Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Porsche Boxster problems
Owners filed 28 complaints about the 1999 Porsche Boxster with NHTSA between Apr 1999 and Jan 2012. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (16).
Complaints
28
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling16
- Air bags7
- Electrical system3
- Seat belts3
- Equipment1
- Tires1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Power train1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Structure1
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 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
9
1
0
1
1
3
2
3
1
2
0
2
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 9 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 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
Engine and engine cooling
16 reports
“MISFIRES DURING WARM UP, AFTER WARM UP THE ENGINE RUNS SMOOTH WITH HIGH RPM OF 1200 TO 1300. I HAVE TO TAP THE ACCELERATOR PAD TO LOWER THE RPM,AFTER COUPLE OF SECONDS THE RPM GOES BACK UP. WHEN IT REACHES 190 DEGREES RPM GOES HIGHER TO ALMOST 1500, TEMPERATURE GOES TO 210 DEGREES FAN TURNS ON FROM THE RADIATOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE BUT NOT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, FAN ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SOMETIMES TURNS ON AND SOMETIMES NOT . THEN THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING AT 210 DEGREES, START UP BUT WON'T RUN. YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE TEMPERATURE TO DROP DOWN TO 160 DEGREES, SOMETIMES ALL THE WAY DOWN. START IT UP THEN THE ENGINE RUNS. *TR”
Air bags
7 reports
“THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE PROBLEM IS IN A SENSOR IN THE SEATBELT. EACH TIME IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND PORSCHE WANTS ME TO SPEND $550 TO REPLACE THE UNIT WITH THE FOURTH SENSOR. I HAVE DECLINED TO DO THIS AS THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE NEW UNIT. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN THIS CAR ACCORDING TO SERVICEMEN AND THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE. I HAVE CALLED AND WRITTEN TO PORSCHE WITHOUT RESPONSE. *LN”
Electrical system
3 reports
“AIRBAG WARNING LAMP STAYING ON DUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED SENSOR SYSTEM THAT RELIES ON SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND GROUNDING SYSTEM ELECTRICAL RESISTANCES BEING INCREDIBLY STABLE OVER TIME. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY REDESIGNED SEAT BELT RECEPTACLES AND REPLACING WIRES. IF YOU DON'T FIX THIS PROBLEM, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW IF YOU HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU WANT TO CLEAR THIS LAMP INDICATION, YOU MUST SHELL OUT $500 TO $1500 TO DO SO. HOW DOES PORSCHE HAVE THE NERVE TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW ON THEIR PART WHICH LEADS TO AN AIRBAG WARNING LAMP BEING ILLUMINATED, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT CORRECTED. MY INCIDENT IS FAR FROM AN ISOLATED ONE. I'VE CHECKED OUT OTHER COMPLAINTS VIA THE INTERNET. *JB”
Seat belts
3 reports
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD COME UNLOCKED WHEN THE CHILD TUGGED ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEAT BELT AND THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. ON 2-01-06 THE SEAT BELTS WOULDN'T RETRACT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS AND THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY AGAIN. NOW THE SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE.”
Equipment
1 report
Tires
1 report
“I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 S IN MIAMI. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE, THEN I FELT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE GIVE OUT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRE. THE TREAD PORTION OF THE TIRE ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM THE BEAD AROUND THE RIM. THE TIRE IS A KUMHO ECSTA 712, SIZE 205/50ZR17 89W ,DOT YOLJ YAN (2101). *AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.