RoadVitals

2010 Porsche Boxster (987)

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Jul 20, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Porsche Boxster (987), most frequently naming the powertrain (other) and transmission categories. 373 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)150.0%
  • Transmission150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 20, 2014

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR 8-LANE HIGHWAY. I SHIFTED UNEVENTFULLY THROUGH THE GEARS, UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM 5TH TO 6TH. AT THIS POINT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER OFFERED NO RESISTANCE AND HAD NO EFFECT: THE SHIFT LINKAGE HAD FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS IN 5TH AND I COULD NO LONGER CHANGE THE GEAR. BECAUSE I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND KNEW THE AREA, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO AN EXIT THAT OFFERED SAFE PARKING, AND CALL FOR A TOW. A BIT OF WEB RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT THIS IS A MODEL DEFECT THAT HAS ALREADY AFFECTED MANY. THE BOXSTER AND CAYMAN (987) HAVE A CABLE LINKAGE, AND I SUSPECT THAT THE CABLE (PART # 98742404211) IS UNDERDESIGNED AND PRONE TO SNAP (E.G., HTTP://WWW.PLANET-9.COM/987-CAYMAN-BOXSTER-PROBLEMS-COMPLAINTS/75482-BROKEN-SHIFTER-CABLE.HTML, HTTP://GOTACLASSACTION.COM/PORSCHE-INVESTIGATED-OVER-FAULTY-SHIFTER-CABLE-IN-911-AND-CAYMAN-VEHICLES). I AM CONCERNED THAT A FAILURE OF THE SHIFT CABLE AT THE WRONG TIME, OR TO THE WRONG DRIVER, COULD HAVE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES. THE CABLE CAN FAIL WHEN SHIFTING INTO ANY GEAR, EVEN REVERSE. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, A DRIVER COULD INITIATE A THREE-POINT TURN, AND END UP WITH HIS VEHICLE IN THE ROADWAY, PERPENDICULAR TO TRAFFIC, UNABLE TO PROCEED. ALSO, AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WHO HAD TO COPE WITH THE SAME SITUATION I DID (STUCK IN A HIGH GEAR, MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) MIGHT BE UNABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND BRING HIS VEHICLE SAFELY TO A STOP. THESE ARE JUST TWO SCENARIOS; THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. NOTE THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED FOR ITS ENTIRE LIFETIME (I AM THE FIRST OWNER). IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP LESS THAN 5 MONTHS AGO TO COMPLETE ITS 4-YEAR MAINTENANCE. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 2,500 MILES SINCE IT WAS LAST INSPECTED. IN OTHER WORDS, IT APPEARS THIS FAILURE CAN STRIKE AT ANY TIME, EVEN ON A WELL-MAINTAINED, LOW-MILEAGE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10614857
Incident
Jul 19, 2014
Mileage
24,069 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 23, 2010

STARTING FROM A STOP LIGHT, I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH ON MY NEW 2010 PORSCHE CARRERA S. UPON REACHING APPROPRIATE SPEED, I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AS I APPLIED ACCELERATION, BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. I THEN NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL DID NOT RETURN TO ITS FULLY DISENGAGED POSITION, RATHER IT STAYED HALF DEPRESSED. THIS RESULTED IN OVERREVING, LOSS OF SPEED IN TRAFFIC, AND BURNING AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10339774
Incident
Jun 22, 2010
Mileage
700 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSTR 2642

Porsche Tester Software Update Information Software Version: 44.300.000

SPTL 2607a

VAS 621001A Matrix Headlamp Aimer – Automatic Shipment / Maha Installation

102/25

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PCCM+ 9x7.II

SPTL 2607

VAS 621001A Matrix Headlamp Aimer – Automatic Shipment / Maha Installation

13/26

ENGINE

Allocation of Approved Engine Oils MY 2027 (13/26)

TSTR 2641

PiUS Update Information Software Version: 3.2

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Porsche Boxster (987) by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011100—
2010Viewing200—
2009300—
2008100—
2007200—
2006000—
2005200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.