2005 Porsche Boxster Complaints

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

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

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

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

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