Major Problems with Porsche Boxster Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Porsche Boxster to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Porsche Boxster

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Porsche Boxster.

Model Year	Complaints
2015 Boxster	2
2013 Boxster	7
2012 Boxster	1
2006 Boxster	3
2005 Boxster	15
2004 Boxster	3
2003 Boxster	9
2002 Boxster	10
2001 Boxster	10
2000 Boxster	5
1999 Boxster	28

Worst 3 Porsche Boxster complaints

2003 Porsche Boxster VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Victims: 1 Mileage: 18000 miles

1999 Porsche Boxster FRAME AND MEMBERS Victims: 1

2000 Porsche Boxster FRONT Victims: 1

Browse Porsche Boxster complaints by category

Problems with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE and ENGINE are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Porsche Boxster owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds on normal road conditions or when stationary there was a smell of...	13 ~ 39674 miles
ENGINE tl* the contact owns a 2015 porsche boxster. while driving at a low speed there was a violent vibration and...	12 ~ 42039 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i was driving on the inner lane of the freeway at 65mph. the engine suddenly stalled and the check engine...	12 ~ 30007 miles
POWER TRAIN it lost power brakes during my driving at 45 miles/hour. the vehicle couldn't stop more than 200 yard before a...	9 ~ 51137 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i awoke one saturday morning after it had been raining all night to find my spoiler up (which is only...	8 ~ 44799 miles
AIR BAGS dt*: the contact stated while driving 20-25 mph the vehicle accelerated on its own causing the contact to lose control...	7 ~ 21857 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING vehicle idles too low on stop with air conditioner on and clutch in causing car to shake and almost stall.	6 ~ 8485 miles
SERVICE BRAKES it lost power brakes during my driving at 45 miles/hour. the vehicle couldn't stop more than 200 yard before a...	5 ~ 54352 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE on the 2013 boxster the tailpipe can burn your leg if you're not carefully when you go to open...	4 ~ 9500 miles
STEERING strong vibration and noise in front end steering suspension and wheels at higher steering angles and slow speed motion. this...	3 ~ 35062 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS dt*: the contact stated each time the engine was started or while driving various speeds the airbag light illuminated. the...	3 ~ 26600 miles
TIRES original equipment tires on 2002 porsche boxter s are not safe on wet pavement. the type of tires are designed...	3 ~ 2400 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2015 porsche boxster. while driving at a low speed there was a violent vibration and...	2 ~ 1600 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES was driving on the florida turnpike in the miami area under rush hour traffic doing about 75-80 mph when the...	2
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY i rented a 2013 porsche boxter conv. they dropped it off to me at store due to my car being...	2 ~ 17000 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC brakes suddenly loose pressure and car does not stop. ...	2 ~ 11000 miles
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE the convertible top unlatched by itself while driving. the window at night cannot be seen through the convertible top window...	2 ~ 100 miles
SUSPENSION strong vibration and noise in front end steering suspension and wheels at higher steering angles and slow speed motion. this...	1 ~ 3464 miles
WHEELS strong vibration and noise in front end steering suspension and wheels at higher steering angles and slow speed motion. this...	1 ~ 3464 miles
WHEEL BEARING > FRONT > SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2015 porsche boxster. while driving at a low speed there was a violent vibration and...	1 ~ 3200 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER horn sticks loud and remains on for about one minute. suspect bracket holding airbag needs new isolation "o" rings which...	1 ~ 5769 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM took my porsche boxster to the local porsche dealer for an oil change. they called me back and said my...	1 ~ 119774 miles
SEATS a strange thing happened as my wife and i were driving home at night in our '03 boxster. the seatback...	1 ~ 77312 miles
EQUIPMENT the airbag light has come on for the third time. the problem is in a sensor in the seatbelt. each...	1 ~ 50000 miles
LABELS > OTHER > EQUIPMENT the airbag light has come on for the third time. the problem is in a sensor in the seatbelt. each...	1 ~ 50000 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl*the contact 2005 porsche boxster. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage he smelled an...	1 ~ 51000 miles
SEAT BELTS the seat belt on my vehicle when buckled has a tendency to not latch completely and allows for the release...	1 ~ 80000 miles
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT we own a 2002 porsche boxster with approximately 66 000 miles. we purchased the vehicle used in late 2003. on...	1 ~ 33000 miles
STRUCTURE see odi case number: 10318487 computer failure due to water leakage into cab. this happened to me twice in fall...	1 ~ 70000 miles
DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN rear main seal oil leak prone to the porsche boxster. unit was fixed 18 months ago under normal factory warranty...	1 ~ 56614 miles
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT rear main seal oil leak prone to the porsche boxster. unit was fixed 18 months ago under normal factory warranty...	1 ~ 56614 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL dt*: the contact stated while driving 20-25 mph the vehicle accelerated on its own causing the contact to lose control...	1 ~ 18000 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS dt*: the contact stated the driver and passenger side front seat belts in the vehicle have been replaced twice. on...	1 ~ 69876 miles
ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY > AIR BAGS 2005 porsche boxster s is a 2 seater that lacks any means to disarm front/side passenger airbags. dangerous condition for...	1
WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES > FRONT > SEAT BELTS i have a 1999 porsche boxster that had no problems concerning safety airbag or the seat belts of the car...	1
ANCHORAGE > FRONT > SEAT BELTS the shoulder "guide" for the safety belt is cracked on both the driver and passenger sides. this guide would be...	1 ~ 49000 miles
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM airbag warning lamp staying on due to a poorly designed sensor system that relies on seat belt buckle and grounding...	1 ~ 20000 miles
BUCKLE ASSEMBLY > FRONT > SEAT BELTS airbag warning lamp staying on due to a poorly designed sensor system that relies on seat belt buckle and grounding...	1 ~ 20000 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS airbag warning lamp staying on due to a poorly designed sensor system that relies on seat belt buckle and grounding...	1 ~ 20000 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN second gear in the transmission broke. *ak...	1 ~ 12000 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING leaking coolant tank. the coolant tank on this vehicle has failed in numerous cars resulting in expensive repairs. many owners...	1 ~ 64000 miles
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN my clutch was making a terrible noise for a week after i initially purchased the car and then again about...	1 ~ 24250 miles
VISIBILITY the convertible top unlatched by itself while driving. the window at night cannot be seen through the convertible top window...	1 ~ 200 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY the convertible top unlatched by itself while driving. the window at night cannot be seen through the convertible top window...	1 ~ 200 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY the convertible top unlatched by itself while driving. the window at night cannot be seen through the convertible top window...	1 ~ 200 miles
STABILIZER BAR > FRONT > SUSPENSION the convertible top unlatched by itself while driving. the window at night cannot be seen through the convertible top window...	1 ~ 200 miles
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING power steering failure fluid leak. *jb...	1 ~ 8000 miles
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM there was evidence of electrical faulting within the dashboard and the fire originated within the vehicle where there is evidence	1
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN in the reverse position brakes lock up and cause the reverse to idle low. then the idle returns to normal....	1
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL in the reverse position brakes lock up and cause the reverse to idle low. then the idle returns to normal....	1
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING fuel/exhaust fumes inside car with engine cold returned vehicle to dealer. mjs...	1
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY the rear window of the vehicle began to haze and become difficult to safely see through it using rear view	1

FAQ

What year Porsche Boxster is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 11 years, Porsche Boxster models of 2012, 2015, 2006 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Porsche Boxster?

Porsche Boxster models of 1999 and 2005 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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