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2004 Porsche BoxsterProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 4 owner complaints about the 2004 Porsche Boxster, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 22V-656 the manufacturer reports only 30% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Lowest repair rate 30%Owner complaints40 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage40kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 13, 2026. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 Porsche Boxster has problems

4 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 cooling20
Engine10
Fuel/propulsion system10
Steering10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2004 Porsche Boxster recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

30%repaired · 2024 Q3

Exterior lighting: headlights

Recall 22V-656 · Aug 30, 2022 · 222,858 vehicles · 67,551 repaired

Risk. Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Porsche.

Best & worst years

2004 vs. every other Boxster year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Boxster median. How we score

'89'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'12'13'14'15
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2004 Porsche Boxster safety ratings

2004 Porsche Boxster 2-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What Boxster owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

2004 PORSCHE BOXSTER, 58-60K MI, HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 10 MI/HR. ENGINE STALLED; WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE A FEW FEET, BUT BADLY MISSING. LOUD CLANGING NOISE FROM ENGINE. NO SMOKE. OIL DRAINED FROM CAR WHEN TILTED ON TOWTRUCK. DEALER FOUND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (IMS) FAILURE; REQUIRED…
Complaint 10398191 · Apr 29, 2011 · 60,000 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PORSCHE BOXSTER. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT AT 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IMS (INTERMEDIATE SHAFT) FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. IT WOULD COST $16,000-$20,000 TO REPLACE. THE MANUFACTURER…
Complaint 10267931 · May 7, 2009 · 20,468 miles

Own a 2004 Boxster?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.