MajorCommonBody & Rust

Porsche Boxster/Cayman: Convertible roof motor, cables and microswitch failures; plastic rear window (986/987 Boxster)

Convertible roof motor, cables and microswitch failures; plastic rear window (986/987 Boxster) is a common body & rust fault on the Porsche Boxster/Cayman on the 2000–2012 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $800 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 9 documented faults on the Porsche Boxster/Cayman.

Vehicle: Porsche Boxster/Cayman
Years: 2000–2012
Fuel: petrol
System: Body & Rust

This page covers the Porsche Boxster/Cayman as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Porsche Boxster/Cayman faults9 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The Boxster's powered soft-top relies on a motor, push-pull cables, plastic transmission gears and microswitches that wear or fall out of alignment, leaving the roof stuck part-way. Pre-2003 986s also used a plastic rear window that goes hazy and cracks with age and folding. Snapped tension cables and stripped gears are the classic failures; a full top replacement with glass window is the fix for tired early cars.

What you would notice

Roof stops or struggles part-way through its cycle
Grinding or clicking during roof operation
Hazy, creased or cracked plastic rear window
Roof sits unevenly on one side

How to check it

Where to look. Soft-top mechanism behind the seats and along the roof side rails; rear window in the top itself

What it costs to put right

$800 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the roof mechanism or top ever been replaced?”
“Does the roof complete its cycle without help?”

Now check the Porsche Boxster/Cayman you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Porsche Boxster/Cayman buyer questions

Is convertible roof motor, cables and microswitch failures; plastic rear window (986/987 boxster) serious on a Porsche Boxster/Cayman?

We rate it major and common on the Porsche Boxster/Cayman. The Boxster's powered soft-top relies on a motor, push-pull cables, plastic transmission gears and microswitches that wear or fall out of alignment, leaving the roof stuck part-way. Pre-2003 986s also used a plastic rear window that goes hazy and cracks with age and folding. Snapped tension cables and stripped gears are the classic failures; a full top replacement with glass window is the fix for tired early cars.

How much does it cost to fix on a Porsche Boxster/Cayman?

$800 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Porsche Boxster/Cayman years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2000–2012 Porsche Boxster/Cayman. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Cycle the roof fully open and closed at least three times and watch both sides move evenly. On pre-2003 cars inspect the plastic window for cracking at the fold line. Check the carpet behind the seats for damp from failed drains. Look here: Soft-top mechanism behind the seats and along the roof side rails; rear window in the top itself