Engine/transmission failures - action time

Guest · Aug 13, 2005

I own a 1999 C2 996 Manual (3.4 engine) which was originally bought from an Official Porsche Centre in the UK and all services have been carried out by OPCs since.

It has had an engine and transmission replaced already due to internal component failures. It has had the usual leaking RMS problems.

Recently the car went in for its annual service. The car was fine when it left me and but after the service had been carried out and during the final road test I was told that it developed a major engine problem which has subsequently been diagnosed as a big end bearing failure which requires another engine replacement.

The car is now out of warranty and I have been informed by PCGB that because of this and the age and mileage of the car, they will not cover the costs. They have offered to make a contribution, but I'm still facing a very big bill.

There is plenty of information around on forums about the RMS oil leaks and engine failures due to liners cracking and bearings breaking up in 996s and Boxsters. Transmissions also seem to be a problem. Some owners have received 'goodwill' FOC replacements and others have been left to pick up the bill. Is this just a case of who shouts loudest or complains the most gets the goodwill and rest are left to find more money to pour into a car which has already depreciated more than any almost any other Porsche model in history?

I do not want to be a cause of further depreciation but isn't it about time something was done about this situation? If the number of failures occurring is a small percentage then it would be in Porsche's interest to simply replace them FOC and keep their customers happy. If it is such a big issue that they don't want to spend the money doing this, we all should be made aware.

A few people in the past have tried to gather information, set up websites etc. to bring this out into the open but don't seem to have got very far. I would like to do something not just to sort out my own situation but also to help all 996 and Boxster owners, past and present, receive fair treatment from Porsche.

To start with I'd like to hear your stories, good and bad. So if you've suffered an engine or transmission failure with your 996 or Boxster, please let me know the VIN/chassis number, year, model and mileage when it happened, description of fault/failure and what the result was (warranty replacement, goodwill replacement, contribution or no help given).

Please post here or e-mail me privately:

mrphish@dial.pipex.com

All personal information will be treated in the strictest confidence. No names or e-mail addresses will be released to anyone without the consent of the contributor.

Please feel free to copy or e-mail this post to anyone you know who has had engine or transmission failures and help get the truth out in the open.

oliver · Aug 13, 2005

As with my 996s, only good experiences.

- 1997 Boxster 2.5 - no problems
- 2000 Boxster 'S' - no problems
- 2005 Boxster 'S' - no problems

garyw · Aug 14, 2005

How much of a contribution are they willing to make..maybe I have missed a point here but the car is six years old, what exactly do you want?

garyw

Guest · Aug 14, 2005

So you are saying that as a Porsche owner you should expect an engine failure or two in 6 years?

I don't think the size of the contribution is relevant to the principle that they are denying there is a design/manufacturing problem with these engines. A 6 year old car should not be on it's 3rd engine unless it's been seriously mistreated (which it hasn't) or has been serviced or maintained incorrectly (which it hasn't).

I would expect a manufacturer such as Porsche to extend their goodwill to any 996/Boxster owners who suffer this type of failure and replace the failed unit free of charge.

How can anyone argue that it is acceptable to pay over £60,000 for a car which will require a new engine every couple of years. Just the time it's been in the garage for this and other problems has been cause for complaint.

dawn lang · Aug 16, 2005

Before I start this paragraph, I would like to start by saying that Porsche have been very good to me in the past looking after me with goodwill gestures when my old car was out of warranty.

However, I do think it can be very much luck of the draw when it comes to wangling the goods out of them. I have a great relationship with my OPC and they've always bent over backwards for me. I didn't even have to mention goodwill my old car suffered with RMS - they came up with the goods! For this I count myself quite lucky!

However, there has to be a point where - when owning such a potentially expensive vehicle - you have to take a little of the responsibility in preparing for total disasters like this because they do happen and none of us are oblivious to this fact! I think that the Porsche warranty is very expensive but i've taken it out for my boxster. So far it's proved unnecessary but I go out every day in my lovely car in the knowledge that should the engine blow up and the wheels fall off, i'm covered by warranty. It helps me sleep at night quite frankly.

I am really not trying to be harsh but if i'd not taken the Porsche warranty I would have tried an alternative 3rd party warranty company. At least then i'd get a chunk of any disasters paid for hopefully.

I wish you all the luck in the world pushing forward and giving Porsche a hard time over this. Give them hell and make them very aware of how bloody angry you are! It must be gutting to know you've treated your pride and joy so well, adhered to all the service schedules etc and this has still happened but all you can do now is to go balls out and see what joy you get. I think we all know Bernie's story and the crap he's been through.

Take care

Guest · Aug 16, 2005

Dawn
I would say that the inconsistent treatment is one of my biggest bugbears with all of this. After about a year of ownership I switched from my orignal OPC to one 100 miles from me because the original one was a complete shambles. Since then my current OPC have been much better and I do believe they have done everything they can in this case to get me a fair deal, but I keep coming back to the fact that a manufacturer like Porsche should not be allowed to get away with selling a defective product and expecting the customer to keep paying for it.

There are documented cases of owners getting free engines even when the car is out of warranty. Others get a contribution. Others get nothing.

Whether it is just my car or 1 in 100 or 1 in 10,000 experiencing these engine failures it is not acceptable. In the U.S. they have a 'lemon law' in some States now. There was a group action in the UK for all the Freelander owners with K-series engines who suffered head gasket failure. That was settled out of court I believe.

Car manufacturers sometimes get it wrong. Even Porsche. I just want them to admit it and give everyone the same treatment - preferably not the bad treatment that most of us seem to be getting in the UK.

I have now seen enough surveys and forum threads over the past 4 years that I am confident we could organise a group action against PCGB if enough disgruntled owners are willing to put their name to it.

Finally, can you expand on your comment about 'Bernie' as I'm not aware of him?