Porsche Boxster Problems by Year
NHTSA has 163 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file for the Porsche Boxster, across 14 model years (1997–2015). The 1998 model year has the most complaints (32). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Porsche Boxster years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Boxster year: 1997, 1998, 1999. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1998 Boxster: 32 complaints, 1 recall
- 1999 Boxster: 28 complaints, 1 recall
- 1997 Boxster: 22 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2012 Boxster: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2014 Boxster: 2 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2015 Boxster: 3 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Porsche Boxster problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 43 | 8 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 8 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 25 | 7 | 0 |
| Power Train | 20 | 9 | 0 |
| Structure | 19 | 6 | 2 |
| Engine | 15 | 9 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Suspension | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Steering | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Equipment | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Porsche Boxster model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Boxster | 3 | 2 | — | Suspension | |
| 2014 Boxster | 2 | 3 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2013 Boxster | 10 | 1 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2012 Boxster | 1 | 1 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2006 Boxster | 5 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2005 Boxster | 16 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 Boxster | 4 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2003 Boxster | 12 | 2 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2002 Boxster | 10 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 Boxster | 13 | 2 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 Boxster | 5 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 1999 Boxster | 28 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Boxster | 32 | 1 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Boxster | 22 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Porsche: all Porsche models · Porsche VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Porsche Boxster years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1997 (22), 1998 (32), 1999 (28) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Boxster year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Porsche Boxster?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 43 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Porsche Boxster have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.