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Before you buy a used Porsche Boxster / Cayman (981).

2012–2016 · Petrol · 1 engine

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Porsche Boxster / Cayman (981), real photo of this generation
Cpl.Winky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

2.7 / 3.4

Petrol

  • Intake-valve carbon and water pump on the 981 Boxster/CaymanEngine
    Period mentioned
    2012–2016
    Mileage mentioned
    What the sheet says: With direct injection, carbon builds up on the intake valves, typically around 80,000–120,000 km; it is cleaned by walnut blasting. The water pump has a plastic impeller and is best replaced preventively at around 90,000–120,000 km.

    Applies if: 981 Boxster and Cayman.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Porsche dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Airbag control unit electrical faultPassive safety / electronics

How to check it: Inspect the unit and replace it if the recall-described electrical fault is found.

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Porsche airbag and seat-belt recalls (2007–2025)Airbags and seat belts

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Porsche wheel, axle and suspension recalls (2007–2025)Suspension and steering

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Porsche body, seat and fitting recalls (2004–2023)Bodywork

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Porsche other recalls (2017–2019)Bodywork

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 1 checked

Engine

  • Look out for: Rough cold starts, a slight misfire under load and an engine light for cylinder misfires; risk of overheating if the water pump fails.

    Ask them to check: Read misfire codes; inspect the valves with a borescope; check when the water pump was replaced.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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