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Porsche BoxsterYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 164 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on record for the Porsche Boxster.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints164Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls81989–2015 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Porsche Boxster years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Boxster median. Tap a year for its full report.

'89'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'12'13'14'15
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2015Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls2014Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls2013Not rated–/10010 complaints · 1 recall2012Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2006Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls2005Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls2004Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall2003Not rated–/10012 complaints · 2 recalls2002Not rated–/10010 complaints · 2 recalls2001Not rated–/10013 complaints · 2 recalls2000Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall1999Not rated–/10028 complaints · 1 recall1998Not rated–/10032 complaints · 1 recall1997Not rated–/10022 complaints · 3 recalls1989Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Porsche Boxster problems

All model years combined: 164 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling432
Air bags291
Electrical system252
Power train200
Structure192
Engine152
Seat belts110
Suspension82
Service brakes70
14 other systems335
8 recalls

Porsche Boxster recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

30%Exterior lighting: headlights22V-656 · 2001–2004 · Aug 30, 2022 · 222,858 vehicles70%Power train: axle assembly21V-679 · 2013–2015 · Sep 1, 2021 · 4,934 vehicles89%Hood: latch14V-698 · 2014–2015 · Nov 4, 2014 · 1,382 vehicles99%Electrical system13V-502 · 2014 · Oct 17, 2013 · 81 vehicles–Seat belts11V-409 · 2012 · Aug 5, 2011 · 235 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission03V-004 · 1997–2003 · Jan 23, 2003 · 12,234 vehicles–Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)98V-112 · 1997 · May 22, 1998 · 738 vehicles–Ignition: switch98V-113 · 1997 · May 22, 1998 · 3,217 vehicles
1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the Boxster

  1. DOOR CABLE FAILUREPE98039 · 1998 · closed Nov 24, 1998
    No recall