Porsche›911›2012›Overview/porsche/911/2012/base/

2012 Porsche 911

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 911.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 7-spd

The 2012 Porsche 911 is a passenger car delivered with an automatic seven-speed transmission and EPA-rated fuel economy of 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. Reliability records show it generated only five owner complaints, with exterior lighting reported most often, and it was subject to three recalls. Against the broader 1990–2014 911 complaint history—where complaints peaked at 50 in 2007 and bottomed out at one in 1991—the 2012 model sits near the low end, marking it as a comparatively quiet year for reported ownership issues.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque370 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/26/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 740 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9A711549900. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 49 · 740 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9A711549900 alt 0PB115466
Engine air filter99711013032 alt 99711013130
Spark plug99917023290 alt 99917023690
Battery99961109512 alt 992915105B
Front wiper blades99662890111 alt 99162890101
Serpentine belt9A110221601 alt 0PB903137A
Thermostat0PB121688A alt 0PB121110A
Cabin air filter99757121902 alt 99157237100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 7-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length174.8 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height51.6 in
Wheelbase92.5 in
Track (front / rear)58.3 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)38/62

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 26 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 911 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

2.7–3.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 2.70 sec — 2012 Turbo S Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012Turbo S Coupe 3.8L Twin-Turbo F-62.70 sec10.90 sec530 hpAWD
2012Carrera S Coupe 3.8L F-63.60 sec12.00 sec400 hpRWD
2012Carrera S Coupe 3.8L F-63.70 sec12.00 sec400 hpRWD
2012Carrera S Cabriolet 3.8L F-63.80 sec12.10 sec400 hpRWD
2012Carrera S Cabriolet 3.8L F-63.80 sec12.10 sec400 hpRWD
2012Carrera S Coupe 3.8L F-63.90 sec12.10 sec400 hpRWD
2013Carrera S Coupe 3.8L F-63.80 sec12.00 sec400 hpRWD
2013Carrera 4S Coupe 3.8L F-63.90 sec12.30 sec400 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 118 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.2 Pints, mvc;Front
Engine CoolantFILLED WITH PORSCHE LIFTIME COOLANT

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts9.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts9.5 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.5 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts11.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts370 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts118 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug21.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug21.0-22.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-2-4-3-5
Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance740 cca
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance740 cca

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.079 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 40,000 mi.

Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miBattery (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Body Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
At 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 40,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Seat Belt System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 120,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The JSON does not include a federal‑record entry for the 2012 model year, so no specific complaint, recall, investigation or TSB numbers are available for that year. However, the recorded data show a peak of 50 complaints in 2007 followed by a decline to a complaints in 2014, indicating a clear downward trend after 2007. Since 2012 falls between those two years, it is reasonable to expect its complaint volume would be lower than the 2007 peak and likely higher than the 2 complaints by 2014, suggesting a general reduction in reported issues after the mid‑2000s. Given this trend, the 2012 Porsche 911 would likely experience fewer complaints than the 2007 year, though the exact figure remains unspecified in the source data. No fire‑related complaints are listed for 2012, and the crash‑complaint count is zero. Taken together, the improving complaint trajectory makes the 2012 model year a reasonable choice for a used purchase, pending a thorough individual vehicle inspection.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
485
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’90’91’92’93’94’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’07’14

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 5 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Exterior Lighting1
Electrical System,Structure1
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Unknown Or Other,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20E091000Suspension:Front:Macpherson StrutReported 11/12/2020

Ohlins USA, Inc (Ohlins) is recalling certain Front Struts, part number POS 5N20. These struts were sold as part of Ohlins strut kits part number POZ MN02, intended for installation on 1999-2005 Porsche 911 Carrera 4… Remedy: Ohlins will notify owners, and dealers will request the return of all unsold kits containing the subject part from dealer/distributor inventory for a full refund. All owners who…

13V058000Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail PipeReported 22/02/2013

Porsche is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 vehicles manufactured from March 7, 2012, through November 12, 2012, and equipped with a standard (not sport) exhaust system. The exhaust tail… Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear mufflers free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners on May 9, 2013. The manufacturer has not yet provided…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 485 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
40/26 44072026-06-30WheelsWheel Bolt Replacement Requirement - Change from Wheel Bolts with Aluminum Washers to…
09/26 37302026-06-30Power TrainPermanent Fault Memory Entries “P1775”/“P071400”/“P184900” in Transmission Electronics…
TSTR26362026-06-29Unknown Or OtherPorsche Tester Software Update Information Software Version: 44.200.031
TSTR26352026-06-29Unknown Or OtherPorsche Tester Software Update Information Software Version: 44.200.030
20/262026-06-25EngineOverview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils (20/26)

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 911. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 49 batteryEngine oil filter 9A711549900Engine air filter 99711013032Spark plug 99917023290Battery 99961109512

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2012 911 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 911 get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.