Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Porsche Boxster problems
Owners filed 22 complaints about the 1997 Porsche Boxster with NHTSA between Aug 1997 and Feb 2018. The most-cited component is air bags (7).
Complaints
22
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags7
- Electrical system7
- Power train5
- Seat belts4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Vehicle speed control1
- Exterior lighting1
- Equipment1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
1
1
0
3
0
2
3
4
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
7 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PORSCHE BOXSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES, HARNESS AND CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 5/13/14*CN *TR”
Electrical system
7 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PORSCHE BOXSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES TO THE AIR CONDITIONER, WIPERS AND HEAD LIGHTS. THE CONTACT NOTICES A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V113000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD EXTEND THE RECALL SINCE THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.”
Power train
5 reports2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PORSCHE BOXSTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE IN PARK GEAR, THE SHIFTER BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE OUT OF THE DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR SEIZED AND THE SELECTOR LEVELER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, PORSCHE OF WESTWOOD IN WESTWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V112000 (POWER TRAIN) SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.”
Seat belts
4 reports
“I TOOK MY 1997 PORSCHE BOXSTER TO MY PORSCHE SERVICE DEALER IN CINCINNATI, OHIO WITH A SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ON. A DIAGNOSIS WAS DONE AND CODE RECEIVED, TO THE EFFECT THAT MY SEAT BELTS NEEDED REPLACING, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER, DUE TO A ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SEAT BELT WARNING/AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE TOTAL REPAIR RANGES @ $1100, $500 PARTS + $600 LABOR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM WITH PORSCHE BOXSTERS GOING BACK TO THE LATE NINETIES UP TO TODAY. PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA HAS DONE SOME REMEDIAL WORK THROUGH DEALERS ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT FULLY OWNED THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE ELECTRICAL MODULES SHORTING OUT LEAVING DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS UNPROTECTED. THEIR ARROGANCE IN THIS MATTER IS OVER THE TOP FOR A SUPPOSEDLY "HIGH END" LINE OF VEHICLES. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THEM, VOLUNTEERING TO PAY PART OF THE EXPENSE. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME FOLLOW UP ON THEIR "TOKEN" OWNERSHIP OF WHAT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOUSANDS OF OWNERS. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
3 reports1 fire
“DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME SHE ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A MILKY SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AGAIN. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WANTED $14,000 TO FIX IT, BUT DID NOT TELL HER WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE MECHANIC, DETERMINED THERE WAS A CASTING FLAW WHICH CAUSED THE RADIATOR FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE . THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. *AK”
Vehicle speed control
1 report
“WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. *AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.