Warning: don’t drive your Porsche

Porsche has issued a warning to everybody who owns or drives a 2014 911 GT3 – don’t drive it anymore because of a serious safety issue with the engine.

Porsche will replace the engines of all 2014 model year 911 GT3 vehicles, and will actually pick it up and truck it – not drive it – to a Porsche Centre repair facility.  It’s a very expensive solution for a very expensive car – the GT3 is a souped-up 475 horsepower 911 that sells for about $130,000.

The decision to recall the GT3 follows two engine fires that Porsche says resulted from a loosened fastener on the connecting rod.  The loose connecting rod damaged the crankcase, which in both cases led to leakage of oil which then ignited.

Only the 2014 911 GT3 is affected by the problem and recall.  Not other model years, and not other 911 models.

I can’t remember another time an auto manufacturer has recalled a car to replace an engine.  But, the GT3 is no ordinary car.  Just 783 of this year’s high-price, high-performance models have been sold worldwide.  Porsche has not said how many of these supercars have been sold in the United States.

Engines with optimized fasteners will be used in all 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 – including in those that have not been delivered yet.

The Porsche recall comes in the midst of recall headlines of General Motors vehicles, more than 1.5 million vehicles worldwide, for a faulty ignition switch blamed for 12 deaths in 31 crashes. GM admits the recall was “tardy”, but won’t admit to liability.  That’s up to the lawyers.