Porsche 944 VIN Decoder – Free Porsche 944 VIN Lookup

Quick Facts about Porsche 944

$22,649: Average price
18–20 mpg: EPA combined
163,302: Built worldwide
1982–1991: Production years

Why Check Your Porsche 944 VIN History?

The Porsche 944 is a sought-after classic coupe (1982–1991). Its values are heavily dependent on care, variant, and documentation. VIN history matters because belts, 16-valve components, and Turbo hardware drive reliability and cost.

When checking a Porsche 944's VIN history, buyers should pay special attention to:

Timing/balance belt and water pump replacement intervals; look for dated receipts.
16-valve S/S2 cam-chain tensioner pad service or replacement.
Completed recalls; verify VIN on official portals for seat-belt and wiper campaigns.
Turbo/951 records: turbocharger, wastegate, cooling system, and boost control work.
Odometer consistency across inspections/DMV entries. Older clusters raise discrepancy risk.

A complete VIN history separates well-maintained cars from deferred-maintenance examples.

Porsche 944 Generations & Years

Porsche 944 (1982-1991) - First Generation

Key Details:

Body: 2-door hatchback coupé; cabriolet from 1989
Engines: 2.5L I4 (8v/16v), 2.7L I4, 2.5L Turbo, 3.0L I4 (S2)
Production: Neckarsulm & Stuttgart, Germany
Highlight: Introduction of Turbo (951) in 1986; S2 3.0L from 1989; cabriolet added 1989
Common VINs start with: WP0ZZZ (ROW), WP0AA (US)
Watch for: Belt service intervals; S/S2 cam-chain pads; front control-arm wear.

Porsche 944 Engine Options by Year

Year	Model	Engine	HP	0-60 mph	MPG (City/Hwy)	Transmission
1991	944 S2	3.0L I4 NA	208–211	6.4–6.9s	15/24	5-Speed Manual
1989	944 S2 Cabriolet	3.0L I4 NA	208–211	6.2–6.8s	15/24	5-Speed Manual
1988	944 Turbo S	2.5L I4 Turbo	247–250	5.5s	17/24	5-Speed Manual
1988	944 (base)	2.5L I4 NA	~158	~8.3s	18/26	5-Speed Manual
1988	944 Turbo	2.5L I4 Turbo	217	5.9s	17/24	5-Speed Manual
1987	944 S	2.5L I4 16v	187–190	~7.7s	16/24	5-Speed Manual

Source: Period road tests and reputable Porsche 944 specification databases.

What to Check When Buying a Porsche 944

Focus on generation-specific issues that drive cost and risk.

⚠️ Porsche 944 Generation (1982-1991)

Timing & Balance Belts: Intervals of ~4 years are critical. Verify belt/roller and water pump receipts to avoid costly engine damage.
S/S2 Cam-Chain Tensioner Pads: On 16-valve engines, confirm pad/tensioner service in records or plan inspection/replacement.
Front Control Arms/Ball Joints: Wear and failures are documented. Look for replacement arms or rebuild invoices and alignment records.
Turbocharger & Wastegate Service (Turbo/951): Check for turbo rebuilds, boost control, and cooling system work. Deferred maintenance can be expensive.
Recalls & Safety Campaigns: Confirm VIN for campaigns like rear seat belts (83V111000) and wiper motor sealing (94V088000).

💡 Pro Tip: Well-documented belt and tensioner service, suspension refreshes, and completed recalls materially reduce ownership risk. Cars with comprehensive invoices typically drive better and command a stronger resale.

Risk Statistics for Used Porsche 944

Key Risk	Impact on Buyers	Mitigation Steps
Unrepaired Safety Recalls	Older vehicles can still show open campaigns (e.g., 1994 wiper-motor recall affecting 1,178 cars).	Run VIN on NHTSA and Porsche recall portals. Verify dealer paperwork.
Odometer Rollback Fraud	Legacy clusters increase discrepancy risk versus newer digital units.	Compare VIN mileage across DMV/inspection records and service logs.
Hidden Accident/Structural Damage	Classic cars often show prior repairs; structural issues reduce value substantially.	Title history, damage entries, and underbody photos; pre-purchase inspection.
Ownership Cost Surprises	Belt/tensioner or clutch jobs can be significant if deferred.	Check invoices for belts, water pump, clutch, and suspension work.
Market Volatility by Variant	Turbo variants average higher prices, affecting insurance and repair expectations.	Benchmark pricing by trim; adjust offer with condition and records.

Data Sources & Methodology

This PORSCHE 944 information is compiled from trusted sources:

NHTSA Vehicle Safety & Recall database (official U.S. government source)
Porsche Recall Lookup (official OEM portal)
EPA/DOE fueleconomy.gov (official fuel-economy data)
Classic.com aggregated auction results (market pricing)
Hagerty buyer’s guide and cost advisories (classic market reference)
Reputable period road tests and Porsche research archives ( Car and Driver, Stuttcars )
EpicVIN Porsche VIN decoder

Quick Generation Comparison

Feature	944 (1982–1985)	944 (1986–1988)	944 S2 / Late Turbo (1989–1991)
Reliability Score	7.2/10	7.5/10	7.8/10
Avg. Annual Maintenance	$1,400	$1,600	$1,700
Avg. Mileage (used market)	110,000 mi	95,000 mi	85,000 mi
Fuel Economy (combined)	20 mpg	19–20 mpg	18–19 mpg
Hybrid Available	No	No	No
Technology Level	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆
Best For	Budget classics	Value/performance	Strongest performance

Sample Porsche 944 VIN Decoder Results

1987 PORSCHE 944

Odometer

No problems
Safety Recalls

1 records
Accidents

No problems
Last mileage

71,920 km
Sales

1 sale found
Owners

2+ owners found

Year 1987
Make Porsche
Model 944
Fuel Type
Engine
Made in GERMANY

What you can get:

Title Status & High-Risk Labels: Shows salvage, rebuilt, flood, or lemon branding that heavily impacts classical 944 value.
Mileage History & Rollback Flags: Compiles odometer readings to reveal discrepancies common on older clusters.
Accident, Structural Damage & Airbag Events: Highlights severe damage entries that affect drivability and resale.
Recall & Service Campaign Tracking: Lists open/closed campaigns like seat-belt and wiper-motor actions by VIN.
Maintenance & Major Repairs Mentions: Notes belt, water-pump, clutch, and cam-chain work tied to 944 ownership risk.
Usage Type & Ownership History: Identifies personal, fleet, or long-term ownership that influences wear and pricing.

FAQ: Porsche 944

Where can I find the VIN on a Porsche 944?

At the base of the windshield on the driver’s side. Also, check the driver-door jamb label. Use it for recall checks.

How do the VIN characters decode on a 944?

The VIN includes the WMI (e.g., WP0 for Porsche), vehicle attributes, model year, plant code, and a serial number.

Which Porsche 944 generation is generally most reliable?

Well-maintained late cars (S2 and updated Turbos, 1989–1991) tend to fare best thanks to improvements; documented belt/chain service is more important than year.

What are typical maintenance costs for a 944?

Annual maintenance averages are modest for a classic, but belt/tensioner and clutch jobs add costs; verify recent belt service and water pump replacement.

Are there any recalls I should check on a 944?

Yes - examples include rear seat-belt hardware (83V111000) and wiper-motor sealing (94V088000); confirm VIN status on NHTSA and Porsche portals.

What fuel economy should I expect from a 944?

Period EPA data shows roughly 18–20 mpg combined, depending on trim and transmission; Turbos and automatics trend lower in city driving.

Prepared by:
Robert P Allred a graduate of George Washington University (GW), specializing in writing vehicle-related articles.

Content last update: 08 Dec 2025

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