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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.

About this comparison →
32Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7.5

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
22
199732
199828
19995
200013
2001
Compare all Boxster years →

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

What owners reported most

Structure
11Air Bags
8Engine And Engine Cooling
7Electrical System
6Seat Belts
2
All reported categories
Engine
1Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Suspension
1Visibility
1

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

Seat Belts complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2002
Air BagsSeat Belts

WHILE DRIVING, AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, AND IT CAN BE USELESS IN EVENT OF A CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX WITHOUT COST OT THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, CONSUMER MENTIONED IT TO THE HOME OFFICE OF PORSCHE AND THEY AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT NO COST TO CONSUMER…

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WHILE DRIVING, AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, AND IT CAN BE USELESS IN EVENT OF A CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX WITHOUT COST OT THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, CONSUMER MENTIONED IT TO THE HOME OFFICE OF PORSCHE AND THEY AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE BELT BUCKLE SWITCH NEEDED WIRING MODIFICATIONS. BECAUSE OF PRICE, CONSUMER DECLINED REPAIRS AT THE TIME. *JG

NHTSA ODI #8013743

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

COOLANT LIQUID STARTED TO POUR OUT OF VEHICLE ,VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE THREE TIMES.CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AKTAILPIPE COVER CAME OFF, CONVERTABLE TOP MOTORS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT CAUSING NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE,ECU HAD TO BE RECODED TO ACCEPT KEY HEAD, LEFT HEADLIGHT LENSE REFLECTOR REPLACED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE DEAL…

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COOLANT LIQUID STARTED TO POUR OUT OF VEHICLE ,VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE THREE TIMES.CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AKTAILPIPE COVER CAME OFF, CONVERTABLE TOP MOTORS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT CAUSING NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE,ECU HAD TO BE RECODED TO ACCEPT KEY HEAD, LEFT HEADLIGHT LENSE REFLECTOR REPLACED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE DEALER REPLACED R/F SEATBELT LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE. SB

NHTSA ODI #831849

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.