FaultScore

Worst years for a Porsche Boxster

Owners have filed 221 complaints about the Porsche Boxster with NHTSA across model years 1989 to 2015. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2003 Porsche Boxster

13 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly transmission & drivetrain.

Cleanest on record

2005 Porsche Boxster

21 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Porsche Boxster year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2015 7 0 0 3,332 Suspension
2014 3 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2013 D 13 3 0 8,600 Engine & Cooling
2012 1 0 0 Brakes
2006 7 0 0 54,127 Engine & Cooling
2005 B 21 0 0 34,000 Engine & Cooling
2004 5 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2003 D 13 1 0 18,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2002 C 12 3 0 37,600 Engine & Cooling
2001 D 24 1 1 19,600 Electrical System
2000 5 1 1 Engine & Cooling
1999 C 35 1 0 50,000 Engine & Cooling
1998 C 44 0 0 49,398 Body & Structure
1997 C 30 0 2 55,000 Airbags
1989 1 0 0 Airbags

What breaks on a Porsche Boxster

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 59 26.7%

Worst in 1999

Airbags 31 14.0%

Worst in 1998

Worst in 1997

Transmission & Drivetrain 20 9.0%

Worst in 1997

Body & Structure 20 9.0%

Worst in 1998

Seat Belts 11 5.0%

Worst in 1997

Brakes 9 4.1%

Worst in 2001

Suspension 9 4.1%

Worst in 2015

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 7 3.2%

Worst in 2001

Tires 5 2.3%

Worst in 2001

Equipment & Accessories 5 2.3%

Worst in 1997

Steering 4 1.8%

Worst in 2003

Fuel & Propulsion 4 1.8%

Worst in 1998

Acceleration & Cruise Control 3 1.4%

Worst in 1997

Exactly what failed on a Porsche Boxster

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Engine 16 28.1%
Gasoline 9 15.8%
Body 7 12.3%
Switch 5 8.8%
Door 5 8.8%
Roof AND Pillars 4 7.0%
Frontal 4 7.0%
Anchorage 3 5.3%
Front 2 3.5%
Wheel Bearing 2 3.5%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Porsche Boxster, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Aug 1997 peak 8 Aug 2026

Compare the Porsche Boxster

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.