MODEL
Porsche 911 Targa 4s
NHTSA safety across every Porsche 911 Targa 4s model year we cover.
Across the 6 model years of the Porsche 911 Targa 4s we cover (2019 to 2024), no year has an NHTSA crash-test score on record. 1 recall have been issued across those years.
The Porsche 911 Targa 4S is a high-performance sports car that splits the difference between the classic 911 Coupe and the open-air Cabriolet, using a signature retractable roof panel and fixed rear window. Aimed squarely at driving enthusiasts who want all-wheel-drive capability alongside iconic styling, it sits near the top of the 911 lineup and competes in the rarified air of the premium sports car segment.
From a pure safety-data standpoint, the 2019-2024 Porsche 911 Targa 4S presents a picture that is thin on official testing but largely quiet on serious incident reports. NHTSA has not crash-tested this vehicle in any of the model years we cover, which means there are no federal star ratings to lean on. Shoppers cannot point to a government-validated score the way they might with a mainstream sedan or SUV, and that absence is worth noting even for a low-volume sports car. On the recall side, the news is genuinely reassuring: only a single recall is on record across six model years, which is a notably clean sheet for any vehicle. Owner complaint volume is equally modest at 20 total filings for the entire covered period. One complaint involves an alleged fire, which always warrants attention even as an unverified allegation, while no crashes, injuries, or fatalities are reported in the dataset. That complaint-to-sales ratio is low for a vehicle produced in limited numbers. The honest bottom line here is that the 911 Targa 4S does not have the federal crash-test foundation that safety-focused buyers ideally want, but its recall and complaint record across 2019-2024 is among the tidiest in its segment. Shoppers should weigh that testing gap seriously and consider independent sources for structural safety context.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally regard the 911 Targa 4S as one of the most polished and rewarding sports cars available, praising its precise steering, composed ride quality, and exceptionally well-finished cabin materials. The Targa roof mechanism tends to draw admiration for its engineering elegance. Most reviewers consider it a strong value proposition within the premium sports car class given the breadth of capability it delivers.
- NHTSA has not crash-tested the 911 Targa 4S in any model year from 2019 through 2024, so there are no federal star ratings available to guide your safety evaluation. Independent testing from other sources should be consulted to fill that gap.
- Only one recall has been issued across the entire 2019-2024 production run, which is an unusually clean recall record for a six-year span and suggests Porsche has not faced widespread manufacturing or component defect issues requiring federal action.
- One of the 20 owner complaints on file with NHTSA involves an alleged fire. While this is an unverified allegation and the overall complaint volume is low, fire-related reports are always worth tracking. Check NHTSA's database for any updates or related investigations before purchasing.
- With only 20 total owner complaints logged across six model years and zero reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the complaint data, the 911 Targa 4S has a quiet real-world incident profile. However, low production volume naturally limits complaint volume, so this figure should be interpreted in that context rather than as a direct comparison to higher-volume vehicles.
Most-recalled year on record: 2023 Porsche 911 Targa 4s with 1 recalls.