GVWR: Class 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg)
Make: PORSCHE
Manufacturer: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AG
Manufacturer Id: 13510
Model: Boxster S
Model Year: 2006
Note: GVWR: 3,593 - 3,682 lbs
Other Restraint System Info: Restraint System: Passive
Plant City: Uusikaupunki
Plant Company Name: Valmet
Plant Country: Finland
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2003
SEATS
A STRANGE THING HAPPENED AS MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT IN OUR '03 BOXSTER. THE SEATBACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MYSTERIOUSLY BEGAN ROTATING FORWARD, ALL EFFORTS TO STOP IT USING BODY FORCE FAILED. MY WIFE WAS CRUSHED INTO THE GLOVE BOX BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP. SHE COULD NOT REACH THE DOOR HANDLE AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO EXTRICATE HERSELF AFTER I OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE SEAT MOTOR HAD ROTATED THE SEATBACK FORWARD TO A POSITION OF APPROXIMATELY 45° PAST VERTICAL BY THE TIME IT STOPPED. WE LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE SHEEPSKIN SEAT COVER HAD SNAGGED THE PROTRUDING SWITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT AND HELD IT, CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO ROTATE. THE POINT I NEED TO MAKE IS THIS; WHAT IF THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE? THE DRIVER WOULD BE CRUSHED AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND UNABLE TO STOP. A CRASH WOULD BE INEVITABLE, AND THE DRIVER WOULD SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURY SINCE THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND WHEEL IS SO SMALL. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR THE SEAT MOTOR TO BE ABLE TO ROTATE THE SEATBACK FORWARD TO SUCH A HUGE ANGLE FROM VERTICAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MECHANICAL LEVER AT THE TOP OF THE SEAT MAY BE USED IF SEAT ROTATION IS REQUIRED. I STRONGLY URGE PORSCHE TO CONSIDER INSTALLING A LIMIT SWITCH ON THE SEAT MOTOR TO PREVENT EVEN THE REMOTEST POSSIBILITY OF THIS EVENT OCCURRING. THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE PLACING AN ITEM IN A POSITION TO SNAG THE PROTRUDING SWITCH AND ACTIVATE THE SEAT ROTATION IS TOO REAL TO IGNORE, AND RAISES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. NOTE THAT THE SHEEPSKIN SEAT COVERS I USE ARE CUSTOM MADE FOR THE BOXSTER SEAT AND HAVE CUTOUTS AROUND THE SEAT SWITCHES; EVEN SO THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. *TR
2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED EACH TIME THE ENGINE WAS STARTED OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED WHILE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. ALSO, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED FORWARD SO THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. AFTER THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE SEAT AS INSTRUCTED BY THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM