All jokes aside I was at a customer here in Dallas at 1 Arts Plaza and look out the window to see a nightmare. I thought this only happened to Ferrari's...

 

I wonder if that car recently had an oil change. There is some discussion on oil oversplash (during refilling) landing on the exhaust / engine, which was not noticed due to the engine cover.

 

Here in Switzerland, a new 991 GT3 caught fire last week as well... Let's hope these are just accidents.

http://www.toponline.ch/stgallen/det...nnt-001661854/


Short translation : While driving on the motorway the driver started to hear strange noises coming from the engine. He then drove off the motorway and stopped the car. When he inspected the car he noticed oil leakage and smoke coming out of the engine bay. The car then caught fire.

The fire brigade arrived soon after and extinguished the fire. The cause for the fire is currently being investigated.

Suzy991 (iOS app)

 

Yikes - pretty scary. Imagine driving second and having it on fire the next second.

 

For a new model I think we are seeing way to many engine fires. I've had a fire extinguisher in every one of my Porsches over the years. I hope I never have to use it on my car!!!

 

I'm not sure I'd want to save my car if it spontaneously combusts. Might be helpful if you're trapped after an accident or happen upon a burning car.

 

Right. In another thread where the owners 991 cab burst into flames he would have been better-off letting the car burn IMHO. They didn't total it. So he was out use of the car and all the other inconveniences waiting for not only the investigation and haggling but also the (extensive) repair time! Prob the last time he puts out a car fire with a garden hose..... I think it was in Cali. Easier to be Monday morning QB since it isn't my own car, and I feel bad for those this happens-to.

 

+1

What on earth is going on? First, there is a risk of the exhaust falling off. Now stories are popping up about the cars catching on fire!

 

I've only been following 991's for a year now, but isn't this the third or fourth domestic instance of them going up in flames? Does it seem like there are a lot of fires or is it just me?

My DD is a Jeep Wrangler (JKU) and I have been on those boards for 2 years and haven't heard as many fire stories as I have here, and they make millions (okay, maybe not millions) of them every year.

 

I tried to gather statistical data to check if the rate of 991 catching fires was unusual or not. I started with data available for the US (i.e. 200,000,000 light vehicles registered, about 300,000 vehicle fires per year) and the number of 991s sold per year (26,000 as a rough estimate).

This would mean that the probability for a car to burn on any given year is ~300,000/200,000,000 ~0.15%.
With on on average 13,000 991s in circulation in 2012 and 39,000 in 2013, there should have been (13,000+39,000) * 0.15% = 78 991s on fire so far on a worldwide basis.

Given the high media visibility of a Porsche fire (you will find pictures in local news, on forums, etc.), the fact that we have seen a few of them has nothing surprising, especially as the US is still the #1 market for Zuffenhausen.

OK, this way of calculating is extremely simplified (and maybe even wrong), but I still believe that a few fires do not create a trend or are caused by a design issue.

I also came across the following pic showing a 991 caught in a flood in France. To bad it was not on fire in the first place

 

If my car caught fire I'd rather let it burn to the ground and get a new one rather then drive a fire damaged car that has been repaired but will never be the same.

 

Yes. There is anyhow NO WAY that a small fire extinguisher is going to take care of a fire that has grown to the point that you notice it from the cabin.
Move away from the car and let it burn.

Back in my home country (Belgium), fire extinguishers used to be mandatory in cars (they may still be) and were used way more often by car thieves to get rid of fingerprints than to put out a fire.

 

I had an oil sensor issue that resulted in oil all through the engine compartment. They dropped the engine and trans, totally replaced all of the sensors, new wiring harness, etc. it was the subject of a post. Looking back in light of this, I am extremely lucky!

And, on the let it burn issue consider me +1. I guess I should start carrying marshmallows in the glove box.

 

Looks like the driver forgot they removed the PDSC option in the build configurator.....


(Porsche Dynamic Snorkel Control)

Bummer

 

Maybe that poor GT3 in Switzerland simply got disgusted with the slow speeds there under the country's draconian speed enforcement and decided it was time for a little fireworks. I used to love driving in Switzerland but over the past 10 years or so I've found the ubiquitous big brother surveillance unbearable and avoid visiting there anymore.