AI Damage2009 Porsche Boxster (987): common problems
Owners of the 2009 Porsche Boxster (987) filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and tires. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 67% of all complaints
- 2 Tires 33% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 33% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The danger arises from unexpectedly low mileage to complete tread loss and cord appearing without warning with the risk of a blowout at highway speeds on out of town trips.
Vehicle stuck in neutral after few seconds stop at stop sign in cross street. Was able to drive into hotel parking lot a few feet away and vehicle was towed home. Missed first repair appointment but rescheduled for 11/20/2014. 11/13/2014-vehicle now will not stay on when key is turned, will try a battery charge.
Vehicle (manual transmission) stuck in first gear while entering cross street. Very dangerous situation. I managed to avoid an accident, but it was a close call. The 6 speed manual transmission is unable to shift out of first gear.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Boxster (987) has 2 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 3, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Porsche Boxster (987)?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, tires, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 3.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Porsche Boxster (987)?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Porsche Boxster (987) from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.