2017 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 2017 Porsche Boxster problems
The Porsche Boxster, a high-performing sports car, has received mixed reviews from owners regarding its reliability and common problems. Despite its excellent performance and lifespan as a vehicle, the Porsche Boxster has only received a reliability rating of 2.5 out of 5 from RepairPal. Reports indicate that the Porsche Boxster tends to break down frequently and requires frequent maintenance and repairs. Many drivers have complained about the Boxster’s suspension, car battery, and engine.
One of the most commonly reported issues with the Porsche Boxster, particularly in the 1997-2010 models, is internal leakage at the oil separator. The car may suddenly not start at all, and some owners have reported taking their Boxsters to their dealerships, but mechanics were not able to exactly determine the cause due to the severity of engine damage. However, some owners have shared that engine-related repairs were covered by their warranties.
In the 2017 Porsche Boxster, intermittent bouts of mild overheating in city driving and the whiff of sticky-sweet coolant sent the car to the dealer twice in nearly four months. This issue was resolved, and the car had a faultless three-month run after that.
The 2017 Boxster was hit with five different recalls, mostly involving fuel system and airbag issues. While recalls generally aren’t a single reason to avoid a particular vehicle, skipping the 2017 Boxster as the first year of a new design (and the gremlins that pop up) may not be a bad idea.
In summary, the Porsche Boxster has received mixed reviews from owners regarding its reliability and common problems. Despite its excellent performance and lifespan as a vehicle, the Porsche Boxster has only received a reliability rating of 2.5 out of 5 from RepairPal. Reports indicate that the Porsche Boxster tends to break down frequently and requires frequent maintenance and repairs. Many drivers have complained about the Boxster’s suspension, car battery, and engine. The 2017 Porsche Boxster had issues with overheating, which were resolved, but the car was hit with five different recalls, mostly involving fuel system and airbag issues.
What is the biggest problem with Porsche Boxster?
The most common problems with Porsche Boxsters first and second generations are:
- Engine Block Porosity.
- Cylinder Head Cracks.
- Cylinder Lining Cracks.
- Rod Bolt Failure.
- IMS Bearing Failures.
- Chain Tensioner Failure.
- Variocam Solenoids Failure.
- Leaks in the Rear Main Seal.
Is the Porsche Boxster reliable?
Despite its excellent performance and lifespan as a vehicle, the Porsche Boxster has only received a reliability rating of 2.5 out of 5 from RepairPal. Reports indicate that the Porsche Boxster tends to break down frequently and requires frequent maintenance and repairs.
Which Boxster year is best?
If you're wanting the best of the best, most people recommend the 2012 Porsche Boxster as the #1 pick. You can likely choose any of the 987 model, which ranged from the 2005-2012 time range, with 2009-2012 being the best. This second-generation model really brought the vehicle into the spotlight.
Is a Boxster engine good?
The Boxster's four-cylinder engines are very good indeed, but they pale in comparison to the naturally aspirated 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine fitted to the Boxster GTS. It churns out 400hp, 420Nm of torque and a soundtrack that's reminiscent of the old-school 911s from the 1980s and 1990s.
2017 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:
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2017 Porsche Boxster vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2017 Porsche Boxster complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2017 Porsche Boxster.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-09-09
- VIN: WP0CA2A82HS
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 2017 PORSCHE BOXSTER 718 WITH PDK HAS STARTED IN 2ND GEAR ON 3 OCCASIONS MAKING ENTERING INTO TRAFFIC AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED VERY DANGEROUS. 1ST TIME THE PDK TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK AND THEN I MOVED IT TO DRIVE. THE PDK SELECTED GEAR 2 WHILE IN SPORT MODE. 2ND TIME I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, STOPPED TO PUT IN DRIVE, AND THE PDK SELECTED 2ND GEAR. THE 3RD TIME I WAS SLOWING TO A LIGHT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT RED LIGHT. I TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE AND PDK SELECTED 2ND GEAR. I ATTEMPTED IN ALL CASES TO MANUALLY SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR BUT THE PDK WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR. THIS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS FROM ABOUT JULY - SEP 2019. THIS PICTURE IS SHOWING THE 3RD TIME ON SEP 9, 2019.
2017 Porsche Boxster recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2017 Porsche Boxster.
- Manufacturer: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
- Summary: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2016-2017 911 and Boxster, 2016 Cayman and Panamera vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
- Consequence: Deactivated air bags increase the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 13, 2019. Owners received a second notice and the recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB4.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2017 Porsche Boxster problems:
718 Boxster/Cayman Issues And Problems | Porsche 718 Forum
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