IGNITE ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM, OR ANY OTHER SOURCE OF IGNITION, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Fix. REPLACE FUEL LINE HOSE WITH HOSES MADE OF IMPROVED MATERIAL.
1982 Porsche 924 recalls 2
Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring Assembly
What's wrong. REAR SPRING PLATES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TEMPERED AND ARE NOT OF THE PROPER HARDNESS VALUE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE PLATES COULD CRACK AND/OR BREAK, AFFECT LATERAL GUIDANCE OF THE REAR WHEEL, AND RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Fix. TEST TO IDENTIFY SPRING PLATES WHICH ARE IMPROPERLY HARDENED AND REPLACE AS NECESSARY.
Seat Belts:front:retractor
What's wrong. THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT INCLUDE EMERGENCY-LOCKING OR AUTOMATIC-LOCKING RETRACTORS. THE BELTS DO NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION".
Fix. RECALLED VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT AND A PORTION TO THE LEFT BELT REPLACED WITH RETRACTABLE BELTS.
Best and worst years for the Porsche 924
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 6 tracked years, the worst years are 1988, 1987, 1986 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1981, 1982, 1985.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 924 | — | Best | |
| 1982 924 | — | Best | |
| 1985 924 | — | Best | |
| 1986 924 | — | Avoid | |
| 1987 924 | Fuel System | Avoid | |
| 1988 924 | Fuel System | Avoid |
What are the most common Porsche 924 problems?
The most-reported Porsche 924 problems are Gasoline (4 reports), Fuel System (4 reports) — out of 4 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Porsche 924 specifications & dimensions
The 1988 Porsche 924 measures 166″ long on a 94″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 2,734 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Porsche 924 window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 166″ | 67″ | 50″ | 94″ | 2,734 lb |
| 1981–1982 | 170″ | 66″ | 50″ | 94″ | 2,623 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Porsche 924 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the 924 holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 63 cu ft of passenger volume and 12 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Porsche 924 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Porsche 924 get?
The Porsche 924 returns up to 21 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $2,950/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 1988 Porsche 924 (2.5L 4-cyl) gets 21 mpg combined and costs about $2,950/yr to fuel, emitting 423 g/mi CO₂ — about $3,750 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 924 | 18 | 26 | $2,950 | 423 | — | 2.5L 4-cyl | |
| 1987 924 | 18 | 26 | $2,950 | 423 | — | 2.5L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the 924 stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this 924's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Porsche 924 have? Power & range
The Porsche 924 is offered with 1 powertrain — 2.5L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.5L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | RWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Porsche 924 cost to own?
A Porsche 924 holds its value well. A typical example keeps roughly 56% of its value after five years — losing about 44% to depreciation. Check what a used 924 is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 84% | $25,200 | −$4,800 |
| Year 2 | 76% | $22,800 | −$7,200 |
| Year 3 | 68% | $20,400 | −$9,600 |
| Year 4 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 5 | 56% | $16,800 | −$13,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this 924 loses about 44% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $14,750 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the 924 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Porsche 924 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the 924 yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
Tired of ads? Go Pro.
- Zero ads — clean, fast pages
- Exact mileage-adjusted car values
- Full research reports + PDF
- Market charts & price-drop alerts
- …and much more
How many miles does a Porsche 924 last?
A well-maintained Porsche 924 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Porsche 924’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this 924’s VIN free →All Porsche 924 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Porsche 924 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 924 | 1 recall | — | |
| 1987 924 | 1 recall | — | |
| 1986 924 | 0 | — | |
| 1985 924 | 0 | — | |
| 1982 924 | 2 recalls | — | |
| 1981 924 | 0 | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the 924?
By owner-complaint volume, 1988, 1987, 1986 drew the most reports. 1981, 1982, 1985 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the 924 have?
4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1981–1988. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Porsche recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the 924 get?
Up to 21 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a 924 last?
A well-maintained 924 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the 924 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the 924 is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Porsche 924 warranty?
New Porsche models carry a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 4 years / 50,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Porsche dealer.
Where is the Porsche 924 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your 924's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Porsche may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much does a 924 weigh?
The 924's curb weight is around 2,734 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the 924 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.