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1989-2021 · 21 model years

Porsche Boxster Problems by year

Owners have filed 181 complaints about the Porsche Boxster across 21 model years, and it has 13 recalls. The 1998 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (32), while 1989, 2007, 2008 have far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling, followed by the airbags.

Most complaints for its age199832 complaints · 4 recallsSee the 1998
Complaints
181
Recalls
13
Crashes
11
Fires
4
Injuries
7
Deaths
0

Boxster complaints by model year

Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20210200-C
20150200-B
20142300AirbagsC
201310110Engine & coolingD
20120100-A
20112000BrakesA
20102000Transmission & drivetrainA
20093000Transmission & drivetrainA
20081000Engine & coolingA
20072000Transmission & drivetrainA
20065000Engine & coolingA
200519010Engine & coolingD
20044300Engine & coolingC
200319430Engine & coolingF
200211430Electrical systemF
200113411Electrical systemF
20005311Engine & coolingD
199928310Engine & coolingF
199832400Body, doors & structureF
199722602AirbagsF
19891000AirbagsA

Most common Boxster problems

Porsche Boxster recalls 13

Exterior lighting: headlights

09E02500042,540 vehicles affected

Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety...

Power train: automatic transmission

03V00400012,234 vehicles affected

Certain 2-door convertible passenger vehicles equipped with the tiptronic (automatic) transmission may have been produced with an incorrectly adjusted key-lock-cable down to the shift selector. If the key-lock-cable is not adjusted correctly, it is possible...

Latest Boxster complaints

2004 Porsche BoxsterFuel system

SUMMARY OF SAFETY DEFECT: Active, unmitigated toxic gasoline vapor leak inside the cabin of a 2004 Porsche Boxster, presenting an acute fire and toxic chemical exposure hazard upon filling the tank and starting the vehicle. DEALER & CORPORATE EVASION: Ignored Warnings: Dealership intake and repair orders (such as Frank's Automotive RO #[redacted]) logged raw fuel odors but omitted proper fuel system diagnostics. Compromised Inspection: Authorized personnel at Porsche South Austin (PSA), including service...

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advisor [[redacted]], used "gold certified" credentials to falsely clear the vehicle without remediation. Corporate Denial: In Case #[redacted] dated [redacted] PCNA Executive Case Specialist [[redacted]] formally refused to authorize an independent diagnostic inspection, hiding behind the franchise model to abandon consumer safety. REQUESTED ACTION: NHTSA should open a defect inquiry into unmitigated fuel vapor leaks and investigate authorized dealer practices of overriding safety concerns via unverified test-drive clearances. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11756829
2003 Porsche BoxsterVisibility & wipers

Vehicle has an open safety recall involving a condition that may increase the risk of a crash. During a visit to an authorized dealership for information regarding the recall, dealership personnel advised against completing the recall procedure. I was informed that due to the age of the vehicle and components, performing the recall could potentially damage the headlight seals and that I could be financially responsible for repairs if damage occurred during the recall process. This raised concerns because the...

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recall relates to a safety issue, yet I was discouraged from having the repair performed unless I accepted potential liability for damage resulting from the recall work itself. As a result, the safety recall remains unresolved. No warning lamps or messages were present prior to this interaction. The issue described here concerns the handling of the recall and the guidance provided by the dealership regarding completion of a safety recall repair.

Filed Incident Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11737614
2003 Porsche BoxsterWheels & tires

The contact owns a 2003 Porsche Boxster equipped with Landgolden Tires, Tire Line: L27, Tire Size: 265/35/ZR18, DOT Number: (N/A). While performing routine maintenance on the vehicle, the contact discovered that the rear passenger's side tire had experienced extensive tread separation. The online dealer from whom the tires were purchased from was contacted, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Incident TiresNHTSA 11720640
2001 Porsche BoxsterSuspensionCrash1 injury

The right front suspension failed. Something broke so that the wheel/brake component bent away from the car causing a sudden left hand turn/jerk. This was confirmed upon exiting the car and looking at the front right semi-attached wheel. The car traveled THROUGH highway safety cables, front windshield shattered, right passenger side arm bag deployed and car stopped in median before going into oncoming traffic. The car is currently being picked up and accessed by insurance company. No warning lamps or messages. ...

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The front end did seem to "float" prior to the accident - I figured I had a tire problem and was looking to exit the highway up the road. I went to the ER and had flying glass injuries resulting from the crash. Car is a "garage queen!" I never race or have never been on a race track. I have all records of care. No prior accidents or changes have been made to the car. It is 22 years old and was in excellent shape. I have read about incidents like this since the accident - specific to this car model in online sources. I am reporting this to my local Porsche club also so they can be proactive.

Filed Incident SuspensionNHTSA 11557090
2001 Porsche BoxsterElectrical systemBrakes

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) failure due to premature degradation of plastic wiring harness connectors for ABS wheel speed sensors located in each wheel well. ABS warning light illuminated alerting to the disabling of the system. Issue confirmed by independent repair facility. Dealer was engaged, but denied coverage due to vehicle being out of warranty and no recalls initiated.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakesNHTSA 11539625
2003 Porsche BoxsterTransmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2003 Porsche Boxster. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the indicator lights on the gear shifter for the park(P) and the four (4) position was flashing. In addition, while driving at various speeds, the transmission failed to shift into fifth gear and the vehicle would enter LIMP Mode. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer on two separate occasions and was informed that the gear selector switch was sticky due to the vehicle not being driven. The vehicle was repaired after the failures; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 12,669.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11530804

Questions about the Porsche Boxster

Which Porsche Boxster years have the most problems?

By the number of complaints owners filed with NHTSA: 1998 (32), 1999 (28), 1997 (22). Allowing for how long each has been on the road, the 1998 stands out most. Complaint counts also rise with sales, so compare years of the same model rather than different models.

Which Porsche Boxster years have the fewest complaints?

Among model years that have been on the road for at least three years, 1989, 2008, 2007 have the best Safety Index - the fewest complaints, crashes and recalls for their age compared with other Boxster years. Always check the exact vehicle's recalls by VIN before you buy.

What are the most common Porsche Boxster problems?

Across every model year, owners report problems with the engine & cooling (64), airbags (31), electrical system (29) most often.

How many recalls does the Porsche Boxster have?

NHTSA lists 13 recalls across all Porsche Boxster model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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