Porsche Boxster Complaints

190 consumer complaints on file.

#10598063June 13, 2014
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE, VARIOUS WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED PORSCHE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE MOTOR HAD SELF DESTRUCTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 8/12/14*CN UPDATED 8/23/2017*CT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575692March 30, 2014
ENGINE
THE ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN THE GAS STATION AND MY HOME. THE DISTANCE WAS NO MORE THAN FIVE MILES AND THE SPEED WAS NO MORE THAN 45MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574871March 26, 2014
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PORSCHE BOXSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES, HARNESS AND CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 5/13/14*CN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574752March 25, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY AND STAYS LIT AT ALL TIMES INDICATING A FAULT IN THE SYSTEM. FROM ALL REPORTS ON VARIOUS PORSCHE DISCUSSION FORUMS (THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND DISCUSSED), THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FIRST GENERATION PORSCHE BOXSTERS. IT IS A DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND SEAT BELT GROUND CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE CONTACT POINTS FOR THE SEAT BELT THAT TRIGGERS THE LIGHT. THE PURPOSE OF AN AIR BAG LIGHT IS TO INFORM YOU OF A DEFECT IN THIS SAFETY SYSTEM AND TO NOTIFY YOU THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE AS IT SHOULD. WHILE THERE IS APPARENTLY A TSB THAT WAS ISSUED BY PORSCHE, ONCE YOUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNDER THE TSB FOR FREE. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD AND COMMON SAFETY DEFECT THAT DOESN'T APPEAR UNTIL AFTER THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS APPROXIMATELY $1500.00 THROUGH PORSCHE. CONSIDERING MOST PORSCHE BOXSTERS FROM 1997-1999 SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM, IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIRED BY PORSCHE AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567961March 8, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I TOOK MY 1997 PORSCHE BOXSTER TO MY PORSCHE SERVICE DEALER IN CINCINNATI, OHIO WITH A SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ON. A DIAGNOSIS WAS DONE AND CODE RECEIVED, TO THE EFFECT THAT MY SEAT BELTS NEEDED REPLACING, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER, DUE TO A ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SEAT BELT WARNING/AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE TOTAL REPAIR RANGES @ $1100, $500 PARTS + $600 LABOR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM WITH PORSCHE BOXSTERS GOING BACK TO THE LATE NINETIES UP TO TODAY. PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA HAS DONE SOME REMEDIAL WORK THROUGH DEALERS ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT FULLY OWNED THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE ELECTRICAL MODULES SHORTING OUT LEAVING DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS UNPROTECTED. THEIR ARROGANCE IN THIS MATTER IS OVER THE TOP FOR A SUPPOSEDLY "HIGH END" LINE OF VEHICLES. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THEM, VOLUNTEERING TO PAY PART OF THE EXPENSE. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME FOLLOW UP ON THEIR "TOKEN" OWNERSHIP OF WHAT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOUSANDS OF OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565621February 24, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
THE SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT IS THAT THE ELECTRONIC HAND BRAKE SYSTEM UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATES FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN THE CAR LOCKS DOWN ON THE ROAD AT AN INTERSECTION. IN 6 MONTHS THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR FOR 37 DAYS IN 2 DIFFERENT PORSCHE DEALERSHIPS. THE HAVE WORKED ON IT, BUT CAN FIND NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE DISCONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR. I AM ENTERING ARBITRATION WITH PORSCHE IN MARCH, 2014. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552976November 19, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 PORSCHE BOXTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING, THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE AND DIAGNOSED AS HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548514October 19, 2013
ENGINE
MY DASHBOARD READS FAULT OF THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM AND A YELLOW ENGINE APPEARS I CALLED PORSCHE OF RAMSEY NJ AS I HAVE NOT HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR THREE MONTHS YET AND WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THEY HAD BUCKWILD TOWING TOW MY VEHICLE TO THEIR LOCATION I AM EXTREMELY UPSET AND WANT RESTITUTION FROM THIS COMPANY I DON'T HAVE THE MILEAGE BUT I THINK ITS 5373 THE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME I TRIED TO START IT AND THIS IS WHAT APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542089September 5, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILED. CREATED DANGEROUS SITUATION AS ENGINE STARTED BILLOWING SMOKE, OBSCURING TRAFFIC CAUSING MANY CARS TO SWERVE DANGEROUSLY AND HAD STOP ABRUPTLY. CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP EMPIRE AUTOHAUS, INC. WHERE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. OWNED CAR FOR THREE YEARS WITH ZERO PROBLEMS AND REGULAR SERVICE. LEARNED THAT MANY PORSCHE AUTOMOBILES WITH THE M96 ENGINE (UP TO 25%) WITH LESS THAN 90,000 MILES HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND HAS YET TO BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525254July 16, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
PULLING AWAY FROM A GREEN LIGHT IN TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE STARTED TO UPSHIFT INTO A HIGHER GEAR MUCH SOONER THAN NORMAL AND THE CAR FELT DOWN ON POWER. THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WAS RUNNING ON FEWER THAN NORMAL CYLINDERS. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY & HAD IT TOWED TO A PORSCHE SPECIALIST. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN IMS (INTERMEDIATE SHAFT) BEARING FAILURE AND THAT IS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH M96 AND M97 PORSCHE ENGINES. MINE BEING AN M96 ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522174June 27, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
I RENTED A 2013 PORSCHE BOXTER CONV. THEY DROPPED IT OFF TO ME AT STORE, DUE TO MY CAR BEING TOWED AWAY FROM BEING HIT. WAS QUICKLY SHOWN THE OUTSIDE TO VERIFY NO BODY OR WHEEL DAMAGE' FEW DAYS LATER, DRIVING RENTAL, I PULL UP BEHIND A PICK UP TRUCK ON THE COLDWATER CYN IN LOS ANGELES, (ONE WAY, EACH DIRECTION} TRAFFIC CAME TO A STANDSTILL, AND THEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, TACHOMETER WENT TO ZERO. ODD, AND AS I WAS REACHING FOR KEY TO RESTART, I GENTLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND WOW, CAR COMES ALIVE AND LURCHES INTO TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. NOW DAMAGE TO CAR CAN BE REPAIRED, BUT IF I HAD BEEN AT A CROSSWALK WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I COULD HAVE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED PEDESTRIAN. \ DEALER LATER TELLS ME CAR HAS OPTION OF AUTO STOP.\ SHOULD BE REQUIRED OF RENTAL CAR COMPANIES TO INFORM RENTER OF THIS FEATURE SO AS NOT TO HAVE ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514221June 4, 2013
ENGINE
1998 PORSCHE BOXSTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED BETWEEN 1997 AND 1998 PORSCHE PRODUCED AN ENGINE WITH TWO KNOWN FLAWS. THE FIRST, WAS THE ENGINE BLOCK, THAT WAS TOO POROUS. IT CAUSED THE CYLINDER WALLS TO CRACK, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL COMPRESSION IN THE CYLINDER, AND THEREFORE RENDERING THE ENGINE USELESS. SECONDLY, THEY DESIGNED A FAULTY INTERMEDIATE BEARING SHAFT, THAT HAD A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE, AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. ALSO, THE COMPUTER MODULE WAS LOCATED IN A POSITION THAT EXPOSED IT TO INCREASED PROBABILITY TO SHORT CIRCUIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511049May 8, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
ON THE 2013 BOXSTER THE TAILPIPE CAN BURN YOUR LEG IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFULLY WHEN YOU GO TO OPEN THE REAR TRUNK. IT MY VIEW THAT THE TAILPIPE EXTEND TO LONG FROM THE BUMPER OF THE CAR AND THEREFORE, WHEN SOMEONE GOES TO OPEN THE TRUNK YOUR LEG WILL TOUCH THE TAILPIPE. MY WIFE WAS BURN ON HER LEG FROM THE TAILPIPE. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO NORTH AMERICA PORSCHE. I GOT THE FEELING FROM THE SENIOR REP THAT IT HAPPEN AND SO WHAT. I SOMEONE CAN TAKE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND SEE IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482947November 2, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AWOKE ONE SATURDAY MORNING AFTER IT HAD BEEN RAINING ALL NIGHT TO FIND MY SPOILER UP (WHICH IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO GO UP AT 75 MPH), MY CAR WINDOWS DOWN AND MY REAR LIGHTS ON. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE WINDOWS, NOTHING WORKED. THE CAR RAN OKAY, AS FAR AS I COULD TELL, BUT THE ALARM STARTED TO GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO DISABLE THE BATTERY JUST TO STOP ALL OF THE MALFUNCTIONS THAT WERE HAPPENING. THERE WERE MULTIPLE FAULT CODES ON IN THE ON BOARD COMPUTER, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND MANY OF THE INTERNAL BUTTONS/SWITCHES DID NOT WORK. AFTER THIS HAPPENED I ATTEMPTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE THIS. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY CASES OF THIS EXACT SAME SITUATION THERE WERE FLOODING THE INTERNET. APPARENTLY THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED SO THAT IF CERTAIN DRAINS ARE CLOGGED, WATER LEAKS INTO THE CAR ONTO THE BACK CARPETS UNDER THE SEATS AND CONVENIENTLY UNDER THOSE CARPETS ARE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES/COMPUTERS. I HAD ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AT THE TIME AND I WAS TOLD THAT ALL REQUIRED SERVICE WAS COMPLETED PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT. THIS ENDED UP COSTING ALMOST $6,000.00 TO FIX. I UNDERSTAND THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE VEHICLES PRESUMABLY HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THEM, BUT THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW AND A MONEY GRAB. AN UNSUSPECTING OWNER, WHO DOESN'T KNOW THAT THESE DRAINS NEED TO BE CLEANED OR EVEN EXIST FOR THAT MATTER, ENDS UP WITH A MASSIVE REPAIR BILL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS WORLDWIDE WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. IN FACT ALL OF THE PORSCHE PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH SAID THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CLAIM UNDER MY INSURANCE, SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT ISN'T WORTH AS MUCH BECAUSE OF THIS "LOSS" AND I HAVE NO RECOURSE AGAINST THE CARELESS MAKERS AND DESIGNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480752October 16, 2012
ENGINE
ENGINE MADE STRANGE NOISES. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THAT SPECIALIZED IN PORSCHE. DIAGNOSIS WAS INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476061September 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
2002 PORCHE BOXSTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COMPLAINT CONCERNING VEHICLE PARTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CABLES FROM THE SHIFTER TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475062September 11, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
MY VEHICLE HAD ONLY APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES WHEN THE HORN STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. THE HORN STARTED TO ROUTINELY DEPLOY ON ITS OWN. IN THE SHORT TERM I HAD TO HAVE IT DISCONNECTED BY MY REGULAR MECHANIC SO I COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE CAR. I CALLED BARRIER PORSCHE IN BELLEVUE WASHINGTON WHERE THEY SEEMED TO BE ALREADY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I LEARNED THE PARTS (CLOCK SPRING AND SOMETHING ELSE) COST CLOSE TO $600 AND I ASSUME AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HOURS OF SHOP TIME. WITH SALES TAX I'M SURE IT WOULD COST $1,000 TO REPAIR THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL .PLEASE HELP! THIS SHOULD CLEARLY BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473312September 2, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON YET IT IS NOT DEFECTIVE. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PORSCHE ISSUE. THEY WANT 500 TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462672June 21, 2012
ENGINE
THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING WHEN OUT AND SPREAD METAL SHAVING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE AN ENGINE REBUILD. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICE ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY PROVIDED SERVICE MANUAL. I CALLED PORSCHE USA TO SEE IF THEY WOUDL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAILURE, SINCE THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN PORSCHES, BUT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT HELP. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458148May 11, 2012
SEATS
A STRANGE THING HAPPENED AS MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT IN OUR '03 BOXSTER. THE SEATBACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MYSTERIOUSLY BEGAN ROTATING FORWARD, ALL EFFORTS TO STOP IT USING BODY FORCE FAILED. MY WIFE WAS CRUSHED INTO THE GLOVE BOX BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP. SHE COULD NOT REACH THE DOOR HANDLE AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO EXTRICATE HERSELF AFTER I OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE SEAT MOTOR HAD ROTATED THE SEATBACK FORWARD TO A POSITION OF APPROXIMATELY 45 PAST VERTICAL BY THE TIME IT STOPPED. WE LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE SHEEPSKIN SEAT COVER HAD SNAGGED THE PROTRUDING SWITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT AND HELD IT, CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO ROTATE. THE POINT I NEED TO MAKE IS THIS; WHAT IF THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE? THE DRIVER WOULD BE CRUSHED AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND UNABLE TO STOP. A CRASH WOULD BE INEVITABLE, AND THE DRIVER WOULD SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURY SINCE THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND WHEEL IS SO SMALL. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR THE SEAT MOTOR TO BE ABLE TO ROTATE THE SEATBACK FORWARD TO SUCH A HUGE ANGLE FROM VERTICAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MECHANICAL LEVER AT THE TOP OF THE SEAT MAY BE USED IF SEAT ROTATION IS REQUIRED. I STRONGLY URGE PORSCHE TO CONSIDER INSTALLING A LIMIT SWITCH ON THE SEAT MOTOR TO PREVENT EVEN THE REMOTEST POSSIBILITY OF THIS EVENT OCCURRING. THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE PLACING AN ITEM IN A POSITION TO SNAG THE PROTRUDING SWITCH AND ACTIVATE THE SEAT ROTATION IS TOO REAL TO IGNORE, AND RAISES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. NOTE THAT THE SHEEPSKIN SEAT COVERS I USE ARE CUSTOM MADE FOR THE BOXSTER SEAT AND HAVE CUTOUTS AROUND THE SEAT SWITCHES; EVEN SO THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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