Porsche Boxster Complaints

190 consumer complaints on file.

#10144019November 30, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 1999 BOXSTER. AT 9500 MILES THE ENGINE BLEW UP. IRA MOTORS IN DANVERS REPLACED IT WITH A REBUILT ENGINE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE THEN BUT IT HAS BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR IS ALWAYS GARAGED IN WINTER AND HAS ONLY 25,000 MILES ON THE NEW MOTOR. IN MID OCT. OF THIS YEAR MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH WHEN STARTED IN THE MORNING. IT WAS DUE FOR IT'S 30,000 MI CHECK UP SOON SO I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER. I SPENT $1000 FOR THE CHECK UP AND TWO DAYS LATER PICKED IT UP AND IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN. COUGHING, CHOKING AND STALLING OUT. I LEFT THE CAR THERE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND WHEN THE WEATHER GOT COLDER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL CARS UP TO 2005 MODELS DOING THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A WINTER FUEL ADDITIVE IN THE NORTHEAST THAT DOESN'T GET ALONG WITH PORSCHE BOXSTERS. MY OTHER CARS RUN FINE ON THE SAME FUEL. MEANWHILE WHAT AM I TO DO WITH A CAR THAT WON'T START IN THE WINTER. I CANNOT SELL IT THIS WAY AND IRA PORSCHE OF DANVERS, MA SAID THEY CANNOT FIX IT. I HAVE BEEN ON LINE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW CAN YOU HELP ME? SHOULD I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR IN SUMMER IN CALIFORNIA? PATRICIA COHEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140450October 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME SHE ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A MILKY SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AGAIN. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WANTED $14,000 TO FIX IT, BUT DID NOT TELL HER WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE MECHANIC, DETERMINED THERE WAS A CASTING FLAW WHICH CAUSED THE RADIATOR FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE . THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137104September 20, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CABLE FAILURE. BOTH INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CABLES HAVE FAILED. THIS HAS MADE THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE LOCAL PORSCHE DEALER AND PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PORSCHE IS AWARE OF THIS PERVASIVE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS A NHTSA RECALL IS ISSUED. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOW THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM TO '98 AND LATER BOXTERS. SEE: HTTP://WWW.986FAQ.COM/10-0/PROBLEMS. ASP#001 PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY FLAW. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134376August 27, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
I HAVE A 1999 PORSCHE BOXSTER THAT HAD NO PROBLEMS CONCERNING SAFETY, AIRBAG OR THE SEAT BELTS OF THE CAR UNTIL THE AIR BAG LIGHT MYSTERIOUSLY TURNED ON. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DECODED THE CODE TO FIND THE PROBLEM IS A SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT THAT IS FAULTY, BUT THE AIR BAG WAS STILL WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER (RUSNAK PORSCHE OF PASADENA) ADMITTED THIS WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, THE PROBLEM IS COMMON, BUT WAS NOT COVERED SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM IS VERY PREVALENT IN PORSCHES, AS IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED MANY TIMES ON A MAIN PORSCHE MESSAGE BOARD (WWW.PPBB.COM). ALSO, THE PROBLEM HAS ITS OWN WEBSITE WITH HOW TO DEAL WITH IT, BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/ESKLUT/AIRBAG.HTML IF NECESSARY I WILL COLLECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR A SET AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM COVERED BY WARRANTY OR NOT. BILL WOJDAK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134077August 24, 2005
AIR BAGS
SRS (AIRBAG LIGHT) ON DUE TO FAULTY GROUNDING IN SEATBELT SWITCH. PORSCHE BOXSTERS HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT'S AIRBAG LIGHTS ON DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE WAY PORSCHE HAS GROUNDED THE SWITCH ON THE SEAT BELT HARNESS. PORSCHE HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND PARTS UPDATE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BUT FIXES ARE DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133799August 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
I HAD JUST RETURNED TO MY CAR AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER, THE SKY HAD BEGUN TO LOOK AS IF A STORM WAS APPROACHING AND I DECIDED TO PUT UP MY CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE TOP WOULD NOT GO UP, SO I PROCEEDED HOME IN HOPES THAT I WOULD BEAT THE IMPENDING BAD WEATHER HOME. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT BEGAN TO STORM AND MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF WERE SOAKED. I WAS TERRIFIED AS I COULD BARELY SEE TO DRIVE. FORTUNATELY I MADE IT HOME BEFORE MY CAR CONKED OUT. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO HAVE MY DISABLED VEHICLE TOWED TO THE PORSCHE DEALER. IT WAS THEN EVALUATED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, AND HE FOUND THAT A RELAY AND MOTOR HAD FAILED. THE DESIGN INVOLVES TWO RELAYS, ONE FOR THE LEFT SIDE AND ONE FOR THE RIGHT SIDE. THE LEFT SIDE FAILED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CONVERTIBLE TOP TO COME UP. IN ADDITION TO THE MOTOR/ AND OR RELAY FAILURE IT CAUSED THE COWLING COVERING THE TOP TO JAM AND TORCHED IT, SO THAT IT BECAME FURHER DAMAGED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE WATER, BUT NOT THE MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT CAUSED THAT. THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE MOTOR AND RELAY WERE NOT REPLACEABLE AS PORSCHE HAD REDESIGNED THE SYSTEM, BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, SO THAT BOTH SIDE WOULD BE RAISED AT THE SAME TIME. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2200.00 DOLLARS. I CONTACTED PORSCHE NORTH AMERCA, CUSTOMER COMMITMENT DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NOT. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE COULD LIKEWISE CONTACT THE REGIONAL LEVEL TO SEE IF PORSCHE WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS REPLACEMENT AND COST OF UPGRADING TO THE SAFER DESIGN FIX. THEY REFUSED. MY ARGUMENT IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO NAVIGATE HOME IN THIS STORM, (BELIEVE ME, IT WASN'T EASY).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131161August 2, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1997 PORSCHE HAD A RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. MY 2000 PORSCHE BOXSTER HAS THE SAME DEFECT. DEALERS CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MANY THIS YEAR. MANUFACTURER DID NOT RESOLVE THE CONCERN. PORSCHE CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME TO TAKE MY COMPLAINT TO NHTSA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128917July 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH A 2003 BOXSTER S I PURCHASED IN MAY 2003 FROM MCKENNA PORSCHE IN NORWALK, CA. SOME OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS INCLUDE: 1) CONDENSATION IN OIL FILLER AREA; 2) OIL LEAKS IN 2 LOCATIONS; 3) WORN DRIVE BELT; 4) CLUTCH CAUSING GRINDING NOISE; 5) IGINITION SWITCH & KEY DIDN'T WORK; AIR CONDITIONING UNIT DIDN'T COOL; 6) STEREO SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK. MCKENNA HAS REPAIRED/REPLACED ALL ITEMS TO DATE EXCEPT THE CLUTCH. MCKENNA ADVISED CLUCTH PROBLEM IS MY RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO WEAR AND COST IS $1700. THE VEHILCE HAS 19000 MILES. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS DATE I PICKED UP THE VEHILCE FROM MCKENNA. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STARTING WITH THE FIRST DAY I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM MCKENNA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126011June 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, AIR BAGS
DT: RECALL 98V113000. WAS ISSUED CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. CALLER SAID HER CAR HAD SAME FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN RECALL. DEALER SAID THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. MANUFACTURER SAID THIS CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY , AND NOT IN THE RECALL, AND WILL OFFER NO HELP. ALSO, ANOTHER RECALL 98E005000. CONCERNING AIR BAGS WAS MENTIONED. CALLER SAID THEY WILL NOT HELP HER WITH THIS RECALL EITHER. CALLER HAS PAID FOR PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE UNDER THESE RECALLS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125226June 14, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES SUDDENLY LOOSE PRESSURE AND CAR DOES NOT STOP.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124939June 10, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SHOULDER "GUIDE" FOR THE SAFETY BELT IS CRACKED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THIS GUIDE WOULD BE WEIGHT BEARING IN ANY ACCIDENT. THE CRACKS COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SAFETY BELT CONSTRAINT. BECAUSE THESE CRACKS ARE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO PROTECT RIDERS FROM A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121034May 16, 2005
EQUIPMENT, AIR BAGS
PORSCHE STARTED SELLING BOXSTERS IN 1997. THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM IN THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE OWNER WILL NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS ARE WORKING PROPERLY OR NOT. PORSCHE HAS HAD OVER 7 FIXES ON THIS ISSUE AND NONE HAVE WORKED TO DATE. THEY HAVE REPLACE MINE UNDER WARRANTY, AND IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY LOCAL PORACHE DEALER THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118005April 17, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SECOND GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116467April 6, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. THE SAME FAILURE AS RECALL #W03 IN 1998. DEALER REPLACED SWITCH IN 1999, IGNITION SWITCH CRACKED AND FAILED AGAIN 2005. I AM TOLD BY PORSCHE MY VEHICEL IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100921December 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
1997 PORSCHE BOXTER TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SELECTOR INCREASINGLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND EVENTUALLY UNABLE TO PUT IN PARK AND OR DRIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082740July 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
LEAKING COOLANT TANK. THE COOLANT TANK ON THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED IN NUMEROUS CARS RESULTING IN EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. MANY OWNERS I HAVE CONTACTED HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TANK FAILURE. I BELIEVE PORSCHE SHOULD FIX THESE CARS UNDER A RECALL. THIS IS CLEAR CASE OF A DESIGN DEFICENCY WHICH WILL LEAD TO OVERHEATING AND FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. IF THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC, THE OPERATER COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED. THE TANK MUST BE REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED PART FROM PORSCHE THAT HAS HAD THE MATERIAL CHANGED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075662June 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE AT THE CAR WASH THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF THE FACILITY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071521April 26, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS OCCURRED AFTER THE CONSUMER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY, AND DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES. THEN CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056664February 6, 2004
AIR BAGS
I HAVE HAD A REOCCURING AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON, THE DEALER HAS HAD IT ON 5 OCCASIONS, AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS ONS 4 OCCASIONS. I THOUGHT THAT THE DEALER HAD IT REPAIRED IN JANUARY OF 2003, THEN IT CAME BACK ON AGAIN IN JAN OF 2004. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE REPAIR IS THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THEM 3 TIMES, I DONT KNOW WHAT THE PREVOIUS REPAIRS WERE PRIOR TO MY OWNING THE VEHICLE. THIS TIME WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR, IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND I WAS GIVEN A GOODWILL BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR 50% OF THE REPAIR BILL. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN A YEAR WHEN THIS COMES ON AGAIN? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON BECAUSE OF THIS? THE THING THAT STIKES ME THE MOST IS THAT THE DEALER HAS HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK EVERY TIME AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, SHOULD THERE NT BE A SAFETY RECALL IF THIS IS THE CASE?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056618February 5, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MY CLUTCH WAS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE FOR A WEEK AFTER I INITIALLY PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEN AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. I ONLY HAVE 24000 MILES ON THE CLUTCH AND IT FAILED SUDDENLY CAUSING A BURNING CLOUD OF SMOKE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM INITIALLY TO THE PORSCHE DEALER IN NEW ORLEANS, CRESCENT CITY MOTORS, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NOISES WERE COMMON AND THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS CAUSED MY CLUTCH TO BURN UP PREMATURELY, HOWEVER, THEY FEEL LIKE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM IN THE MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE THROW OUT BEARING IN PORSCHE BOXSTERS AND THIS IS THE PART THAT WAS MAKING THE NOISE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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