2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER Complaints

MY 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER, 23K MI, HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT IDLE. THE ENGINE STALLED;I WAS ABLE TO RESTART BUT A LOUD CLANGING NOISE CAME FROM ENGINE. THE CAR THEN DIED AGAIN. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DUE TO AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (IMS) FAILURE; THE REQUIRED ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS $14K. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS HEARD OF SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF IMS FAILURES (BUT PORSCHE HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS). THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT CERTAINLY ENGINE FAILURE LIKE THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. PORSCHE FORUMS ON INTERNET SHOW FREQUENCY OF FAILURES FROM THIS DEFECT (POORLY DESIGNED BEARING ASSEMBLY ON IMS) IS VERY HIGH, AS MUCH AS 8-11% IN ONE FORUM POLL. *TR

VEHICLE WAS 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER. CAR ENGINE SELF-DESTRUCTED WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. CAUSE WAS FAILURE OF INTERMEDIARY SHAFT BEARING AT 29,000 MILES AS DETERMINED BY ENGINE DISSEMBLY. CAR HAD BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED BY PORSCHE FACILITIES FOR ITS LIFE. INTERMEDIARY SHAFT FAILED AFTER BEARING FAILED, SENDING METAL PIECES THROUGHOUT ENGINE INCLUDING INTO OIL SUMP. TIMING BELT PERFORATED CAMSHAFT COVER. ENGINE WAS IRREPARABLE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER REPORTS ON INTERNET SITES, EASILY SEARCHABLE, FOR "PORSCHE ENGINE FAILURE" OF THIS TYPE. *TR

2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE MADE GRINDING A SOUND AND WOULD NOT START *TGW THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE COULD PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILES WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE HE SMELLED AN UNUSUAL ODOR. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY SQUIRRELS EATING/ CLAWING THE FUEL LINE. IT WAS NOT A FAILURE OF THE PART. UPDATED 10/19/2011 *LN *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, AFTER A RAIN STORM, OUR 2005 PORSHE BOXSTER WOULD NOT START. DEALER SAYS IT IS WATER IN THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. IS THIS A DESIGN FLAW? *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INNER LANE OF THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I MANAGED TO HAVE THE CAR SLIDING TOWARD THE SHOULDER AND GET OFF FREEWAY. THE CAR WASN'T ABLE TO RESTART AGAIN. A HIGHWAY PATROL CAME BY AND HELPED TO PUSH MY CAR TO WILDER SHOULDER FOR SAFETY. THE REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND STILL IN THE SHOP NOW. THE MECHANIST SAID THE ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, AND WHEN STATIONARY, THERE WAS A VERY DISTINCT FUME SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE SMELL WAS NOTICEABLE AND CAME IN THROUGH THE VENTS. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE LEFT AND RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD COVER; CYLINDER HEAD CUP SHIELD, MANIFOLD FUEL GASKET AND THE EXHAUST GASKET BUT THE SMELL PERSISTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS OR WHEN STATIONARY, THERE WAS A SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE SMELL WAS NOTICEABLE AND CAME IN THROUGH THE VENTS. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, WHO REPLACED THE LEFT AND RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD COVER. ALSO, THE CYLINDER HEAD CUP SHIELD, MANIFOLD FUEL GASKET AND THE EXHAUST GASKET WERE REPLACED, BUT THE SMELL PERSISTED.

2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER S, IS A 2 SEATER THAT LACKS ANY MEANS TO DISARM FRONT/SIDE PASSENGER AIRBAGS. DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR CHILD PASSENGER GIVEN THE LACK OF A BACK SEAT OR ALTERNATIVE SEATING. CERTAINTLY FORESEEABLE THAT CHILDREN WILL RIDE IN SUCH A VEHICLE. *JB