2006 Porsche Boxster problems
The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are mid-engine two-seater sports cars manufactured and marketed by German automobile manufacturer Porsche across four generations—as a two-door, two-seater roadster (Boxster) and a three-door, two-seater fastback coupé (Cayman).
The first generation Boxster was introduced in 1996; the second generation Boxster and the Cayman arrived in late 2005; and the third generation launched in 2012. Since the introduction of the fourth generation in 2016, the two models have been marketed as the Porsche 718 Boxster and Porsche 718 Cayman.
The nameplate Boxster is a portmanteau of boxer, a reference to its flat or boxer engine, and roadster, a reference to the body style. The nameplate Cayman is an alternative spelling of caiman, a member of the alligator family.
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Common 2006 Porsche Boxster problems
The Porsche Boxster 2006 is known for several common problems that owners have reported. These issues can affect the car's performance, reliability, and overall cost of ownership. Here are some of the most frequently reported problems and their details:
- RMS (Rear Main Seal) Oil Leaks: The RMS is a seal located between the engine and the transmission. It can develop leaks, causing oil to leak out and potentially damaging the clutch in manual transmission cars. This issue is more prevalent in earlier models, but it can still occur in the 2006 Boxster. If left unaddressed, an RMS leak can lead to expensive repairs or even engine failure.
- Air/Oil Separator Failure: The air/oil separator is responsible for separating oil from the air that enters the engine. If it fails, oil can enter the intake manifold, causing reduced performance and potential engine damage. This issue can be identified by oil leaks, dark smoke from the exhaust, or the check-engine light coming on.
- Engine Block Porosity: This is a casting defect that can cause the engine to fail completely, leading to costly repairs or even replacement. The porous engine block can lead to coolant leakage, as well as oil and water intermixing. The most common signs of engine block porosity are engine overheating, excessive engine smoke, or low engine compression.
- Cylinder Head Cracks: Cracks in the cylinder head can lead to bigger problems, such as engine damage or even engine removal. Cracks can occur where exhaust valves are located or even around the spark plug hole, leading to dangerous issues if not taken care of in time.
- Cylinder Lining Cracks: This issue can cause oil to leak from the engine, leading to poor performance and other issues like engine damage or even engine removal. It can also lead to a decrease in fuel efficiency and an increase in emissions.
- Exhaust Manifold Cracks: Cracked exhaust manifolds can be caused by heat stress or corroded bolts/fasteners. Excessive engine noise, exhaust fumes escaping from around the manifold, and loss of performance are all possible signs of a crack, which can be difficult to spot by sight unless you have the facilities to inspect the underneath of the car.
- Wheel Corrosion: Corrosion is a common problem with the various wheels available with the Boxster. Once it has started, the condition will deteriorate. Check for signs of damage, such as curbing and early corrosion, as it will mean the wheels eventually need to be refurbished.
- Roof Mechanism Issues: Problems with broken push rods on the roof mechanism are common, but they are simple and relatively inexpensive to replace. The other thing to look for is evidence of leaks, particularly from the rear roof drains which can get blocked by dirt and leaves, forcing rainwater into the cabin close to an electronic control unit.
- Performance Upgrades: Remember to ask whether the Boxster 987 you want to buy has any non-standard equipment or has had performance upgrades. These modifications may affect the car's performance, insurance premium, and maintenance requirements.
When buying a used Porsche Boxster 2006, it is essential to be aware of these common problems and to thoroughly inspect the car before purchasing. A pre-purchase inspection by a qualified Porsche technician can help identify any issues and provide an estimate of the repair costs. Regular maintenance and inspections can also help prevent these problems from occurring or worsening over time.
Are 2006 Porsche Boxsters reliable?
The good news is that as well as being a great drive, the Boxster 987 is highly reliable and has an MOT pass rate that ranges from 82.3% for 2005 models to 91% for 2010 cars. However, when mechanical problems do occur, they can be expensive to fix unless they are spotted early.
What is the main problem with the Porsche Boxster?
The two main issues the Boxster and 996 faced at the start of the 2000s were IMS (intermediate shaft) bearing failures and RMS (rear main seal) issues. Contrary to popular belief, both of these issues, although certainly prelevant in both models, were not a guaranteed issue in models of this era.
Does 2006 Boxster have IMS issue?
Boxsters, Caymans and 911s from MY1997 to MY2008 are all at risk of IMS bearing failure, with the exception of Turbo, GT2 and GT3 models. However, the type of bearings used changed over the period and some were more prone to failure than others.
Is Porsche Boxster high maintenance?
The annual maintenance cost of a Porsche Boxster is $952. Repair and maintenance costs vary depending on age, mileage, location and shop.
2006 Porsche Boxster car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Porsche Boxster problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine problems
- Service brakes problems
- Steering problems
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2006 Porsche Boxster vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2006 Porsche Boxster complaints
The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2006 Porsche Boxster.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-04-01
- VIN: WP0CA29816S
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Car has 65,000 miles when water-pump failed catastrophically (pump drive shaft sheared) while driving causing breakdown. Needed to be towed to repair facility. 1. Water Pump failed - shaft connecting pully system to impeller sheared in half. Part is available for inspection. 65,000 miles on the engine 2. Car stopped running due to overheating and loss of electrical power - I had to stop in the middle of a busy street and wait for a tow . 3. Car was repaired by dealership and I have the damaged part, service reports and invoice. 4. This occurred without warning - while driving at approx 55mph I heard a "bang" and the coolant and electrical lights lit up on my dashboard. Engine temperature rose rapidly and battery drained quickly. Images of water pump drive shaft show a manufacturing defect of the shaft having been partially compromised prior to the sharing (failure). Google searches show that issues with Porsche Boxter water pumps - including my year and model.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-07-15
- VIN: WP0CA29856U
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I PURCHASED THE 2006 BOXSTER IN JULY 2010 FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, AND SOON AFTERWARD, STARTED TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT ABS/PSM SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS. THE ORIGINAL PORSCHE WARRANTY WAS DUE TO EXPIRE IN JANUARY, 2011. I TOOK THE CAR TO FLEMINGTON PORSCHE IN FLEMINGTON N.J. THREE TIMES IN AUGUST, 2010, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE WARNING LIGHTS PERSISTED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO KNOPF PORSCHE IN ALLENTOWN, PA IN 2012, AND THEY TOO, WERE UNABLE TO GIVE A DEFINITIVE DIAGNOSIS, BUT OPINED THAT THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE FALSE POSITIVES, AND THE SYSTEMS WERE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. LAST YEAR, I WAS FORCED TO MAKE A HARD STOP, ALL FOUR BRAKES LOCKED, THE CAR SKIDDED, AND THE BACK END OF THE CAR BEGAN TO 'FISHTAIL.' THE ABS/PSM SAFETY SYSTEMS ON THIS CAR ARE CLEARLY NOT RELIABLE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT PORSCHE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP FIX THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIPS DID NOT AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE A SOLUTION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THESE ARE SYSTEMS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF ANY CAR.
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-09-04
- VIN: WP0CA29846U
- Components: STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2012-10-20
- VIN: WP0CA298X6U
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 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
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-10-03
- VIN: WP0CA29896U
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: DT*: THE CONTACT STATED EACH TIME THE ENGINE WAS STARTED OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED WHILE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. ALSO, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED FORWARD SO THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. AFTER THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE SEAT AS INSTRUCTED BY THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM
Positive 2006 Porsche Boxster car reviews
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2006 Porsche Boxster problems:
2006 Boxster S issues? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche ...
Apr 5, 2017 ... The general consensus is that the 06+ IMS has a reduced failure rate is street usage, but it's actually higher with track usage. If I'm not ...
Buying a Porsche Boxster 987? 15 Issues to Look Out For ...
Both 986 and 987 Boxsters are vulnerable to rear main oil seal failure, which is expensive to repair as the gearbox needs to be removed in order to fit the ...
2006 - 2008 opinions please - 986 Forum - The Community for ...
Feb 1, 2017 ... Any issues (or known common problems)? I'm ... porsche-boxster-purchase-owner-issues-print.html. ... The 2006 though should be relatively free of ...
Boxster - 2006 Porsche Boxster 2.7 IMS | Planet-9 Porsche Forum
Jan 14, 2018 ... I assumed that the weren't any IMS issues with the Boxster 987 as it was using the M97 engine. However when I checked the registration card, it ...
Is the porsche boxster a good car under 8k or are they all hiding ...
May 28, 2020 ... The early boxsters are only more reliable just looking at IMS issues. They are more prone to alot of other problems that got fixed down the line ...
Other years of Porsche Boxster
Are you having problems with your 2006 Porsche Boxster?
Giles Johnson 2024-11-22
What a fantastic car to drive! Shifting the manual transmission is a breeze with tight, short, and precise movements. This car accelerates quickly and smoothly. The driving position can be highly controlled with the seat adjustments and tilting and telescoping steering wheel. When done right, it feels like the car is an extension of me. While it may not be the most economical car, the driving pleasure is well worth it. Putting the top down and hearing the sound of that distinctive Porsche motor makes the world a better place. Someone once asked if I was going through my second childhood. I replied that I never left my first. Throughout my life, I've owned several convertibles and sports cars, but this one is the best yet!
Dillan Mohr 2024-11-10
I've had my car for nine months and it's been an absolute blast to drive! The exhaust note is sweet, the performance is terrific, and it looks stunning from all angles. I recently completed my first autocross event and was blown away by how good this car is. The steering, braking, and handling were all astonishing. I tried my best to get the back end to break loose, but it just wouldn't budge! For a fun day out, I recommend finding a windy road, dropping the top, turning up the Bose stereo, and blasting through the gears. This car is the perfect stress reliever after a long day in the office. I opted for 18
Roosevelt Fay 2024-11-05
This car is so much fun to drive! You can feel the power with just a slight push on the gas pedal. And get this, the first scheduled maintenance isn't until two years or 20,000 miles! Can you believe it? That means no oil changes for 20K miles. The dealer recommended not driving over 120 mph during the first 2,000 miles for brake-in, but that's still plenty fast for U.S.A. roads.
Julien Stehr 2024-10-28
Congratulations on your new 2006 Porsche Boxster S! It sounds like you made a great choice after test driving the Lotus Elise and the Honda S2000. From what you've shared, it seems like the Boxster S is not only a thrilling car to drive, but also a practical one for daily use. The brakes and steering are impressive, and I'm sure it will perform well on the track. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, and we look forward to hearing more after your track date at Virginia International Raceway!
Scotty Upton 2024-10-18
Your Boxster sounds like a lot of fun to drive! Going on a long road trip must be exciting. I understand that the engine noise can be a bit distracting, but it's great that the exhaust pipes help you forget about it when you hit the pedal.