2001 Porsche Boxster S Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 31, 2022 · 2 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Boxster S years
Not enough data 3rd of 10 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Porsche Boxster S. That ranks 3rd out of 10 Boxster S model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 50%), typically at around 47,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2001 Porsche Boxster S problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System1 · ~47,000 mi
Fuel System, Other1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System150%47,000——
Fuel System, Other150%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2003, with 1 complaints
2003: 1200312008: 120081

n = 2 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2001 Porsche Boxster S recalls (2)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Exterior lighting:headlightsAug 30, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V656000 · 222,858 vehicles

Problem: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2020 Porsche Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, and Cayman S, 2001-2004 Boxster, Boxster S, 2004 Boxster 50 JAHRE SPYDER 550 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all affected models and model years. The caps that cover the low-beam headlight horizontal adjustment screws are missing, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

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.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the headlights for sealing caps and install missing caps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.

Power train:automatic transmissionJan 23, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V004000 · 12,234 vehicles

Problem: 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 that the ignition key will snag upon being removed fro the ignition lock or the slector lever can be shifted from position "p" with the ignition key removed and the locking button operated.

Risk: If the selector lever is then shifted from position "p" to position "r, n or d" with the vehicle parked, and if the parking brake is not on, the vheicle will not be secured from inadvertenly rolling away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the cable adjustment and, regardless of the results of this inspection, the key-lock-cable must also be adjusted. Owner notification began july 15, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact porsche at 1-800-545-8039.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 porsche boxster s. When the engine was turned off, the instrument panel warning lights remained illuminated. There was a malfunction with the ignition module. The contact attempted to remove the key from the ignition, but was unsuccessful. The vehicle has not been…

Electrical System · received Aug 18, 2008 · NHTSA complaint 10238710

Was driving a 2001 porsche boxster when lost complete power. Car towed into dealership. Was informed that my air intake had been sucking up cigarettes and causing a series of small fires in my car. Air intake has no screen to protect things from getting in -- just a paper air filter which can burn…

Fuel System, Other · received Sep 24, 2003 · NHTSA complaint 10039453

Other Porsche Boxster S years

← 2000 Boxster S · 2002 Boxster S →

See all Porsche Boxster S problems by year, every Porsche model, or the Porsche VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Porsche Boxster S?

Owners most often report electrical system, fuel system, other problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 2001 Porsche Boxster S?

Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2001 Porsche Boxster S a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Boxster S model years, the 2001 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.