The 2017 718 Boxster with the 2.0L turbo flat-four (base engine) is a controversial departure from Porsche's naturally-aspirated heritage, and unfortunately it came with a catastrophic flaw: chronic cylinder scoring and premature engine failure that can strike well before 60,000 miles in severe cases.
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 qt per 1,000 mi or worse), Blue smoke on cold start or under acceleration, Loss of compression, misfires, rough idle, Metallic rattling from engine, especially when cold
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or replacement required. Pistons, cylinder walls, rings, often crankshaft and bearings all affected. 40-60 hours labor for full rebuild, 25-35 hours for short block swap. Porsche extended warranty to 10yr/120k mi on affected engines but only covers specific failure modes—many owners still fight for coverage.
Estimated cost: $15,000-25,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking near front of car, Transmission overheating warnings on track or spirited driving, Burnt transmission fluid smell, Erratic shifting or delayed engagement when hot
Fix: Oil cooler develops leaks at crimp joints or internal failures. Must drop subframe for access on PDK models. 8-12 hours labor including fluid flush and refill with expensive Porsche PDK fluid.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive driveline vibration at idle in gear, Visible sagging or torn rubber on mount inspection, Harsh engagement during aggressive launches
Fix: The rear transmission mount tears or separates. Relatively straightforward replacement but requires lifting transmission slightly. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Fuel System Hose/Line Deterioration
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Fuel smell in cabin or around engine bay, Fuel pooling under vehicle, Check engine light with fuel system pressure codes, Hard starting or fuel starvation under load
Fix: NHTSA recall addressed some fuel line issues, but additional lines and quick-connect fittings in the rear engine bay continue to crack or leak, especially in hot climates. Diagnosis can be time-consuming due to shielding. 4-8 hours labor depending on which lines fail.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,500
PDK Clutch Pack Wear (High-Performance Use)
Rare · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Slipping during hard acceleration or Launch Control, Shuddering when pulling away from stop, Burnt smell from transmission, Transmission fault codes for clutch slip
Fix: Primarily affects cars with frequent track use or Launch Control abuse. Requires transmission removal and complete clutch pack replacement. 18-24 hours labor plus expensive Porsche parts.
Estimated cost: $8,000-12,000
Convertible Top Hydraulic System Leaks
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Slow or incomplete top operation, Hydraulic fluid spots in rear trunk area, Top error messages on dash, Creaking or uneven movement during cycle
Fix: Hydraulic rams, hoses, or pump seals leak. Can sometimes be addressed with seal kits, but often requires component replacement. Diagnosis and repair 4-8 hours labor. Prevention: cycle the top regularly even in winter.
Estimated cost: $1,500-3,500
Owner tips
Check oil level religiously—these turbo motors can consume oil rapidly even when healthy; don't wait for the low-oil light
Get a pre-purchase inspection with leak-down and compression test on all four cylinders—this is non-negotiable on the 2.0T
Verify Porsche warranty claim history; many engines were replaced under extended coverage but some owners weren't aware
If buying high-mileage, budget $3-5k contingency for transmission cooler and mounts—they're wear items on these cars
Avoid examples with heavy track use unless you can verify transmission and engine health with data logs
The 2.0L turbo engine's scoring issues make this a high-risk used buy unless you have documented evidence of a factory engine replacement or can secure an extended warranty—otherwise, budget for a potential $20k engine job.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2019 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S vehicles and 2018-2019 718 Boxster GTS and 2018-2019 718 Cayman GTS vehicles. In the event of a crash, a crossmember may detach from the luggage compartment bracket, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will secure the crossmember with additional rivets, free of charge. The recall began April 19, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA3.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V134000
2017-03-02
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2016 911 GT3 RS and 911 R vehicles and 2017 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Targa 4, 911 Targa 4S, 911 Turbo S, 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S vehicles. The passenger frontal air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash.
Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH03.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD · 17V135000
2017-03-02
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Targa S, 911 Targa 4S, 911 Turbo Cabriolet, 718 Boxter and 718 Boxter S vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will rebond the windshield, free of charge. The recall began on May 12, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for the recall is AH04.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 17V054000
2017-01-25
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Targa 4, 911 Targa 4S + GTS, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, and 718 Cayman S vehicles. The screws that fasten the fuel collection pipes in the engine compartment may shear off, resulting in a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will install improved fastening screws, free of charge. The recall began March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH01.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · 16V946000
2016-12-30
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2017 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, 718 Cayman S, 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Turbo, 911 Turbo S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, and 911 Turbo Cabriolet vehicles. The seat mounted side air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash.
Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the side air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG10.
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