2004 Porsche BOXSTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
32,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 50.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10267931 · 2009-05-07 (May 7, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE BOXSTER. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT AT 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IMS (INTERMEDIATE SHAFT) FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. IT WOULD COST $16,000-$20,000 TO REPLACE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20468. UPDATED 05/27/09. *LJ THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BOLT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. UPDATED 05/28/09.*…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,468 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398191 · 2011-04-29 (April 29, 2011)
2004 PORSCHE BOXSTER, 58-60K MI, HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 10 MI/HR. ENGINE STALLED; WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE A FEW FEET, BUT BADLY MISSING. LOUD CLANGING NOISE FROM ENGINE. NO SMOKE. OIL DRAINED FROM CAR WHEN TILTED ON TOWTRUCK. DEALER FOUND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (IMS) FAILURE; REQUIRED ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT $18K. DEALER SAID THEY HAD SEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF IMS FAILURES (BUT PORSCHE HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS). NO INJURIES, BUT CERTAINLY ENGINE FAILURE LIKE THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. PORSCHE FORUMS ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398191 at NHTSA ↗