Head-to-head reliability
Porsche 718 Boxster vs Toyota Camry
How the Porsche 718 Boxster and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Porsche 718 Boxster vs Toyota Camry: The Boxster has 7 complaints over 9 years (0.8/year) and 9 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. The Camry also reports 158 injuries and 1 death, versus none for the Boxster. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Porsche 718 Boxster or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Porsche 718 Boxster
The Porsche 718 Boxster is a low-volume sports car, averaging less than one complaint per year over nine years. Owners report a handful of serious-sounding issues, such as brakes causing engine shutdown and a transmission that sometimes starts in second gear. Recalls cover fuel system, air bags, and windshield concerns. Overall, the complaint pattern suggests that while problems are rare, they can be safety-relevant when they occur.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with over 2,000 complaints in ten years, averaging about 206 per year. Owners frequently report power train, engine, and brake problems, including hesitation, shuddering, and electronic parking brake failures. Recalls address wheels, seats, and air bag sensors. The volume of complaints means many owners experience issues, though not all are severe.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Porsche 718 Boxster | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Porsche 718 Boxster
- 01SERVICE BRAKES2
- 02POWER TRAIN1
- 03VISIBILITY/WIPER1
- 04WHEELS1
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
Owners report that the engine can shut off while driving and then fail to restart, which could leave you without power brakes or steering. Another complaint describes a brake-related incident on an expressway, though details are limited.
A 2017 Boxster with PDK transmission reportedly started in second gear on three occasions, making slow-speed merging dangerous. This suggests a potential software or sensor glitch that could affect acceleration from a stop.
One owner heard a loud bang and found the passenger-side mirror destroyed while driving at night. This could indicate a design or material weakness that might lead to unexpected mirror failure.
Rear tires reportedly wore completely bald after only 5,000 miles, even though alignment was fine and driving was not aggressive. This could mean unusually fast tire wear, adding to ownership costs and safety risks.
“I was traveling North on the 127 expressway in Michigan on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in my brand new Porsche Boxster. It is a manual transmission. There was not a lot of traffic. It was maybe around 4:00 pm and the weather was fine. In the distance I could see…”
“Engine shuts off while the car is being driven and will not restart.”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, pointing to transmission or engine control issues.
A delayed throttle response of several seconds after pressing the accelerator is reported, which could make merging or crossing traffic risky. The same hesitation and shuddering complaint also appears under engine issues.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow and a new switch that sometimes does not fix the problem. Owners also hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer calls normal but owners find concerning.
Multiple safety systems—including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—malfunctioned at once in one report. Another complaint lists subframe, driveline, and stability control components as involved, suggesting complex electronic or structural problems.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Porsche 718 Boxster — 9 recalls
The defect: 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, pos…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of fire.
The fix: 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…
The defect: 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,…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
The defect: 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 mou…
The risk: 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.
The fix: 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.
The defect: 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…
The risk: In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Porsche 718 Boxster or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Porsche 718 Boxster has far fewer complaints per year (0.8) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), but the Boxster's issues can be serious when they occur. The Camry's higher volume means more owners report problems, though many are less severe. In practice, the Boxster may need less frequent attention, but the Camry offers more data to anticipate common faults.
Key differences
- The Boxster averages 0.8 complaints per year; the Camry averages 205.6, a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Boxster complaints include engine shutdown and second-gear starts, while Camry complaints often involve key removal, hesitation, and electronic parking brake failures.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries reported; the Boxster has 1 crash-related complaint and no injuries.
- Recalls for the Boxster cover fuel system, air bags, and windshield; Camry recalls cover wheels, seats, and air bag sensors.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or shutdown while driving, especially related to brake system complaints.
- Test the PDK transmission thoroughly, ensuring it always starts in first gear and shifts smoothly from a stop.
- Verify the ignition key can be removed easily when in Park; if it sticks, it may need costly repair.
- Test the electronic parking brake engagement and disengagement, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brakes, transmission, and electrical systems for both models.
- For the Boxster, check tire wear and alignment, and test the PDK in various modes.
- For the Camry, test all driver-assist features and the electronic parking brake.
- Ask the seller for any repair records related to the specific complaints listed here.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Porsche 718 Boxster | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 1 | 50 |
| 2023 | 1 | 64 |
| 2022 | 0 | 61 |
| 2021 | 2 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
| 2019 | 0 | 395 |
| 2018 | 0 | 744 |
| 2017 | 3 | 148 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Porsche 718 Boxster or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Porsche 718 Boxster vs Toyota Camry
- Porsche 718 Boxster total complaints
- 7
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Porsche 718 Boxster total recalls
- 9
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Porsche 718 Boxster avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Porsche 718 Boxster
- Porsche 718 Boxster top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN