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Research · Two Seaters

2004 Porsche BoxsterRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 4 owner complaints for the 2004 Porsche Boxster. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (2) and fuel/propulsion system (1). The EPA rates it 18–21 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
18–21mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Aug 2022
Owner complaints
4
Top: engine and engine cooling
Fuel cost / yr
$3,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

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."

Exterior lightingReported Aug 30, 2022NHTSA 22V656000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

4 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 2009 – Aug 2026
  1. Engine and engine cooling2
  2. Fuel/propulsion system1
  3. Engine1
  4. Steering1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Boxster model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199722
199832
199928
20005
200113
200211
200319
20044
200519
20065
20072
20081
20093
20102
20112
20121
201310
20142
20153
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine and engine cooling

2 reports
“2004 PORSCHE BOXSTER, 58-60K MI, HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 10 MI/HR. ENGINE STALLED; WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE A FEW FEET, BUT BADLY MISSING. LOUD CLANGING NOISE FROM ENGINE. NO SMOKE. OIL DRAINED FROM CAR WHEN TILTED ON TOWTRUCK. DEALER FOUND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (IMS) FAILURE; REQUIRED ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT $18K. DEALER SAID THEY HAD SEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF IMS FAILURES (BUT PORSCHE HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS). NO INJURIES, BUT CERTAINLY ENGINE FAILURE LIKE THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. PORSCHE FORUMS ON INTERNET SHOW FREQUENCY OF FAILURES FROM THIS DEFECT (POORLY DESIGNED BEARING ASSEMBLY ON IMS) IS VERY HIGH, AS MUCH AS 8-11% IN ONE FORUM POLL. DEFECT FOUND IN MY97-08. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10398191

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
“SUMMARY OF SAFETY DEFECT: Active, unmitigated toxic gasoline vapor leak inside the cabin of a 2004 Porsche Boxster, presenting an acute fire and toxic chemical exposure hazard upon filling the tank and starting the vehicle. DEALER & CORPORATE EVASION: Ignored Warnings: Dealership intake and repair orders (such as Frank's Automotive RO #XXX) logged raw fuel odors but omitted proper fuel system diagnostics. Compromised Inspection: Authorized personnel at Porsche South Austin (PSA), including service advisor [XXX], used "gold certified" credentials to falsely clear the vehicle without remediation. Corporate Denial: In Case #XXX dated XXX PCNA Executive Case Specialist [XXX] formally refused to authorize an independent diagnostic inspection, hiding behind the franchise model to abandon consumer safety. REQUESTED ACTION: NHTSA should open a defect inquiry into unmitigated fuel vapor leaks and investigate authorized dealer practices of overriding safety concerns via unverified test-drive clearances.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11756829

Engine

1 report
“THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING WHEN OUT AND SPREAD METAL SHAVING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE AN ENGINE REBUILD. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICE ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY PROVIDED SERVICE MANUAL. I CALLED PORSCHE USA TO SEE IF THEY WOUDL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAILURE, SINCE THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN PORSCHES, BUT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT HELP. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 21, 2012EngineODI 10462672
Send a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Two Seaters
Engines
2.7L 6-cyl · 3.2L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic (S5) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Boxster
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
182721$3,800423
Boxster
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162419$4,200468
Boxster S
Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162419$4,200468
Boxster S
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152418$4,400494
  • Boxster
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    18 city · 27 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Boxster
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    16 city · 24 hwy · $4,200/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Boxster S
    Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    16 city · 24 hwy · $4,200/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Boxster S
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 24 hwy · $4,400/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Porsche Boxster as of Oct 30, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 1261
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2004 Boxster questions

How many recalls does the 2004 Porsche Boxster have?

3 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2004 Porsche Boxster problems?

Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (2), fuel/propulsion system (1), engine (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2004 Porsche Boxster get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Porsche Boxster at 18–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026