Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1990 Porsche 944 failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1990 passenger car (1.16%). Median odometer at inspection: 82,604 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
69 first registered in 1990 are on Dutch roads; 86% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde16
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld9
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen6
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse3
- Band onvoldoende profiel2
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)2
- Dim-, grootlicht werkt niet (goed)2
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
202 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 454 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 312 of these cars first registered in 1990 took their annual MOT test. 78% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1990 the figure was 71%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1990 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 14.1% | 15.6% |
| Suspension | 6.4% | 8.4% |
| Brakes | 6.1% | 9.7% |
| Visibility | 4.2% | 6.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.8% | 7.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.2% | 4.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
10 of these cars first registered in 1990 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 176,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
34 1990 cars are on the New Zealand register; 74% arrived as used imports, 12% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1990 Porsche 944.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Porsche told its dealers about the 1990 Porsche 944: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 39626 | BRAKE VIBRATION DAMPER APPLICATION - NEW DAMPING PLATE WITH STEEL CLIP. *TW |
| 10246417 | Information for PIWIS tester update 42.300.050 & .052 |
| 10246387 | Instructions on manufactures certificate for approved Porsche A40 engine oils |
| 10246385 | Instructions on manufactures certificate for approved Porsche C30 engine oils |
| 10246384 | Instructions on manufacturers certificate for approved C20 engine oils |
| 10246374 | Information for PIWIS tester update 42.300.040 & .041 |
| 10246372 | Information for PIWIS tester update 42.300.035 |
| 10246369 | Information for PIWIS tester update 42.300.030 - .032 |
| 10246366 | Parts information for parts withdrawal involving the glass roof - 9J0877069EY and 9J0877069DY |
| 10244982 | Special tools and equipment information on PIWIS tester update 42.250.050 |
| 10243631 | Information on PIWIS tester update 42.250.045 |
| 10243630 | Information on PIWIS tester update 42.250.042 |
| 10243625 | Information PIWIS tester update 42.250.040 |
| 10243617 | Information on PIWIS tester update 42.250.032 |
| 10243616 | Information on PIWIS tester update 42.250.030 |
| 10243615 | Information on PIWIS tester update 42.200.025 |
| 10243598 | Information on PIWIS tester update 42.200.020 & .022 |
| 10243597 | Special tools and equipment information for all Porsche models. Diagnostic equipment standards. |
| 10243588 | Manufacturers certificate for an overview of approved Porsche A40 engine oils. |
| 10243587 | Manufacturers certificate for an overview of approved Porsche C40 engine oils. |
| 10243586 | Manufacturers certificate for an overview of approved Porsche C30 engine oils. |
| 10243585 | Manufacturers certificate for an overview of approved Porsche C20 engine oils. |
| 10243576 | Information on PIWIS tester update 42.200.000 42.200.012 |
| 10243573 | Special tools and equipment information for the Pico Oscilloscope Extended Functionality |
| 10242140 | Parts information for parts withdrawal on the locks made to original key code |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)