Porsche BOXSTER S problems and owner complaints

I WAS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A 2000 PORSCHE BOXSTER S. I TOOK THE CAR TO A PORSCHE DEALER TO HAVE A PRE PURCHASE INSPECTION PERFORMED AND WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE 53,000 MILE CAR ACTUALLY HAD A FACTORY REPLACEMENT ENGINE INSTALLED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THAT ACTUALLY INSTALLED THE FACTORY REPLACEMENT ENGINE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 35,000 MILES FOR AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE INSPECTION REPORTED THAT A FEW MINOR ISSUES NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED BUT OVERALL THA…

Look up ODI 10405356 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2003 PORSCHE BOXSTER S WITH 32,000MI ON IT. ON THE 8TH OF MARCH, THE ENGINE FAILED WITH AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING FAILURE REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA ARE NOT HELPFUL. SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE IN MY OPINION IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY BY PCNA CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT ARE OUT THERE. *TR

Look up ODI 10319298 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT IN LIGHT CITY TRAFFIC, ENGINE SUDDENLY HAD REDUCED POWER OUTPUT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY LOUD SOUNDS OF LOOSE METAL PARTS THROUGH OUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION BY A PORSCHE SPECIALIST, HE DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SUFFERED INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILURE WHICH CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE BY ALLOWING THE VALVES TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PISTON HEADS AND SHREDDING BALL BEARS WHICH SENT METAL SHAVING THROUGH THE OILING SYSTEM. THE ENGINE IS CONSIDERED NON-REPAIRABLE AND REQUIRES A COMPLETE RE…

Look up ODI 10423382 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PORSCHE BOXSTER S. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE IGNITION MODULE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,000.

Look up ODI 10238710 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE HAS AN "AUTO STOP" FEATURE THAT KILLS THE ENGINE WHENEVER THE CAR IS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE, THE CAR ENGINE RESTARTS. THE STOP-START DELAY IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY A CAR THAT WAS BEHIND ME BECAUSE THE DRIVER WAS ANXIOUS TO "MOVE" AND MY CAYENNE'S ENGINE HAD TO RESTART BEFORE IT WOULD MOVE FROM THE STOP LIGHT. THIS SPECIAL FEATURE CAN BE TURNED OFF, BUT YOU MUST TURN IT OFF EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR. OTHERWISE, THE AUTO STO…

Look up ODI 10360369 at NHTSA ↗

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

Look up ODI 10131161 at NHTSA ↗

ON SATURDAY, MAY 16TH THIS BOXSTER SUFFERED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT ~ 30 MPH. THE ENGINE FAILED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE INITIAL INDICATION WAS A LOUD AND DISTRACTING FLAPPING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING HAD BEEN PICKED UP ON THE CAR'S UNDERCARRIAGE. THIS WAS FOLLOWED WITHIN A MOMENT BY SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WE FEEL FORTUNATE THAT THIS ENGINE FAILED AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, SO THAT NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES OCCURRED. HAD THE FAILURE OCCURRED EARLIER IN THE DAY WHILE WE WERE DRIVIN…

Look up ODI 10273686 at NHTSA ↗

CALLED PORSCHE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT HOW TO MANUALLY TURN OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IN 2003 BOXSTER S. I WAS TOLD THAT A PORSCHE MANUFACTURER CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED AND THEN THE SEAT BELT WOULD BE BUCKLED INTO THAT. THIS DEVICE WOULD THEN TURN OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I INQUIRED ABOUT THE SIZE OF THIS SEAT AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD FIT A CHILD UP TO 5 YEARS OF AGE. I TOLD THEM THAT THE LAW REQUIRES THAT A CHILD 12 AND UNDER MUST NOT BE SEATED WITH AN AIRBAG. ALSO AN ELDERLY PERSON OR SOMEONE WHO RECENTLY HAD SUR…

Look up ODI 10180899 at NHTSA ↗

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 VEHI…

Look up ODI 10128917 at NHTSA ↗

TWO WEEKS AGO I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY POWER WINDOW LIFT MECHANIC AT THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH I HAD IT FIXED AT THE PARK PLACE PORSCHE IN DALLAS TEXAS AND WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER FOR THE POWER WINDOW LIFT MECHANIC AND WAS CHARGED 516 DOLLARS. HAVING DONE MY OWN RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE LIMITED WARRANTY THAT I HAVE COVERS ELECTRICAL MECHANICS INCLUDING POWER WINDOWS. HERES THE WEBSITE ITSELF (HTTP://WWW.PORSCHE.COM/USA/PRE-OWNED-VEHICLES/APPROVED/)

Look up ODI 10167550 at NHTSA ↗

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 VEHI…

Look up ODI 10128917 at NHTSA ↗