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Expensive Porsche Boxster repairs by problem area

Engine (53%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (12%)

Brakes and Traction Control (1%)

Suspension and Steering (15%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (12%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (5%)

Other (2%)

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Chart based on 379 repairs.

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Porsche Boxster repair cost distribution

$2500+ (34%)

$1000 - $2499 (66%)

$500 - $999 (0%)

$100 - $499 (0%)

< $100 (0%)

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Chart based on 252 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

33000 mi

US $1000

Engine vacuum pump failed causing code about cooling fault

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63000 mi US $155	e-brake not working properly - get 'brake fault' reported. They adjusted the brake but this did not fix the problem (that is, it was working when I picked the car up but the fault came back the next time I used the brake (about 6weeks later as I don’t use the e-brake when the car is in the garage and I didn’t drive it again for about 6 weeks).
93000 mi US $1200	Drivers side seat belt did not retract properly -- entire seat belt was replaced

38000 mi

US $2000

2 of 6 ignition coils were bad. They recommended replacing all of them.

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9000 mi US $247	Replaced leaking oil pressure sensor. Temperature and fan LCD replaced, same symptoms as prior to repair. Awaiting new part ordered by the dealer.
36000 mi US $1500	Oil pressure valve leaking, oil wicked into DME, needed replacement. Valve was replaced once before after one year of ownership, approx 4,000 miles. Needed to drop engine and replace wire harness and DME. Dealer absorbed most of cost.

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41000 mi US $250	Needed battery replacement.
43000 mi US $1054	One of the shifter cable linkages broke and left me in 3rd gear

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97000 mi

US $1000

Butterfly valve in intake failed. Replaced.

11200 mi US $1100	Replaced water pump.
13000 mi US $1600	Replaced battery Replaced tire pressure monitoring system wheel sensors.
18000 mi US $400	Convertible top repaired. Parts of the mechanism (elastic straps) were replaced.
23000 mi US $11000	Replaced front brake pads Replace broken push rod in convertible top. Aligned wheels. Replace Tire Pressure Monitor wheel sensors since tires being replaced.

39000 mi

US $2900

The convertible top did not work. They had my car for almost 3 months before they could fix it.

40500 mi R 2300	Replaced two deflection/idler pulleys due to noise. Bearings were worn. Easy DIY.
45260 mi R 200	Engine mount broken. DIY replacement.
47520 mi R 6000	Water Pump needed replacing - was noisy. DIY replacement.

47000 mi

US $1300

Replaced 2 rear tire and the TPS system.

72500 mi US $700	Air/oil separator failed and had to be replaced.
105000 mi US $1400	convertible top mechanism stopped working.

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37000 mi US $448	Ignition coils. Degradation of parts but not failure and it was cheaper to replace during the routine service then wait until failure.
40500 mi US $4000	slight oil leak, shipping car overseas wanted gasket replaced at this time; added clutch replacement; horn replacement (electrical short)-could have gone a year without repair but since I am moving overseas had the repair done; NO NOISE
51200 mi US $750	Gasket leak; not repaired properly on last visit.

81220 mi

C $2000

Transmission mounts had become soft, and were replaced.

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47000 mi US $380	Trim piece around middle front bumper air port fell off and was lost - for the second time!
54000 mi US $320	Left headlight washer detached and drained washer reservoir, leaving no fluid for windshield wash.
55000 mi US $700	Starter motor Bendix drive failed to disengage completely for several seconds after starting, causing noise. Potential to get worse and never disengage over time. Had to replace starter.
62000 mi US $370	Clunking in front suspension when going over bumps. Dealer says this is wear of tie rod after hard cornering. Replaced right side tie rod (only).
69000 mi US $700	Clinking noise when going over bumps. Previous repair by dealer (replace right tie rod) in Nov '11 did not make a difference. Independent shop replaced sway bar bushings and drop links: symptom now fully cured.
80800 mi US $950	One or more ignition coils failed - rough running and Check Engine warning. Dealer claims this is a normal wear item. All six ignition coils replaced.
82500 mi US $2300	Parking brake seemed to be partly engaged even though no warning light or odd handle position. Squealing and (eventually) clunking. Excessive wear wore down drum/rotor. $900 for parking brake, $1200 for required rear brake job.
97500 mi US $1200	Replaced condenser. This is the second time is seems to have been punctured by road debris Passenger down auto-up did not work, which means the window stayed open after raising the convertible top. AM radio weak reception: suspect loose antenna or antenna amplifier. Dealer did a partial diagnosis but recommended not proceeding due to cost. Dealer also opined that maybe the radio was fine (owner does not agree). Squealing sound on left turns - not related to brakes. Dealer partially disassembled system, recommended against repair due to cost of further disassembly.
110000 mi US $550	Oil separator failed, causing oil to be drawn in to engine intake. Caused severe hesitation and stalling. Replaced separator and cleaned intake.
111000 mi US $300	Microswitch in driver's door malfunctioning caused window to not retract when closing door. Microswitch replaced for parts cost only since last repair trip diagnosed problem but it took weeks to get the new part.
122500 mi US $1100	Water pump started leaking. Had to tow to garage and replace water pump.
130000 mi US $140	Right front fog light was retaining water splash. Replaced.
133000 mi US $1700	Replace clutch kit (Disc, pressure plate, springs, lever, etc). Not sure what actually failed: the clutch wouldn't disengage unless the pedal was depressed all the way to the floor, and I feared it would stop disengaging altogether. Clutch wear was within a reasonable period (90,000 miles) so I just attribute it to normal wear.
142000 mi US $800	Soft top did not settle in to channels when raised. Dealer replaced several interior cloth pieces and elastic. I have no idea why this took over two weeks.
165000 mi US $800	Water pump failed and was replaced
166000 mi US $900	Alternator was making grinding sound. Replaced alternator.
174000 mi US $800	Leak in brake line. Had to replace section of line

52000 mi US $3200	Clutch pedal developed odd "fluttering" feeling. Diagnosed as bad Throw-out bearing - replaced. Clutch friction material and flywheel were out of spec and were replaced too.
57000 mi US $140	Passenger window would not drop far enough to clear top. Replaced window regulator with cheap aftermarket unit. Now it does not drop quickly enough indicating too much slack in cables. In other words, the aftermarket regulator is junk.
60000 mi US $3200	Water leaked into interior and damaged 2 computers under the passenger seat requiring replacement. The computer working the top malfunctioned and caused damage to 2 control rods in the top assembly

27900 mi

C $1100

Tire pressure monitors needed replaced.

26660 mi

$1800

Horn replacement

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64500 mi

US $1000

Air Oil Separator (AOS) bad. Replaced AOS. "TPC inactive" message and tire icon on display. Problem: one (or more) of the tire pressure sensor batteries went dead. Sensor unit replaced in each tire

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30200 mi US $1016	Coolant temp sensor replaced. Oil level sensor replaced. For entire repair trip parts cost was $143, the rest was labor. Door handle replaced. It would not retract properly. A spring was apparently missing.
39000 mi US $500	replaced pulley bearings for belt.
40300 mi US $1165	replaced water pump due to a bad bearing that resulted in a high pitch whine. bearing on alternator replaced.
43000 mi US $312	Connecters for retractable top were broken. The plastic connector and the rods they connected were replaced.
51000 mi US $900	Replace battery. Replaced micro switch for front hood latch

28600 mi US $125	Convertible top needed new elastic bands to close properly.
32000 mi US $550	door handle stopped working
35000 mi US $350	convertible top stopped working
36000 mi US $1200	water pump failed & leaked

114000 mi

US $2050

Replace catalytic converters

60800 mi US $2100	$2100 charge is for 60k service and replacement of RH front and rear axle trailing arms, bushings in the arms were worn out doue to rough road conditions
79000 mi US $19580	80,000 service Replaced front motor mount Replace coolant temp sensor
101300 mi US $600	Air pressure sensors died. Porsche dealer said that batteries are non replaceable and last 7 to 10 years. No word of this in maintenance manual.

36000 mi US $1400	Water pump and related pulleys worn and replaced
46000 mi US $1200	repair leaking valve covers

44020 mi

C $3100

replaced Rear main engine seal, intermediate shaft bearing seal, dual mass clutch plate plus clutch assembly

45000 mi US $850	Convertible top binding. New elastic straps sewn on both sides. Slight clicking noise heard at slow speed. Replaced right rear control arm.
46500 mi US $300	Amplifier
56000 mi US $1100	Front pads and rotors needed replacing
58000 mi US $2300	Rear pads and rotors
61000 mi US $450	Replace battery

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58000 mi US $1400	Replaced cracked coolant overflow tank
72200 mi US $3100	replace clutch and dual-mass flywheel, change transmission fluid

70000 mi

US $2000

Damaged plastic hose that drains water under convertible top trays. Leaks water into passenger footwell and damages rear control module.

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31200 mi

US $2000

broken air oil separator. replaced myself (dealer wanted to charge $1,300). still smoking, dealer replaced mass air sensor, cleaned intake etc to the tune of an additional $1,600

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56000 mi US $1400	Rear plastic window developed major cracks. Replaced with glass window new top.
57000 mi US $200	Visor cover broke

62000 mi US $400	TPMS System failure. All 4 TPMS monitors within wheels failed at 61K miles
65000 mi US $1100	Condenser was punctured by a rock while driving on the interstate.
78000 mi US $250	Replaced broken transmission rods in convertible top assembly
81000 mi US $1000	Convertible top would not close. Top was completely out of alignment. Dealer removed and re-installed the top assembly curing problem.
116000 mi US $250	Boxster roof stress rod broke because the top tensioners had become loose over time (AGAIN). Curious if later 987's have the same problem.
122000 mi US $800	Pads and rotors worn.

62000 mi

US $1400

Water pump seized causing the belt to be thrown off (according to the dealer) I am unconvinced that the water pump was truly defective, but have no proof.

47000 mi

US $2500

Water pump

63252 mi US $8058	IMS bearing knocking. Debris in oil. Found noise from bell housing area. R&R transmission to inspect. Reinstall transmission and replace motor.
80200 mi US $1835	Replaced clutch. I thought it was going to turn out to be a mechanical failure (clutch pedal pulsated) but ended up being just worn down. Replaced it and smooth as silk now.

30000 mi US $500	Fuel tank gauge not working reliably.
37300 mi US $876	occasionally smokes on startup. tested air/oil separator. convertible top misaligned. driver side door handle broken.
40000 mi US $1300	Replaced power steering pump.
41000 mi US $1100	Replaced water pump

34100 mi

C $1280

bad cell in battery

40300 mi C $300	front trunk latch sensor faulty, caused warning light even though latch securely closed - assembly replaced
47120 mi C $1000	water pump replaced

80300 mi US $1900	Broken front left spring
91000 mi US $1200	Tire pressure sensors needed replacement

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35000 mi

US $1500

Replaced coils. Car ran poorly when cold.

70000 mi

US $1500

New clutch

35300 mi US $250	Worn out seat belt retractor
55200 mi US $1980	CV joints leaking oil. CV joints rebuilt.
62000 mi US $4800	Steering fluid leak, new new steering rack Cracked water pump Broken oil separator
72000 mi US $1500	Transmission for convertible motor rebuilt to stop grinding noise

79400 mi US $1200	Alternator pulley
84000 mi US $300	Engine Failure!

18000 mi

US $2100

Scheduled maintenance, First set of 4 new Bridgestone tires, Oil,Lube & filter, Wiper blades, head light adjustment.

59000 mi US $375	AOS failed. Parts ordered and repair done.
65600 mi US $800	Passenger seat stopped working and would not move.
87500 mi US $300	Apparently a drain under the seat plugged up and the controller under the driver's seat got wet and malfunctioned. The repair shop is still trying to get the needed part.
88000 mi US $500	Took car to a different shop. They found a leak in the A pillar on drivers side and fixed problem
93000 mi US $180	Replaced rear bushings
105000 mi US $1600	broken top starter replaced

78000 mi US $300	Passenger door latch sometimes failed to auto-lower the window. Replaced faulty door latch.
78000 mi US $2000	Losing coolant and significant coolant condensation around coolant reservoir area. Shop replaced the coolant reservoir and cap. It did not address the reported problem. Shop later found one of coolant pipe was blocked and clear it.
79000 mi US $3000	Shop could not determine the problem with cooling system, and it recommended to add a 3rd front radiator. Shop also replaced various couplings and tubes. After spending ~$4k, the cooling system seems to improve slightly. AOS replaced

34720 mi

C $1000

Real main seal leak, not yet fixed.

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46000 mi US $2500	Rebuilt torque converter that was slipping around 2k rpm.
47000 mi US $1600	Leaking high pressure power steering line

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72300 mi

US $2200

Shifter cable failed; upon replacement it was also determined that the transmission had jammed internally and was stuck in gear.

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19000 mi US $500	Faulty oil seal. Dealer had to pull transmission to fix. Warranty had expired 6 weeks earlier so Porsche gave 75/25 goodwill repair.
34000 mi US $450	Replace leaking water pump
48500 mi US $1400	Replaced alternator
53000 mi US $2100	Routine maintenance to replace spark plugs. After the repair, car had a "Service Now" warning light when I picked it up. Showed to dealer. They gave me a loaner and kept the car. Diagnosed that one of the new plugs and ignition coil were bad and replaced. Problem fixed. Decided my horn was bad as well.

40300 mi C $250	Convertible top when closing did not fit in channel on both sides. One side push rod for main bow replaced (broken) and other side adjusted
44740 mi C $100	Convertible pushrod broken and replaced. This is the second time this repair was done since I have owned the car, this time on the driver side, previously passenger side. This appears to be a weak part,otherwise car has been extra reliable.
46500 mi C $1193	Power top started making a grinding gear noise, was taken to dealer in May, top motor/transmission had broken a plastic or nylon part inside. New motor was ordered and installed in June. Also had oil change and inspection done at the same t.

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60000 mi US $1500	Oil pan damaged
78000 mi US $100	check engine light on; fuel tank cap replaced.

34000 mi

US $7000

valve lifter failed causing abnormal engine sound. was able to drive to the dealer. the engine was rebuilt by porshe, $7,000 labor, $7,000 parts. Porsche paid for parts

99600 mi US $1200	Replaced leaking water pump
109000 mi US $300	Replaced cup holder above glovebox. Trim covering cup holder "arms" would no longer close.

20460 mi

C $10000

engine failure..due to 1 cam lifter collapsing..premature wear..destroying lifter camshaft oil pumpos etc etc..still waiting for parts after 4 weeks

60000 mi US $3200	water pump and seals
62000 mi US $700	replace gears for power convertible top mechanism
65000 mi US $1000	convertible top metal components needed replacement replace CV boot and R side axle

44000 mi

US $1300

Water pump leaking

51200 mi

US $2006

While driving at a low speed, the engine suddenly had a rattling sound like a rock in a tin can. Intermediate shaft failure. 10 months past the warranty, Porsche provided a new engine for free, I had to pay for labor.

66700 mi US $200	Replaced Motor and Transmission Mounts
84000 mi US $2600	Replaced inner and outer boots and regressed joints. Replaced tension roller Replaced drivers side visor, mirror light inoperative, visor falls down. Homelink buttons replaced, buttons broken. Gas cap replaced. Tether was broken. Rear deck (trunk lid) shock replaced, would not hold up deck.
102000 mi US $1100	Alternator replaced and oil changed
115000 mi US $300	Replaced door sill trunk and frunk switches.

14296 mi

US $1093

Yearly Service. Replaced battery. Low Horn replaced. Fixed passenger side window switch - window did not drop when opening doors. Replaced brake fluid and cabin filter. Still under Porsche Certified Warranty.

103000 mi

US $8459

Blown motor. Factory defect. Slipped cylinder sleave.

73000 mi US $700	nyet. Just fixed the oil leak with a rubber/silicone camshaft seal.
106000 mi US $1000	Water pump broke
106700 mi US $400	Air oil separator broke;

35000 mi US $7500	IMS bearing seized, breaking the intermediate shaft. Total engine replacement with used engine. New clutch, IMS ceramic bearing retrofit, water pump, air/oil separator etc.
36000 mi US $9500	replaced complete engine

42260 mi

C $1500

Convertible rooftop push rods and cable replaced also timing was adjusted.

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21000 mi

US $5000

Intermediate Shaft Failure

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36132 mi

US $2976

The car was giving a Selector lever not engaged warning, and Lights were flashing d and 4 in instrument. The Gear shift mechanism was replaced.

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10000 mi US $6507	Catastrophic engine failure due to intermediate shaft failure. Dealer confirmed; known problem but refused to fix b/c out of warranty & 2nd owner. My mechanic rebuilt engine & photodocumented for class-action suit investigation.
13700 mi US $110	Clip for guidewire for convertible softtop broke, causing tonneau cover to not close properly which caused scrape in paint on corner of cover and also blocked access to open trunk lid. Clip replaced, paint touched up.

83000 mi US $1700	Remove and replace transmission to replace shift shaft bushings and seals. Was leaking transmission fluid. Seeping oil at intermediate shaft seal. IMS retrofit proactively done while replacing intermediate shaft cover seal. More information: http://www.lnengineering.com/ims.html.
89000 mi US $700	Front motor mount worn out resulting in clunking and vibration.
106000 mi US $2200	Precat rattle. Required replacement of exhaust manifold since precat is built into it. No aftermarket available.
116000 mi US $500	Slightly higher idle (@ ~1k). Infrequent puffs of blue smoke on cold startup. Check engine light. Replaced air/oil separator to correct problem.
117000 mi US $2100	CEL thrown for catalytic converter failure. Replace catalytic converter. Part of exh manifold. 2 on car. Other one replaced 15 mo earlier.

29940 mi

C $2700

Right rear wheel bearing replaced

49000 mi US $15000	Rod bearings failed. Detected by oil sample analysis. Cams scored. IMS bearing in early failure mode (full of oil). RMS leaking slightly. Replaced rod bearings, IMS bearing, RMS, precautionary replacement of clutch, water pump, thermostat
77000 mi US $196	Front trunk would not open. Replace actuator Driver side window did not dip. CV boots failed/replaced.
79000 mi US $750	CV joint boots torn. Replaced.
93900 mi US $500	Water pump mounting point was leaking. I chose to replace pump. The 90k mile service was about $3000 including the water pump.
103000 mi US $10000	02 sensors, plugs, AOS,AOL, IMS bearing replacement of 6 year old replacement, front engine mount, oil and filters. The clutch and flywheel were also failing and were replaced.
120000 mi US $100	The Bose sound system was repaired by the new owner

47000 mi US $800	Water pump was slightly leaking, replaced as preventative measure.
65000 mi US $1200	Rear control arms replaced; they were rattling and worn out.

52000 mi US $2000	Water pump pulley rattling, replaced pump
59870 mi US $500	Alternator Busted, New one installed

71000 mi US $3500	RMS was leaking a small amount of oil. I had the IMS upgraded to the L&N dual row bearing(brand new version). At the same time, I elected to replace the clutch; Sachs. 4 CV boots were replaced. Two were badly cracked but I elected to replace all four due to their age.
72000 mi US $120	Replaced a worn out front engine mount.

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105000 mi US $500	Air oil separator replaced (original unit)
110200 mi US $1200	Replaced LCAs. Signs of wear at the right front bushing.
115000 mi US $2300	AT coolant valve Replaced axles

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43000 mi US $104	Numerous false warning llghts, instruments and radio stopped working, car otherwise ran fine, Problem could not be replicated by shop after full OBD scan, problem disappeared entirely, car has run fine ever since.
52000 mi US $300	Transponder on spare (valet) key became inop, needed to purchase new key head and reprogram all three of the car's keys.
55000 mi US $1500	Fault in instrument cluster caused battery to go flat overnight--some instrument lights stayed on even though ignition was off and car was locked. Valet key (which I use as an emergency key, taped behind the front license plate) went dead. Would not activate ignition.
58000 mi US $425	CEL on, found dry-rotted gas-cap seal and also had to replace a shut valve seal, then passed evap. test.
72000 mi US $600	Technician found two cracked ignition coils and replaced them. Total cost for the shop visit was $1.500, but cost of coils and labor was approx $600 of that. The rest was routine fluid, filters and sparkplugs replacement.

27000 mi

US $3800

Fuel pump replacement, major maintenance, new rear tires

60240 mi

C $1000

Changed motor carrier (mount)

34300 mi US $400	failed motormount - known weakness. Replaced with improved unit. PITA job. estimate is parts plus 5 hours of my time
37300 mi US $140	replaced (self) air-oil-seperator. Done at my convenience as it was slowly degrading.
50900 mi US $100	Airbag system failure. May be intermittent. Shop would replace clock spring and/or airbag. What i did is take everything apart, inspect, clean contacts, treat with contact treatment (cramolin) and put back together. Voila.
51300 mi US $100	Airbag failure again (porsche code 41). This time it was seatbelt latch connections, took apart and cleaned, success not confirmed. Might be a 3rd try.
62000 mi US $1100	Drive linkage (cables, ends) broke. Note this broke under heavy use and was mishandled. However, linkage showed significant wear so it would have eventually failed (maybe years later)

27000 mi

US $1000

Bad power steering pump

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57532 mi US $1422	replaced left front upper strut mount bearing, replaced inner and outer cv boots
59000 mi US $577	replaced beverage holder ($500), new soft-top tension cable ($77)

35000 mi US $140000	engine seized. intermediate shaft broken. pistons and valves broken
46300 mi US $500	replace all four cv joint boots, balance front tires
51000 mi US $253	Replaced struts on front and rear storage compartments
55000 mi US $300	Headlights not operational. Problem solve and replace the common power supply switch for both headlights.

69200 mi

US $1000

Oil separator valve.

41000 mi

US $2400

Rear main seal (RMS) leaking again. Replacing the RMS requires removing the engine. This cost $1,200 in labor and $20 in parts. The alternator also went out, cost $500 to replace. Suspension boots and spark plugs were also replaced.

97000 mi US $800	Replaced leaking water pump, replaced thermostat at same time
118300 mi US $300	AOS Failed
126000 mi US $703	Replaced l/r CV boots and left axle assy
141000 mi US $1000	Could smell antifreeze and front window was fogging badly. Received a low coolant warning on start up that went away when car warmed up. Heater core was replaced. Small foam pieces were coming from dash vents. Common issue on 986 - diverter flap is foam padded and the foam deteriorates over time. Replaced foam and taped over it with duct tape while heater core was out.
130500 mi US $250	replace frunk latch Replace drivers side locking latch inside door (not handle)
148000 mi US $1400	small leak from brass bushing
148000 mi US $2300	motor mount - replaced with 987 version new Koni shocks and H&R springs
149000 mi US $9400	Cracked head: loss of coolant, no intermix of coolant and oil (coolant was being burned in cylinder). Installed used head.
160000 mi US $1000	Drivers side axle was replaced with OEM Replaced water pump at 65,000 miles
163000 mi US $600	Coolant fitting failed. Oil cooler oring leaking

32000 mi US $1700	rear cv boots
35000 mi US $400	Replaced turn signal stalk assembly.

56000 mi US $1100	60K maintenance (paid by owner). cv boots replaced. belt tensioner paid by cpo
59000 mi US $1100	Check Engine Light
94000 mi US $10000	Cracked head due to failed water pump. Trying to source new head.

66000 mi US $350	Replaced second gear detent, popping out of gear
74000 mi US $3500	Replaced left rear wheel bearing due to wheel noise under load Clattering over bumps, replaced trailing arms Vibration in car at 3200 RPM, replaced engine mount

18500 mi US $1040	Replaced Rear main seal---warranty
32700 mi US $347	Rear main seal replaced. Clutch bearing replaced. Extended warranty doesn't cover clutch parts. Horn replaced.
36700 mi US $100	CV Boots replaced Brake fluid leak fixed
41000 mi US $585	Fluid leak on seal. rear wheel bearing

54000 mi US $200	Drivers door latch failed causing failure of window drop-down function to clear convertible top.
77000 mi US $800	CV joint boots were torn. Elected to replace both half shafts which cost slightly more than replacing only the boots. Rebuilt transmission, replaced clutch pressure plate, clutch disc, rear main seal, flywheel
106000 mi US $4550	Replaced rear main seal (slight leak between transmission and engine, $4000. Replaced water pump, $400. Replaced clutch cylinder, $150.

65000 mi US $100	engine mount and shift linkage
68000 mi US $4000	Transmission required a rebuild.

40200 mi

US $5000

Bad rear wheel bearing

28500 mi

US $1600

RMS leak fixed

89000 mi

US $1200

The 8 year old water pump failed. Replaced the thermostat, drive belt and also found the plastic engine oil fill line was cracked so replaced.

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54200 mi US $2200	Water pump, constant burning smell in exhaust, panel lights constantly come on -- check engine, airbags, emissions -- some go off after a few months. Faulty panel?Need emissions check/engine lite on.Completely taken apart & put back.Problems
58000 mi US $2900	Check engine light for PO491 and PO492 - emissions = $900. Assumed oil leak. Took car apart. Found nothing. $2,000. Water pump = $900. The car is now for sale. Repairs are too expensive. Put 7K on it since I bought it with no dash lights on.

52000 mi

US $3000

Repaired faulty screen for heating and cooling controls and fan.

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26000 mi US $600	Bad Wheel bearing
41000 mi US $750	motor for window was replaced
57000 mi US $100	Temperature regulator broke
67200 mi US $750	Rt. Window actuator replaced
68000 mi US $750	Replaced rear lower control arms
78000 mi US $1600	Front struts replaced
91000 mi US $2400	Struts and rear wheel bearing
105000 mi US $700	Replaced wheel bearings

55000 mi US $1500	Leaking RMS and IMS seals both replaced under warranty. Owner replaced worn clutch and flywheel both worn beyond repair or resurfacing.
57000 mi US $500	Rear spoiler had to be replaced

44500 mi US $210	Turn signal switch broken. Ordered new part on the internet and replaced it myself.
47500 mi US $3000	Replaced Clutch, throughout bearing etc. Also replaced rear engine seal. $1600. Steering rack leaking. Had to be replaced. $1400.
52000 mi US $238	Passenger window regulation replaced. Had mechanic come to house. Rebuild old regulator. (plastic 30 cent part)

69700 mi US $400	Car is overheating. Water Pump failed and was replaced, overheating problem persisted. Still being diagnosed as to the original cause Air bubble in coolant system. System flushed.
74000 mi US $2400	Alternator failed.

83000 mi US $150	emission (fuel vapor) control valve for fuel tank failed.
91000 mi US $600	oil separator failed
95000 mi US $250	replace control arm (balljoint) and trailing arm
101500 mi US $139	replace headlight switch
112000 mi US $1700	both rear wheel bearing replaced and 4 wheel alignment

85000 mi US $1200	Full suspension refresh. End links were on the way out (leaking their grease) and OEM shocks no longer met rebound requirements. Springs were sagging from fatigue. Worn bushings were also replaced at the time as they were found.
94000 mi US $300	Motor mount was hanging on by a thread. Could feel the motor shift in corners. Motor mount replaced with polyurethane mount for longevity. Mild increase in NVH. One transmission mount was leaking. Replaced both to be on the safe side.
96000 mi US $500	Chain guide on driver's side head lost a chunk which clogged the oil return port. Disassembly of cam shaft cover required to repair and replace. Oil pan removed to find plastic particulate. All chain guides replaced, chain tensioners replaced.

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65000 mi

US $2000

Alternator went out

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93000 mi

C $2600

main seal, clutch and bearing seal

42000 mi US $898	Ignition switch (mechanical tumbler) died, so car could not reliably be started, and lights did not work when running. Ignition switch module replaced (part was $525). Also oil change and brake fluid replacement.
43000 mi US $1580	First Catalytic converter on bank 1 was failing. As this is one piece with the headers, headers were replaced as well. Part cost $1295
45000 mi US $2817	Leaking power steering reservoir. 6 hours labor at $119/hr plus parts Independent shop 4 years ago changed rear rotors without using anti-seize compound for mounting caliper bolts. Bolts were seized and stripped the threads on the hub carriers. Required completely new hub carriers, bearings, speed sensors.
49200 mi US $637	Fuel level sender in gas tank stopped working. Diagnosed as faulty, and replaced. 1 trip to dealer for diagnosis (1 hour) and 1 trip for replacement after waiting 1 week for parts ($305). Works fine now.
50175 mi US $197	Power steering pump developed leak and failed. This had happened April 2011, as well. Fluid reservoir and high-pressure hose melted due to over-heating at the track. Problem repaired and under-drive pulley installed to prevent recurrence. Power steering pump reservoir again developed a leak while at the track (Watkins Glen). As it had been replaced previously 1 year ago, dealer replaced it under parts warranty. I paid for installation of underdrive pulley to prevent this.
52000 mi US $1120	Power steering high pressure lines to steering rack leaking. Needed to be replaced.
56000 mi US $321	Cracked U-joint boots leaking grease. Remove, replace, re-pack with grease.
56000 mi US $2891	Replaced clutch and flywheel. Worn clutch and throwout bearing. Replaced intermediate shaft bearing with upgraded part. Replaced rear main seal (2nd time).
57000 mi US $1203	Replaced rear sway-bar bushings and brackets after some bolts backed out and these fell off the car somewhere on the roads of upstate NY. Labor provided by myself.
58000 mi US $940	Replace immobilizer module under drivers seat after it got wet in downpour. Car would not start as anti theft unit was shorted out by water.
62000 mi US $15800	Engine blew at Watkins Glen. Dropped a valve, possibly con rod. NOT due to over-rev. Not a reliable car, even given track use. Every moving part except for rods, pistons and camshafts replaced, plus oil cooler, air-oil separator, water and oil pump.
65000 mi US $475	Cracked and leaking CV boots on left half shaft. Replacing entire half shaft was $70 more than doing just the boots, at 65,000 mi., so replaced unit.

49000 mi

US $2000

Wheel bearing, torn cv boots,

45000 mi US $100	both rear cv joint replacement, oil leak horn replacement
61000 mi US $9000	valve sticking, timing chain failure motor mount failure IMS failure

14000 mi

US $9500

Catastrophic engine failure at 14,011 miles. Internal engine problem called a 'slipped sleeve' caused piston/cylinder #3 to destruct. Appears to be a manufacturing defect but no assistance from Porsche.

72000 mi US $1200	Rebuilt entire suspension (struts, sway bars, springs), as the struts were shot (one leaking). Upgraded to ROW M030.
74000 mi US $120	Replaced door latch assembly with micro switch
75000 mi US $200	Torn inner CV boots on both sides. Second time (first at 35K)

72000 mi US $700	Replaced starter
83000 mi US $1000	Hose to water pump ruptured. Will replace water pump also since original is on borrows time at 83k miles.
83000 mi US $2700	Steering pump replaced. Possibly related to track use, as this places more stress on the pump. Installed underdrive pulley with new pumpt to reduce chance this will happen again.

56000 mi

US $20000

IMS bearing died and took entire engine with it. Car is a piece of junk. Will NEVER own another Porsche! Watch out if you are looking to buy one...worst car ever owned. They are cheap for a reason - they are junk! "Perfection" my butt!

36000 mi US $3300	Oil leak---RMS replaced. Upon disassembly for Problem 1(RMS), mechanic said flywheel wobbly and clutch worn. Had both replaced.
41000 mi US $550	Airbag warning light. Diagnose problem. Order seatbelt buckle and wiring harness. Driver seat heater not functioning. Heater element ordered. Parts installed - seatbelt buckle and wiring harness. Driver seat heater element installed.
60000 mi US $1303	At hwy speed RPMs would drop suddenly, no throttle response. To shoulder, restart after 30 secs. 3x in 200 mile trip. Enroute to repair shop, 2x, 2nd time required tow (1/4 mile, ugh). Fuel pump, relay, oil separator. 700 miles, all good.

81000 mi US $900	Alternator not charging. Replaced alternator. Idler pulley, tensioner pulley, serpentine belt
88000 mi US $2200	clutch, flywheel

65100 mi

C $10000

Engine cylinder cracked. Common for boxsters. Dont ever buy this car, they are unreliable.

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60000 mi US $1000	Vacuum reserve leak, new tank installed. Routine AC evacuation and recharge.
63000 mi US $1800	Mass air flow sensor replacement, air oil separator replacement

52000 mi US $200	repair broken pop out cup holder
85000 mi US $4500	AIR OIL SEPERATOR FAILED. CAR BLEW GOBS OF SMOKE AND HYDROLOCKED THE MOTOR.

55600 mi US $1400	Replace water pump, thermostat
62000 mi US $500	replace ignition switch

90520 mi

C $1500

Loud thump going over bumps. Two issues were repaired. New CV joints (all 4) were installed along with both rear control arms.

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37400 mi

US $1800

New struts,strut mounts,bump stops,boots.Tires balanced,4 wheel alignment. New struts,strut mounts,bump stops,boots.Tires balanced,4 wheel alignment

86000 mi US $2054	Clutch replacement, car still had original clutch so not unanticipated. Exhaust has to be removed to access the clutch and some bolts were too corroded to remove so had to be drilled out so there was more labor charge than expected.
93000 mi US $565	Front sway bar links needed replacing, oil change performed. Been noticing strange howl noise at 2400-2800: computer scanned, no codes everything okay, most likely an air intake resonance comes and goes but no worries
102000 mi US $640	Removed cat. heat shields which were rattling, replaced battery, oil change

122100 mi US $155	A wire connecting the emissions came loose and tripped a check engine light. Shop fixed, light came back same day.
129000 mi US $2500	The air pump on the emission went out, check engine light, won't pass inspection. About $1000 to fix. The AC condenser needed replacement, $1200.

57000 mi US $600	Water pump replaced cured leak Added refrigerant, replaced low speed fan and low speed fan relay
58300 mi US $950	Taken in for headlight adjustment, observed RMS/IMS oil leak. Teardown revealed IMS leak, worn clutch Replaced RMS with factory part, replaced IMS with LN Engineering Retrofit Kit, replaced clutch (wear item), replaced case half screws Tech cracked plastic rear window when putting top into service position. Negotiated bill credit and owner to replace top. Plastic window cracked during previous visit to shop. Owner purchased used 2003 top w/glass window and retrofitted to 2002 vehicle.
72000 mi US $130	Headlight switch failed
74000 mi US $105	Window regulator, not motor, failed. Window operation was erratic, would go down when up button was pressed, etc. Replaced regulator.

71000 mi

US $1000

Rattling noise from engine. Water pump and belt tensioners broken/worn out. Replaced water pump, thermostat. Replaced tensioners. Belt was replaced recently.

32000 mi US $1000	Replaced alternator
50000 mi US $4500	My ims bearing was leaking due to the flange. The bearing was in good condition though also replaced. The starter was making noise. The thermostat was causing the car to run a little warmer. The water pump was slightly worn, but still fine.
50000 mi US $125	Drivers side cam cover leaking slightly , tightened bolts. Left alone.

48100 mi US $2800	Engine rear main seal leak. Replace rear main seal, LN engineering IMS bearing upgrade (original bearing badly worn), clutch work + transmission input shaft seal. Brake/clutch fluid flush. Replaced air to oil separator, all tubes (leak) + spark plugs. Engine rear main seal leak. Replace rear main seal, LN engineering IMS bearing upgrade, clutch work + transmission input shaft seal. Brake/clutch fluid flush. Air to oil separator replacement. Replace all tubes (leak) + all 6 spark plug
49000 mi US $400	Rear window cracked. The plastic gets old and brittle. It was colder night (temperature was around 55F) and I opened the top. My keyless entry remote also does not work (pretty common issue with the circuit board inside the key fob goes bad). I have no plan on fixing them (dealer want $250 per key and $95 to program it).
49300 mi US $2300	Replace water pump, thermostat. Front engine mount rubber cracked. High pitch noise from left rear wheel bearing.
51000 mi US $300	Right rear wheel bearing replaced
51200 mi US $450	Front left wheel bearing noise. engine oil filler tube leak.engine does not idle properly.
52000 mi US $2400	Front end made clunking noise. Upper strut mounts were bad. Replaced strut mounts, struts, control arms, track arms, tie rods, drop links for all 4 corners.
53200 mi US $1060	Convertible tension cable jammed to its rail. Top did not close properly. Water leak due to gap between rail and tension cable.

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70000 mi US $730	Water Pump failed. Replaced Water pump, serpentine belt and new antifreeze
78000 mi US $1800	Check engine light and rough running idle; MAF cleaning and catalytic converter replacement
84300 mi US $500	Drivers side door power window regulator.
89500 mi US $300	Replace Oxygen Sensor before Catalytic converter

100000 mi US $800	Rear wheel bearings bad and replaced rear brakes as well
101000 mi US $250	o2 sensor pre cat
110000 mi US $2600	along with some o2 sensors leaking oil pressure sending unit

47000 mi US $155	Replaced failed motor mount.
49000 mi US $460	I replaced the original alternator, a remanufactured alternator, on a previous repair and the replacement unit also failed. I had to purchase another (more expensive Bosch Reman alternator) as the initial remanuf. vendor had none it their system.
49800 mi US $2700	Rear main seal all wheel bearings flywheel, clutch, half shaft boots

43400 mi

C $1400

needed O2 sensor

55400 mi US $15000	Upgraded engine to new high performance internals as well as upgraded IMS shaft, additional oil pickup, upgraded oil filter mounting. Oil seeping through porous aluminum block casting, possibly because of damage during mod process. Replaced block. Cracked block, leaking oil through porous aluminum casting. Replaced block, and at the same time upgraded engine to new high performance internals as well as upgraded IMS shaft, addditional oil pickup, upgraded oik filter mounting.
66000 mi US $500	Check engine light. bad oxygen sensor on bank two, rear, but replaced both rears sensors
69000 mi US $1200	Tie rod and bushings worn out. Replaced with M030 ROW suspension modification rather than stock parts.
79000 mi US $400	bad motor mount cv joint boot
80300 mi US $2200	Flywheel replaced. Did clutch ahead of time as there was some wear
85000 mi US $400	Ignition switch repair. Plastic part on rear of switch replaced. Common problem with m96 cars
86000 mi US $1000	Mass air flow sensor, coil packs
91000 mi US $1100	Immobiliser not functioning replaced and reprogrammed

99300 mi US $535	AOS Air Oil Separator needed replacement Code reappeared 50 miles later, MAF - Mass Air Flow sensor
105000 mi US $627	Driver side window regulator broke.
107200 mi US $644	Replaced left rear wheel bearing.
115300 mi US $517	Thermostat failed and engine overheated. Dealer replaced thermostat, radiator cap and re-filled coolant system.
122000 mi US $306	Replaced both catalytic converters Replaced O2 sensor.
146000 mi US $1247	Replaced air pump control valve and oil pressure sensor
148000 mi US $2151	Vacuum lines, seals and hoses replaced
148000 mi US $1387	Replaced radiator fan, fuse and resistor
148000 mi US $485	Steering lock switch needed replacement

57124 mi C $1147	Waterpump, thermostat, and sway bar bushing replacement.
74101 mi C $889	Convertible top repair (cables and operating rods).
80291 mi C $175	Replaced right side radiator fan.
82460 mi C $625	Coolant recovery tank cracked, spilling coolant into the rear trunk area. Front left radiator fan not working.
78260 mi C $300	Alternator pulley seized, also replace worn tensioner pulley and lower idler pulley. Replace air/oil separator.
82460 mi C $293	Power steering pump squealing
57044 mi C $1793	Drive belt, Air Injection Valve, Rear pads and rotors.

43200 mi US $200	Cracked rear CV joints. Removed rear axles from vehicle, replaced and repacked inner CV joints, re-booted outer CV joints
46000 mi US $1100	Replaced rear wheel bearings due to rear driver side wheel bearing being dead
48000 mi US $300	Replaced passenger side window regulator due to window not dropping upon opening, and grinding noise when rolling window up and down.

105000 mi US $890	Synchro 2nd gear New rear window Water pump failure
108000 mi US $271	rework of transmission over rebuild. while in transmission replaced a bearing, that was marginal.
108000 mi US $380	Air/Oil Seperator filure

41000 mi US $2200	The catalytic converter on bank 2 failed requiring manifold and cat replacement.
42000 mi US $200	Pre-catalytic Oxygen Sensor on bank 1-3 failed. Replaced both pre and post cat oxygen sensors on bank 1-3.

104780 mi

A $1200

Replace water pump and serpentine belt $960.00. Service at same time. $$240.00.

90000 mi US $1340	CV boots were old and torn, some pretty badly. I went ahead and had the axles swapped out.
92800 mi US $300	Remote lock on the the key doesn't work. Mechanic says key seems to be functioning fine per his tester. The computer was throwing a code for the receiver in the car. Replaced the receiver and it still doesn't work. There was a broken aluminum support in the rear frame area of the car. I bought a used replacement part and had the mechanic install it.
93000 mi US $400	Replaced key and key remote and had a second remote/key cut.
95000 mi US $125	Replaced forward O2 sensor on the passenger side. My mechanic had found a fault when he scanned the codes stored in the car diagnostic computer.
103300 mi US $800	The air/oil separator failed. This is a pretty common failure. The part isn't that expensive but the labor is fairly extensive.
108700 mi US $980	An air pump that provides clean air into the exhaust stream to reduce emissions was malfunctioning and was replaced.

89000 mi US $1500	Had to replace manual transmission, due to bad second gear
92000 mi US $200	big puff of white smoke on start up, common problem, I've done this twice with this car.

67580 mi C $500	CEL came on. O2 sensor replaced.
69440 mi C $3600	Steering rack had a bad bearing and leaked. Replaced rack with Porsche refurb New MAF and air regulator plus intake manifold gasket
71920 mi C $800	Electric mirrors stopped working - short circuit in system. Had broken wire in back up light circuit which took 6 hours to locate.
73160 mi C $2000	Replaced clutch and pressure plate. There was a noticeable rattling noise. Second clutch...first one was done by Porsche dealer at 56,000 km. Replaced IMS bearing while the clutch was being repaired.
79360 mi C $3000	Check engine light came on. Required a smoke test to identify an exhaust leak. Required new exhaust manifold gaskets. Also had to weld a crack in one of the exhaust headers. Broken stud added to the problem. Mostly labor cost, parts not so bad. Car is much quieter too. Car was jumping all over the road. Very unstable. Required all wheel alignment. Fixed it nicely.

76000 mi US $120	Replaced right rear wheel bearing Replaced headlight switch
91000 mi US $100	Air/Oil separator blew. Replaced.
95300 mi US $1000	Worn ball joint on both front lower control arms.
103000 mi US $2600	Hydraulic unit (abs/psm control) developed fluid leak Headlight mounting bracket broke
103000 mi US $250	Self-installed hydraulic unit. Went to dealer to have it activated by Porsche PIWIS system. Charged $250, probably took them five minutes.

90000 mi

US $10000

Oil was getting into coolant, no coolant into oil. Diagnosed, I chose not to repair.

43000 mi

US $12050

cracked head

60000 mi US $250	vehicle was inspected prior to a cross country drive - replaced hoses that were starting to fail, fluids, fixed some small leaks, etc.
61000 mi US $3007	Clutch adjustment; shift linkage repair and adjustment; clutch inspected and flywheel replaced.
61200 mi US $1500	Rear window detached ... leaked into interior. Top completely replaced eith new glass window
62000 mi US $120	seat heater switches had come loose and dropped into the center console. R&R the console, reattached the switches to their mounting clips. replaced worn tonneau cover - reinstalled two retaining zutz fasteners on the dashboard - removed and reinstalled existing fasteners on the auto body (4)with fresh sealant - intalled new cover on auto ($100 purchased on ebay)
64200 mi US $190	Low battery causing alarm system issues
69000 mi US $750	Electric window sensor - intermittently worked
69000 mi US $300	Charging issues
72000 mi US $3000	Replace water pump and hoses; system flush Replace washer fluid reservoir

60000 mi US $550	Oil separator failed and was replaced
67000 mi US $1100	Broken shift linkage. Gears could not be changed, so linkage was replaced
69000 mi US $640	Replace rear wheel bearing on drivers side Bad oxygen sensor
71000 mi US $100	Repaired leak in Windshield washer system
71000 mi US $1000	Water pump bearing failed
71200 mi US $1200	needed new catalytic converter

91987 mi

US $5108

Transmission failure. Used transmission and new shifter cables installed

68000 mi US $1500	failed tensioner pulley for serpentine belt
70000 mi US $9000	Rod bearing failure requiring engine replacement
101000 mi US $3000	replace clutch and flywheel

67000 mi US $3500	Catalytic converter in the exhaust headers began to rattle annoyingly. Replaced the headers. Eye wateringly pricey.
69000 mi US $160	I purchased a modified 2nd gear detent to fix the common 2nd gear grinding/popout problem. Second gear still needs some finesse, but it's better than a multi $K repair.
75000 mi US $400	air oil separator failed spectacularly - batman's smoke screen style. Towed it to my independent mechanic and he replaced it quickly.
79000 mi US $1400	Clutch pedal suddenly went soft and clutch began slipping a lot within 100 miles of the incident. Replaced clutch, throw out bearing, and pressure plate. Flywheel looked okay. Did not replace oem IMS bearing.
82000 mi US $200	Coolant levels were continually falling and the trunk carpet was wet. The old tank was cracked from age on the bottom. I temporarily patched it until the new tank arrived. I replaced in my self - because I have small arms and hands.
88000 mi US $400	Car overheated after sitting during a particularly cold spell. The water pump impeller had broken. New water pump installed.

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130200 mi C $524	replaced wheel well and rattle drive side door panel tail lights
132060 mi C $600	Hose broke leaked anti-freeze. Replaced two hoses and fittings filled up anti-freeze. Had to bleed system as well.
137020 mi C $1650	Oil vapour canister replaced. Mass air flow sensor replaced.
148220 mi C $959	statrter
161700 mi C $4000	2 Radiators and coolant replacement. mass air flow replacement fuel pump replacement engine mount replacement rough idle (hunting) cleaned out the throttle body.
167760 mi C $1500	pass side axle rebuild middle radiator replaced thermostat and seal anti freeze
171740 mi C $360	new battery
175460 mi C $1900	front control arms and front shocks and upper struts
176080 mi C $430	shift push rod
178560 mi C $600	front truck wouldn't open new front truck switch. new key fob and reprogrammed.

152800 mi US $120	battery weak after 46 months - 58000 miles
155000 mi US $1200	Emissions air pump was failing
166200 mi US $568	air/oil separator replaced again. 80k mile each oil separator hose replaced, broken and "glued" on prior repair of AOS Replaced all CV joint boots.
166000 mi US $200	unknown Sound coming from right rear connected with rotating systems. Sounds like delaminated tire. Inspected tires, wheel bearings dropped trans pan - found no source of sound.
167000 mi US $700	Water pump failed again
173000 mi US $225	Cooling fan on left side failed

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48000 mi

US $1300

Wheel hub noises and loud. Took it to dealer to ensure it was done correctly. Also needed new key housing they were worn out car is old but looks like new.

45000 mi US $2000	Cracked ignition coil causing misfires. Additionally, bad speed sensor in passenger front wheel bearing caused PASM system to go into failure mode. Car remained barely driveable until engine warmed and water around coils evaporated.
45900 mi US $400	Washer hose popped off the pump, mechanic removed multiple body panels, re-attached hose to pump Front driver-side suspension became extremely squeaky. Technician lubed all joints, etc. and squeak went away. Alleged misfire caused CPU to issue CEL light. Not replicable, only one misfire in last year, so reset the computer.
48050 mi US $6200	Yearly Maintenance + Check Engine Light that had just come on. $240 for a new fob (the old one wore through after 9 years). The remainder was the maintenance. Variocam Actuator caused CEL fault - VA assy replaced. Leaking Cam covers removed, cheeks for both cam chains worn, replaced. Replaced IMS bearing with LN kit. New sway arms in front. Checked Clutch for wear, still 50% there.
49000 mi US $550	Finally managed to break rear window (vinyl) after 9 years of flawless service - my fault, it was too cold. Now it's fixed and clearer than ever.

57000 mi

US $1300

Replace clutch

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57000 mi US $700	Replaced ignition switch
57000 mi US $18000	Mass air sensor
76500 mi US $1200	Ignition coil housing cracked and replaced. Oil fill tube replaced.

89000 mi US $100	Engine slipped timing while trying to start, now has no compression. Call to the local dealer resulted in being told this would be a $10,000 to $15,000 repair. I plan on removing the motor to see if I can fix it.
106500 mi US $3400	Vario cam pads needed to be replaced. Water pump replacement. Coil packs cracked. Spark plug tubes leaking.

111000 mi US $1300	Oil separator, Mass air flow sensor, spark plugs. Solved CEL problem. Clunk in rear passenger side suspension still there after shock replacement.
113000 mi US $150	Key fob went bad. Bought new fob at $125, program for $85. Dealer wanted $170 to program and $180 for fob. Bought on-line, independant repair shop programmed for me. Saved approx $140.
115000 mi US $1050	Water pump went out and broke the belt. 40 miles later the Alternator went out. $950 + $1050. Oh well!

35340 mi C $860	CV joint boots were leaking. Shafts were removed, checked for damage and there was none. CV joints cleaned, repacked, new boots installed.
41540 mi C $1050	During idle power only, there was noise coming from engine which was either alternator bearing, water pump or accessory belt tensioner. Have had replaced the latter plus install new accessory belt and new coolant reservoir cap.

71000 mi US $150	Replaced Air Oil Separator
71900 mi US $100	Replaced engine mount.
75000 mi US $600	Coolant tank ruptured. Had to tow car home. Replaced coolant tank, coolant, and water pump. Water pump was preventative.
79000 mi US $1000	Replaced clutch. It broke apart into 2 separate pieces, the metal center part that engages onto the transmission and the outer part that has the disc material. The rivets just broke apart.

88200 mi

US $1000

original plastic window finally gave up the ghost. repair was to replace the entire top. wow it looks like new! I love this car.

59700 mi US $130	Pass side window regulator.
66000 mi US $1200	Water broke and needed a new battery. Thermostat replaced at the same time.

91000 mi US $381	Smelled coolant, and had visible leaking under car. Had dealer flush coolant, change gear oil, motor oil & filter. Dealer pressure tested system, found no leaks and performed requested services. After I received car back from service for coolant leak, the dealer flushed and checked the sytem and found no leaks. I ordered a new coolant cap for the expansion tank and no more leaks.
93000 mi US $918	Coolant overflow tank (complete assembly)replaced.
106000 mi US $480	Right side lower control arm.
118200 mi US $2934	Noticed a disturbing grinding sound while at a drive through window. Caught the water pump and bearings failing just in time. Included all belt wheels (3) incl. tensioner and new belt. While replacing water pump my mechanic recommended the motor mount be replaced as well. This was the original motor mount as was the water pump. Mount was severely deteriorated.
119700 mi US $1450	Replaced right radiator 2 relays for A/C
123200 mi US $3000	Intermittent CEL, diagnosed as MAF. Noticed grease in rear right wheel.Dealer diagnosed as clamp replacement, and added grease. Replaced spark plug tubes due to appearance of oil on catalytic converter. Replaced left headlamp bulb. Also replaced coil packs.
124000 mi US $550	LF inner fender liner Loose heat shields
127000 mi US $2190	L/F Lower control arm replaced. 10k service Headlight switch. Brake fluid flush

68200 mi

A $2000

Injectors replaced

55180 mi C $400	Replaced cracked coolant expansion tank with new tank, coolant cap, and coolant top-up. A very common problem with all Boxsters.
57040 mi C $160	New battery installed.
66340 mi C $600	New air/oil separator.
69440 mi C $1600	New water pump, thermostat, gaskets, fresh coolant.

78000 mi US $1700	failure of seal on water pump - coolant leak MAF sensor failure. New part installed, faulty. 2nd new MAF installed, fine. All corrected while car was still in shop.
88000 mi US $400	Cracked coolant overflow tank replaced. Replaced brake light sensor.
88300 mi US $275	Failed voltage regulator. Part ordered from Pelican and installed by local indy shop.

48000 mi US $150	Airbag light was on AGAIN!! Buckles had been replaced previously on both seats to address the known electrical contact problems. On this trip we finally installed a new wiring harness and the issue is resolved for now.
51000 mi US $800	Front right radiator developed a leak and needed to be replaced.
67300 mi US $1700	Seal on front left strut blew. Lost all fluid. Opted to replace entire suspension with ROW M030 kit which also included upgraded sway bars. Parts roughly $1100, labor another $600
68000 mi US $350	Water pump went bad. Leaking around shaft seal. Bought new pump and low temp thermostat and replaced myself. Car could not be driven home as leak was significant. Got my trailer and towed it home.

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133100 mi US $600	MAF sensor failed
135000 mi US $1100	Alternator dead

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88000 mi

US $1000

Engine Mount Transmission Mounts

59300 mi

US $1000

Both CV boots on drivers rear axle were ripped- had the entire axle replaced.

58900 mi

C $1300

Cooling was less effective than new. Water pump replaced, along with thermostat.

89000 mi US $1954	Leaking water pump was replaced. tie rods damaged thermostat replaced due to concern it was not functioning properly.
91000 mi US $290	oil tube cracked and leaking. Tube replaced.

96600 mi

US $12000

Cylinder heads, main bearing, clutch

62000 mi €420	Replaced 3 CV joint boots which were damaged
69440 mi €1000	AC not working due to refrigerant leakage in condensers
74180 mi €2800	Oil leak at RMS (Rear Main Seal). Requires removal of transmission & flywheel to be changed. Replaced clutch at the same time.

76240 mi

C $2169

plastic rear window cracked on convertible top; replaced entire top with upgraded after market kit

110000 mi

US $1300

rear struts

213500 mi

US $1200

significant oil consumption and leakage. A number of contributing problems were found, including damaged bellows, breather hoses, spark-plug tubes (unique to this motor).

62000 mi

US $100

A/C compressor failed- compressor was replaced and system was recharged Replaced Emergency brake shoes and springs in the back left wheel. Spring had broken which caused vibrations and noises. Because of this, the rear shoe was not held in properly and needed replaced. Not a major repair.

80000 mi US $2500	Repair oil leak. Preventive replacement of IMS bearing and seal with PN ceramic. Transmission fluid leak. Replace CV boots.
89000 mi US $600	Replace engine mount, cracked rubber, front of engine.

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71000 mi US $1200	Air/Oil separator
83200 mi US $672	Engine noise due to bad idler pulleys and tensioner. All pulleys and belt were replaced.

71000 mi

US $1200

Water pump, heat control valve.

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30000 mi US $1000	Crack in the coolant reservoir, losing coolant.
30000 mi US $100	Ignition key switch went out
35000 mi US $750	Alternator had to be replaced.
43000 mi US $650	air-water separator
45000 mi US $2000	Rear Main Seal

71000 mi

US $1000

passenger airbag sensor needed replacing. harness and airbag need replacing.

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76300 mi

US $2000

engine warning light

51000 mi US $500	replaced headlight switch
51000 mi US $3600	replaced the clutch and replaced the bearing between the engine and transmission which showed wear
55000 mi US $3500	replace oxygen sensor and oil separator

34000 mi

US $2400

Coolant bottle failed, dumped more than 50% of coolant in rear trunk and on garage floor. Did NOT happen while in motion. No engine damage. Vehicle was returned to me with a big dent in the door also. Fixed by dealer at no charge.

89000 mi US $1000	Air Oil Separator (AOS)failed, AOS replaced.Spark plugs fouled, replaced.
89000 mi US $1600	front control arm replaced. started making very loud screech every 3rd start. starter replaced. thermostat stuck, engine overheated.
89000 mi US $800	losing coolant, water pump removal revealed impeller fins worn off.
91000 mi US $200	Could not open right side (passenger) door. Neither outside nor inside door handle would open door. Replaced electric lock mechanism also had to replace connector cable for inside door handle and plastic connector clip for outside handle.
92200 mi US $200	Remove & repair drivers side lock cylinder. remove and replace electric lock assembly, drivers side.

54600 mi US $1500	Water pump blew at track.
55200 mi US $1000	Power top motor went out.

89000 mi US $1100	water pump was making noise, bearing/pump replaced
99000 mi US $1200	front ball joint worn. Bal joint repaired and front end aligned. Tires worn so they were replaced also.
110300 mi US $650	ignition swirch/unit failed and replaced
114000 mi US $1200	radiator cracked, replaced by dealer
117000 mi US $960	MAF failure identfied by CEL and new air filter installed
118000 mi US $650	passenger side window not moving. motor/regulator replaced
125000 mi US $700	Drive side window would not drop when opening door
126000 mi US $125	CEL: code P0430. Dealer says new catalytic converter needed

94000 mi US $125	Horn would sound for no apparent reason. Replaced airbag retaining frame, fuse, and horn.
98000 mi US $475	Bad horns Leaking spark plug tubes
103000 mi US $1250	water pump failed
117000 mi US $2750	Replaced struts and shocks front and back
124000 mi US $1800	Air oil separator failed - needed to be replaced. Fouled spark plugs also need to be replaced, not yet done. Found all four O2 sensors had also failed.
132800 mi US $800	Mass air flow sensor failed - replaced. Cracked oil filler tube - repaired.
144500 mi US $1917	Replace lower front control arms Check engine light Bad rear wheel bearing
154000 mi US $1500	Replace ignition switch module. Turn signal would not shut off. Replaced turn signal module. Replace front lower control arms
178000 mi US $1500	Replaced worn convertible top

45000 mi

US $3600

Variable camshaft timing system failure. Variocam actuator replaced and DME computer repaired.

113000 mi US $280	CEL with P1128 and P1130. Replaced AOS (Air Oil Separator) to resolve.
140000 mi US $1200	Front bumper removed and both front radiators cleaned. Rt Front radiator had blown fuze too. No more overheating observed after repair

69000 mi US $700	Water pump replacement
71000 mi US $540	Failed inner universal joint
82000 mi US $1200	Leaking coolant reservoir was replaced.
83000 mi US $770	Convertible top stopped operating. Replaced cable and top transmission.

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42160 mi

$4000

Regular service discovered MAF faulty and needed replacing. Replaced front/rear trunk gas struts. Replaced front spring struts. Replaced oil filler neck.

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70900 mi US $1000	Coolant leak. Replaced coolant tank and cap.
73000 mi US $100	Check engine light. Vacuum line vibrating against engine. Cut and rerouted . Sensors checked.

61200 mi

US $5900

Clutch , flywheel, ims bearing retrofit, water pump horn

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134000 mi US $349	Broke turn signal stalk
171793 mi US $2500	Replace all 4 struts

83000 mi US $800	coolant storage tank cracked - typical of older Boxsters.
89000 mi US $120	Airbag light on. Stupid design of seatbelt with a resistor that will get dirty and / or fail.
92000 mi US $300	Convertible top arm socket broke. Typical failure mode for Boxsters.
97000 mi US $300	Some widget valve in the emissions system was bad (formerly this function was performed by PCV valves).
102000 mi US $3000	Rear main seal leaking. New clutch/flywheel/release bearing (worn)& since the RMS was leaking it was a good time to replace. Also Intermediate Shaft Bearing replaced (known weakness of Boxsters), coolant temp sensor replaced, ebrake engmt sensor replaced.

94860 mi C $1200	Second water pump within 1 year replacement. The pump rattled for 4 days before dying. Coolant spashed all over engine. Complete replacement 1000 tow 200.
97960 mi C $800	Key became corrupt after water leaked into the drivers computer. Cause was faulty drainage pipe behind drivers seat.
99820 mi C $200	Windshield convertible top sensor switch went kaput. After removing the hard top the switch worked for a few minutes then died. Had to manually put top up and order switch. 1 hour labour ($100) + parts ($56) + taxes.
104160 mi C $1000	Convertible top push rods broke.
104780 mi C $550	Convertible top push rods replaced. As well as drip trays in convertible top down position. Leak to front passenger side corrected with repair as well as top now functional.

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42000 mi

US $2000

Replace HVAC from in air box

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See TrueDelta's information for all Porsche models.

Expensive Porsche Boxster repairs by problem area

Porsche Boxster repair cost distribution

2014 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2014 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2013 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2009 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2008 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2008 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2007 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2007 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2007 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2006 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2006 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2006 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2005 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2005 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2005 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2005 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2005 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2004 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2004 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2004 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2004 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2004 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2003 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2003 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2003 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2002 Porsche Boxster

2002 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2002 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2002 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2001 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2001 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2001 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2001 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2001 Porsche Boxster 2-door

2000 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2000 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2000 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2000 Porsche Boxster 2dr Convertible

2000 Porsche Boxster 2-door

1999 Porsche Boxster

1999 Porsche Boxster 2-door

1998 Porsche Boxster 2-door

Porsche Boxster Expensive Problems