Total Complaints
3 filings
PORSCHE BOXSTER (987) · model year
2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER (987)
3 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005PORSCHEBOXSTER (987) carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 BOXSTER (987) is engine and engine cooling with 1 filings, followed by air bags (1) and electrical system (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2005 BOXSTER (987). Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20150828CrashAIR BAGS
FALSE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT CAUSED INITIAL DISTRACTION FOLLOWED BY FALSE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.. TRYING TO STEER THE CAR DURING THIS EVENT AND DEAL WITH TRAFFIC, VEHICLE ENTERED INTERSECTION AND WAS HIT (T BONED) ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.. AIRBAGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THEN DEPLOYED.. NO AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DEPLOYED - ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG PRIOR TO IMPACT.
20150828CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FALSE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT CAUSED INITIAL DISTRACTION FOLLOWED BY FALSE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.. TRYING TO STEER THE CAR DURING THIS EVENT AND DEAL WITH TRAFFIC, VEHICLE ENTERED INTERSECTION AND WAS HIT (T BONED) ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.. AIRBAGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THEN DEPLOYED.. NO AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DEPLOYED - ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG PRIOR TO IMPACT.
20110420ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Mileage: 29,000
Compare 2005PORSCHEBOXSTER (987) to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER (987) have?▼
The 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER (987) has 3 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER (987)?▼
The most-complained component for the 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER (987) is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER (987) safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.