Porsche 944 944
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
250 PS
2.5L Turbo S Benzin
Turbo S — the über-944, rarer than a Carrera RS
Legendary!165 PS
2.7L Benzin
11 weaknesses
Stay Away!Body Variants
The Porsche 944 944 is available as Coupé and Cabrio — choose your body type for specific insurance data:
Engine Overview
The Porsche 944 944 is available with 6 engine variants — from 160 to 250 hp.
The Porsche 2.5L (Benziner, 160–163 PS) has the M44.01 (2.5L) — rated: "Stay Away!", 11 known weaknesses.
The Porsche 2.7 (Benziner, 165 PS) has the M44.12 (2.7L) — rated: "Stay Away!", 11 known weaknesses.
The Porsche S (Benziner, 190 PS) has the M44.40 (2.5L 16V) — rated: "Stay Away!", 5 known weaknesses.
The Porsche S2 (Benziner, 211 PS) has the M44.41 (3.0L 16V) — rated: "Stay Away!", 5 known weaknesses.
The Porsche Turbo (Benziner, 220 PS) has the M44.51 (2.5L Turbo) — rated: "Stay Away!", 7 known weaknesses.
The Porsche Turbo S (Benziner, 250 PS) has the M44.52 (2.5L Turbo S) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Torque Tube Bearing — Labour-Intensive Transaxle Weakness The 944 transaxle layout connects engine and gearbox via a torque tube — the bearings inside wear after 30–40 years. Removal is extremely labour-intensive as either the engine or gearbox must come out. Specialist refurbishment is cheaper than new OEM parts. Symptoms: Vibration under load, droning or howling from the centre tunnel, noticeable play during throttle transitions from 200,000 km | High |
Top Reported Issues
Known Problems and Issues
A total of 51 weaknesses have been documented for the Porsche 944 944 (1982–1991) — 45 engine-related and 6 vehicle-related. 6 problem engines: M44.01 (2.5L), M44.12 (2.7L), M44.40 (2.5L 16V), M44.41 (3.0L 16V), M44.51 (2.5L Turbo), M44.52 (2.5L Turbo S). Typical issues affect Body, Rust, Interior, Electronics.
944 (M44.01, 1982–1988) — Stay Away!: Timing belt failure — interference engine, Balance shaft belt — secondary risk, Water pump + thermostat — unusual design. Power: 160–163 PS.
944 (M44.51, 1985–1991) — Stay Away!: Timing belt failure — interference engine, Balance shaft belt — secondary risk, Water pump + thermostat — unusual design. Power: 220 PS.
944 (M44.40, 1987–1989) — Stay Away!: Timing belt failure — interference engine, Balance shaft belt — secondary risk, Water pump + thermostat — unusual design. Power: 190 PS.
944 (M44.12, 1988–1989) — Stay Away!: Timing belt failure — interference engine, Balance shaft belt — secondary risk, Water pump + thermostat — unusual design. Power: 165 PS.
944 (M44.52, 1988–1991) — Stay Away!: Timing belt failure — interference engine, Balance shaft belt — secondary risk, Water pump + thermostat — unusual design. Power: 250 PS.
944 (M44.41, 1989–1991) — Stay Away!: Timing belt failure — interference engine, Balance shaft belt — secondary risk, Water pump + thermostat — unusual design. Power: 211 PS.
What to watch out for with the Porsche 944? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee