2002 Porsche Boxster S Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 31, 2022 · 1 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Boxster S years
Not enough data 4th of 10 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2002 Porsche Boxster S. That ranks 4th out of 10 Boxster S model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 100%). 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 2002 Porsche Boxster S problems

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

Electrical System1
Visibility1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System1100%———
Visibility1100%———

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

2002 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.

Two weeks ago i had a problem with my power window lift mechanic at the drivers side which i had it fixed at the park place porsche in dallas texas and was told that my warranty doesn't cover for the power window lift mechanic and was charged 516 dollars. Having done my own research i found out…

Visibility · received Sep 7, 2006 · NHTSA complaint 10167550

Other Porsche Boxster S years

← 2001 Boxster S · 2003 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 2002 Porsche Boxster S?

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

Was there a recall on the 2002 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 2002 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 2002 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.