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1998 Porsche Boxster

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 11 of 32 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

1 reports
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34,700 miles · Sep 20, 2005
Latches/locks/linkages

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CABLE FAILURE. BOTH INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CABLES HAVE FAILED. THIS HAS MADE THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE LOCAL PORSCHE DEALER AND PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE …

Read full complaint

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CABLE FAILURE. BOTH INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CABLES HAVE FAILED. THIS HAS MADE THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE LOCAL PORSCHE DEALER AND PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PORSCHE IS AWARE OF THIS PERVASIVE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS A NHTSA RECALL IS ISSUED. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOW THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM TO '98 AND LATER BOXTERS. SEE: HTTP://WWW.986FAQ.COM/10-0/PROBLEMS. ASP#001 PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY FLAW. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10137104

Official recalls

1

03V004000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jan 23, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE98039 · Door Cable Failure

Opened Jul 9, 1998 · Closed Nov 24, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

ALLEGED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK RELEASE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AS A RESULT OF A FAILED BOWDEN CABLE.