Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Porsche Boxster problems
Owners filed 11 complaints about the 2002 Porsche Boxster with NHTSA between Jul 2002 and Sep 2012. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (3).
Complaints
11
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Electrical system3
- Power train2
- Structure2
- Seat belts1
- Equipment1
- Visibility1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Tires1
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
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
2
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
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
3 reports1 crash
“IMS ENGINE FAILURE. KNOWN ISSUES WITH PORSCHE. PORSCHE BOXSTER 49,500 MILES. PLACE CAR IN REVERES, ENGINE SEIZED. REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE NECESSARY. $8000- $15,000. *TR”
Electrical system
3 reports
“SEE ODI CASE NUMBER: 10318487, COMPUTER FAILURE DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE INTO CAB. THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN FALL, 2008. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER (AT MY COST) AND ONE MONTH LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AGAIN, THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND THE CARPETS NEEDED REMOVAL AND CLEANING DUE TO FUNGUS, ALL AT MY COST. *TR”
Power train
2 reports1 related recall
“2002 PORCHE BOXSTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COMPLAINT CONCERNING VEHICLE PARTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CABLES FROM THE SHIFTER TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.”
Structure
2 reports
“WE OWN A 2002 PORSCHE BOXSTER WITH APPROXIMATELY 66,000 MILES. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, USED, IN LATE 2003. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT AND FLOODING THE CONTROL UNIT, RENDERING THE CAR TOTALLY INOPERABLE. THE INCIDENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN OCTOBER, 2004 AT 33,000 MILES, APRIL, 2008 AT 61,000 MILES, AND CURRENTLY IN FEBRUARY, 2010. THE REPAIR HAS INITIALED REPLACING THE CONTROL UNIT AND HAVING TO PULL OUT THE CARPET SO AS TO INHIBIT MOLD GROWTH. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY, THE SECOND TIME WAS REPAIRED AT OUR EXPENSE OF APPROX. $1,600. THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS CURRENT REPAIR IS $1,500. WE BELIEVE THIS POSES A SEVERE SAFETY RISK BECAUSE THE FIRST INCIDENT TOOK PLACE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN USE. WE WERE DRIVING UP A HILL. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND WE HAD TO MANEUVER THE CAR USING THE HANDBRAKE, TO REVERSE DOWN THE HILL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. WE HAVE INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN PORSCHE'S VEHICLES. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND/OR…”
Seat belts
1 report
“THE SEAT BELT ON MY VEHICLE, WHEN BUCKLED, HAS A TENDENCY TO NOT LATCH COMPLETELY AND ALLOWS FOR THE RELEASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. ALSO WHEN IT IS LATCHED, THERE IS A TENDENCY FOR IT TO GET CAUGHT AND NOT RELEASE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT PULLING FORCE ON THE BUCKLE. *TR”
Equipment
1 report
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.