NHTSA Complaint #10614857 — 2010 PORSCHE BOXSTER (987)

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 CATASTROPHICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS IN 5TH AND I COULD NO LONGER CHANGE THE GEAR. BECAUSE I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND KNEW THE AREA, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO AN EXIT THAT OFFERED SAFE PARKING, AND CALL FOR A TOW. A BIT OF WEB RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT THIS IS A MODEL DEFECT THAT HAS ALREADY AFFECTED MANY. THE BOXSTER AND CAYMAN (987) HAVE A CABLE LINKAGE, AND I SUSPECT THAT THE CABLE (PART # 98742404211) IS UNDERDESIGNED AND PRONE TO SNAP (E.G., HTTP://WWW.PLANET-9.COM/987-CAYMAN-BOXSTER-PROBLEMS-COMPLAINTS/75482-BROKEN-SHIFTER-CABLE.HTML, HTTP://GOTACLASSACTION.COM/PORSCHE-INVESTIGATED-OVER-FAULTY-SHIFTER-CABLE-IN-911-AND-CAYMAN-VEHICLES). I AM CONCERNED THAT A FAILURE OF THE SHIFT CABLE AT THE WRONG TIME, OR TO THE WRONG DRIVER, COULD HAVE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES. THE CABLE CAN FAIL WHEN SHIFTING INTO ANY GEAR, EVEN REVERSE. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, A DRIVER COULD INITIATE A THREE-POINT TURN, AND END UP WITH HIS VEHICLE IN THE ROADWAY, PERPENDICULAR TO TRAFFIC, UNABLE TO PROCEED. ALSO, AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WHO HAD TO COPE WITH THE SAME SITUATION I DID (STUCK IN A HIGH GEAR, MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) MIGHT BE UNABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND BRING HIS VEHICLE SAFELY TO A STOP. THESE ARE JUST TWO SCENARIOS; THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. NOTE THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED FOR ITS ENTIRE LIFETIME (I AM THE FIRST OWNER). IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP LESS THAN 5 MONTHS AGO TO COMPLETE ITS 4-YEAR MAINTENANCE. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 2,500 MILES SINCE IT WAS LAST INSPECTED. IN OTHER WORDS, IT APPEARS THIS FAILURE CAN STRIKE AT ANY TIME, EVEN ON A WELL-MAINTAINED, LOW-MILEAGE CAR. *TR