Head-to-head reliability

Porsche Boxster vs Toyota Camry

How the Porsche Boxster and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Porsche Boxster26 complaints · 8 recalls Fewer issues per year
Toyota Camry2,128 complaints · 31 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Porsche Boxster averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Porsche Boxster has 26 complaints and 8 recalls on record; Toyota Camry has 2,128 complaints and 31 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryPorsche BoxsterToyota Camry
Total complaintsAll model years combined26 Better2,128
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns8 Better31
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints1 Better181
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years2.6 Better212.8
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better163
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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 Boxster

  1. 01POWER TRAIN10
  2. 02ENGINE5
  3. 03SUSPENSION4
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES3
  5. 05STRUCTURE3
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR 8-LANE HIGHWAY. I SHIFTED UNEVENTFULLY THROUGH THE GEARS, UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM 5TH TO 6TH. AT THIS POINT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER OFFERED NO RESISTANCE AND HAD NO EFFECT: THE SHIFT LINKAGE HAD FAILED CATASTROPHICA…

CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE SHIFTER SUDDENLY WENT COMPLETELY LOOSE, LEAVING THE CAR STUCK IN 1ST GEAR. AFTER SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS, THE ROOT CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SNAPPED SHIFT CABLE BETWEEN THE SHIFTER "STICK" AND T…

Toyota Camry

  1. 01POWER TRAIN391
  2. 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER340
  3. 03ENGINE312
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES290
  5. 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM241
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

The vehicle allows the engine to be turned off, key removed, while the vehicle is still in drive with no warning lights or sounds. I have tested and the vehicle can roll away. Complained to the toyota dealership and they said the service tech consulted with t…

I have a 2024 Toyota Camry with a ua80 transmission and started having problems around 92000 miles and I'm starting to have a lot more at 109,000 miles which is a little ridiculous for a transmission that is way too early very concerned for my safety on a pre…

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 Boxster — 8 recalls

Power Train — Axle Assembly
#21V679000Jan 2021

The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Boxster, 2013-2014 Boxster S, 2014-2015 Cayman, Cayman S, 2015 Boxster GTS, and Cayman GTS vehicles. The rear-axle carrier side sections may fracture.

The risk: A carrier fracture may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the rear-axle carrier side sections, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB7.

Power Train — Axle Assembly
#21V679000Jan 2021

The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Boxster, 2013-2014 Boxster S, 2014-2015 Cayman, Cayman S, 2015 Boxster GTS, and Cayman GTS vehicles. The rear-axle carrier side sections may fracture.

The risk: A carrier fracture may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the rear-axle carrier side sections, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB7.

Power Train — Axle Assembly
#21V679000Jan 2021

The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Boxster, 2013-2014 Boxster S, 2014-2015 Cayman, Cayman S, 2015 Boxster GTS, and Cayman GTS vehicles. The rear-axle carrier side sections may fracture.

The risk: A carrier fracture may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the rear-axle carrier side sections, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB7.

Latches/Locks/Linkages — Hood — Latch
#14V698000Apr 2014

The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Porsche 911, Boxster, and Cayman vehicles manufactured May 7, 2014, to September 23, 2014. The front hood upper lock components were not manufactured to specification and may fail to securely latch the vehicle's ho…

The risk: A failure of the hood latching mechanism may cause the hood to suddenly open during vehicle operation and will severely impede the driver's ability to see out the front windshield, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lock on the front hood, free of charge. The recall began December 12, 2014. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AE04.

Toyota Camry — 31 recalls

Seats
#24V128000

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…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification
#23V865000

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…

Wheels — Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
#23V432000

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…

Seats
#24V128000

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…

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 Boxster or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Porsche Boxster vs Toyota Camry — comparison facts
Comparison
Porsche Boxster vs Toyota Camry
Porsche Boxster total complaints
26
Toyota Camry total complaints
2,128
Porsche Boxster total recalls
8
Toyota Camry total recalls
31
Porsche Boxster avg complaints/year
2.6
Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
212.8
More reliable overall
Porsche Boxster
Porsche Boxster top complaint area
POWER TRAIN
Toyota Camry top complaint area
POWER TRAIN