IllustrationMOTOR FAILED WHILE TRYING TO START IT. ALL VALVES BENT. REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND IT WAS SERVICED AS PER FACTORY RECOMMENDATIONS.
2001 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Boxster years →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: 7 of 13 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
3 reportsI WAS RECENTLY TOLD BY A PORSCHE DEALER THAT THE REAR ENGINES SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2400. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS EXTENSIVELY OVER THE INTERNET, MOST IF NOT ALL PORSCHE BOXSTERS NEED THIS REPLACED BEFORE 60,000 MILES. AND THIS IS DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SEALS BEING USED UP TO AT LEAST 2004. PORSCHE EVEN DURING THE LATE 1…
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I WAS RECENTLY TOLD BY A PORSCHE DEALER THAT THE REAR ENGINES SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2400. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS EXTENSIVELY OVER THE INTERNET, MOST IF NOT ALL PORSCHE BOXSTERS NEED THIS REPLACED BEFORE 60,000 MILES. AND THIS IS DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SEALS BEING USED UP TO AT LEAST 2004. PORSCHE EVEN DURING THE LATE 1990'S, REPLACED ENGINES UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT THE ISSUES WITH THE REAR MAIN SEALS ARE AN EPIDEMIC AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED. I CALLED PORSCHE HQ AND THEY DECLINED TO DO ANYTHING UNDER GOOD WILL. IT IS JUST NOT RIGHT WHEN SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED. *JB
PORSCHE BOXSTERS FROM 1999-2004 HAVE A DEFECTIVE REAR ENGINE SEAL WHICH FAILS IN ALL VEHICLES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE EVEN THE DEALER SAYS IT IS COMMON. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY FIX AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH YEARS AGO. THE NHTSA EVEN HAS TECHNICAL BULLETINS ISSUED ON THIS. THIS IS FAR TOO COMMON OF A DEFECTIVE PA…
Read full complaint
PORSCHE BOXSTERS FROM 1999-2004 HAVE A DEFECTIVE REAR ENGINE SEAL WHICH FAILS IN ALL VEHICLES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE EVEN THE DEALER SAYS IT IS COMMON. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY FIX AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH YEARS AGO. THE NHTSA EVEN HAS TECHNICAL BULLETINS ISSUED ON THIS. THIS IS FAR TOO COMMON OF A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY PORSCHE. THEY HAVE SINCE THEN REPLACED THE REAR SEALS WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE USED ON CAYENNES. *JB
Official recalls
222V656000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Aug 30, 2022
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.