2004 Porsche Boxster

SUMMARY OF SAFETY DEFECT: Active, unmitigated toxic gasoline vapor leak inside the cabin of a 2004 Porsche Boxster, presenting an acute fire and toxic chemical exposure hazard upon filling the tank and starting the vehicle. DEALER & CORPORATE EVASION: Ignored Warnings: Dealership intake and repair orders (such as Frank's Automotive RO #XXX) logged raw fuel odors but omitted proper fuel system diagnostics. Compromised Inspection: Authorized personnel at Porsche South Austin (PSA), including service advisor [XXX], used "gold certified" credentials to falsely clear the vehicle without remediation. Corporate Denial: In Case #XXX dated XXX PCNA Executive Case Specialist [XXX] formally refused to authorize an independent diagnostic inspection, hiding behind the franchise model to abandon consumer safety. REQUESTED ACTION: NHTSA should open a defect inquiry into unmitigated fuel vapor leaks and investigate authorized dealer practices of overriding safety concerns via unverified test-drive clearances. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING WHEN OUT AND SPREAD METAL SHAVING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE AN ENGINE REBUILD. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICE ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY PROVIDED SERVICE MANUAL. I CALLED PORSCHE USA TO SEE IF THEY WOUDL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAILURE, SINCE THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN PORSCHES, BUT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT HELP. *TT

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 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. DEFECT FOUND IN MY97-08. *TR

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.*JB