Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Porsche Boxster problems

Owners filed 13 complaints about the 2001 Porsche Boxster with NHTSA between Jul 2002 and Nov 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (5).

Complaints
13
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system5
  2. Engine and engine cooling3
  3. Suspension2
  4. Service brakes2
  5. Structure2
  6. Power train2
  7. Tires2
  8. Air bags2
  9. Equipment1
  10. Visibility1

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20021
20031
20040
20051
20060
20072
20081
20090
20100
20111
20121
20130
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20191
20200
20211
20220
20232

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

5 reports1 fire
“Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) failure due to premature degradation of plastic wiring harness connectors for ABS wheel speed sensors located in each wheel well. ABS warning light illuminated alerting to the disabling of the system. Issue confirmed by independent repair facility. Dealer was engaged, but denied coverage due to vehicle being out of warranty and no recalls initiated.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2023Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11539625

Engine and engine cooling

3 reports
“MOTOR 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10426168

Suspension

2 reports1 crash
“The right front suspension failed. Something broke so that the wheel/brake component bent away from the car causing a sudden left hand turn/jerk. This was confirmed upon exiting the car and looking at the front right semi-attached wheel. The car traveled THROUGH highway safety cables, front windshield shattered, right passenger side arm bag deployed and car stopped in median before going into oncoming traffic. The car is currently being picked up and accessed by insurance company. No warning lamps or messages. The front end did seem to "float" prior to the accident - I figured I had a tire problem and was looking to exit the highway up the road. I went to the ER and had flying glass injuries resulting from the crash. Car is a "garage queen!" I never race or have never been on a race track. I have all records of care. No prior accidents or changes have been made to the car. It is 22 years old and was in excellent shape. I have read about incidents like this since the accident - specific to this car model in online sources. I am reporting this to my local Porsche club also so they can be proactive.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 27, 2023SuspensionCrash reportedODI 11557090

Service brakes

2 reports
“1.EARLIER DATE FIXED WIREHARNESS/DRAINED PARTS AT LOCAL BMW REPAIRMAN GARAGE RESOLVED 2. LATER IN CITY,TURNING IN MOTION CAR SUDDENLY STALL/POWERLOSS OF BRAKES,CLUTCHSTICKY,HEAR TIMING ODD,STEERING DIFFICULT HAD TOWED TO PORSCHE DEALER . GARAGE).PORSCHE DIAGNOSED W MULTIPOINT INSPECTION ,PORSCHE ONLY DID WORK COVERED BY 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTEE FOR A OIL WATER SEPARATOR AND WATER RADIATOR REPLACED AND TOLD ME ENGINE HAS ISSUES,5 MOS LATER STILL AT PORSCHE,CAUTION TO DRIVE,TOWED OUT, PORSCHEMANUF /CR/SC CODES TO REPAIR UNTIL THEN RELEASED CAR W OPERATIVE/SAFETY ISSUES DEALING WITH AIRWATER BLOW OUT ON ENGINE SEALS, AND LOSS OF POWER FOR SAFE DRIVING AND STOPPING AND PARKING.PORSCHE MUST PAY FOR THESE ISSUES REPORTED FOR RECALL REQUIRED MORE THAN JUST WARN ME.HAND BRAKE SUDDEN NONHOLDING SO DRIFT POSSIBLE IN PARKING,BRAKES/CLUTCH UNSAFE PER TOW TRUCKER , ELECTRICAL /TRUCKSWITCH/ROOF /DOOR SWITCH UNABLE TO EXIT /ENTER VEHICLE SAFELY.EACH TIME PORSCHE INSPECTS AND I REPEAT THERE IS FORGET/HEARING ISSUES NOTED, AND DIDNT DO THE MANUFACTURER CODED SAFETY MEASURES AND SAYS DIDNT INCLUDE THE DRIVER WARNINGS /CONCERNS OF SAFETY TO CHECK ON PAPERWORK TO TRACK…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 21, 2019Power train, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11281649

Structure

2 reports
“There are thousands of complaints/postings appearing on the Internet, including fixes, (many of which may be equally dangerous) whereby the vehicle's central locking mechanism fails, making it impossible for passengers to egress through either door or window. The locking mechanism on the driver's side door has a cheap part that is known to commonly fail. When it does, neither the driver nor passenger door may be opened from either inside or outside of the vehicle. The central locking system is tied in with the door lock, and the windows may sometimes also fail when the lock mechanism fails. We had to remove a fuse from her car to reset the windows so we could extricate her. The Internet is replete with unofficial fixes for this problem, frequently using home-made parts, and Porsche representatives commonly acknowledge the issue and charge a great deal to repair using the same flawed parts. In the event of a crash, both driver & passenger may be trapped with no possible means of egress, without disassembling the driver's side door, which would be impossible in an emergency. I am shocked and outraged that this condition has been allowed to go unaddressed for…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2021Electrical system, StructureODI 11445767

Power train

2 reports1 related recall
“REAR MAIN SEAL OIL LEAK PRONE TO THE PORSCHE BOXSTER. UNIT WAS FIXED 18 MONTHS AGO UNDER NORMAL FACTORY WARRANTY AND FAILED AGAIN. THE COST OF THE FIX WAS OVER $1,900.00. SHOULDN'T A FIX DONE BY THE DEALER LAST LONGER THEN 18 MONTHS AND 5,500 MILES? PORSCHE TOLD ME TO "DO WHAT I NEED TO DO" TO RECOVER FRONT HE LOSS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2008Power train, EquipmentODI 10224397
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.