31 of the 221 complaints filed about the Porsche Boxster are about the airbag system — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
31
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
AIR BAGS
The door panels are warping and detaching from the door. I'm sure the airbags should be affected as well. I have contacted Porche America but no one calls except customer service who keeps no records of previous calls.
NHTSA complaint #11487385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON DUE TO DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT HARNESS THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PORSCHE WILL NOT RECALL UNTIL IT RECEIVES A CERTAIN NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED UNTIL THEY RECALL IT? REPAIR COST I WAS QUOTED BY TWO REPAIR SHOPS WAS $500-$600 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT HARNESS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY PORSCHE. THIS IS REGISTERED IN MY WIFE'S NAME.
NHTSA complaint #10649052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PORSCHE BOXSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES, HARNESS AND CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 5/13/14*CN
NHTSA complaint #10574871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY AND STAYS LIT AT ALL TIMES INDICATING A FAULT IN THE SYSTEM. FROM ALL REPORTS ON VARIOUS PORSCHE DISCUSSION FORUMS (THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND DISCUSSED), THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FIRST GENERATION PORSCHE BOXSTERS. IT IS A DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND SEAT BELT GROUND CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE CONTACT POINTS FOR THE SEAT BELT THAT TRIGGERS THE LIGHT. THE PURPOSE OF AN AIR BAG LIGHT IS TO INFORM YOU OF A DEFECT IN THIS SAFETY SYSTEM AND TO NOTIFY YOU THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE AS IT SHOULD. WHILE THERE IS APPARENTLY A TSB THAT WAS ISSUED BY PORSCHE, ONCE YOUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNDER THE TSB FOR FREE. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD AND COMMON SAFETY DEFECT THAT DOESN'T APPEAR UNTIL AFTER THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS APPROXIMATELY $1500.00 THROUGH PORSCHE. CONSIDERING MOST PORSCHE BOXSTERS FROM 1997-1999 SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM, IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIRED BY PORSCHE AT THEIR EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10574752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I TOOK MY 1997 PORSCHE BOXSTER TO MY PORSCHE SERVICE DEALER IN CINCINNATI, OHIO WITH A SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ON. A DIAGNOSIS WAS DONE AND CODE RECEIVED, TO THE EFFECT THAT MY SEAT BELTS NEEDED REPLACING, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER, DUE TO A ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SEAT BELT WARNING/AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE TOTAL REPAIR RANGES @ $1100, $500 PARTS + $600 LABOR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM WITH PORSCHE BOXSTERS GOING BACK TO THE LATE NINETIES UP TO TODAY. PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA HAS DONE SOME REMEDIAL WORK THROUGH DEALERS ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT FULLY OWNED THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE ELECTRICAL MODULES SHORTING OUT LEAVING DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS UNPROTECTED. THEIR ARROGANCE IN THIS MATTER IS OVER THE TOP FOR A SUPPOSEDLY "HIGH END" LINE OF VEHICLES. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THEM, VOLUNTEERING TO PAY PART OF THE EXPENSE. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME FOLLOW UP ON THEIR "TOKEN" OWNERSHIP OF WHAT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOUSANDS OF OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint #10567961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON YET IT IS NOT DEFECTIVE. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PORSCHE ISSUE. THEY WANT 500 TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #10473312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10381055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PORSCHE BOXTER AIRBAG ( SRS) MALFUNCTION. SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. MONDAY, OCT.11 2010 APPROX. 2:00. VEHICLE HAD BEEN UNUSED FOR 4 WEEKS. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEH. BATTERY WAS ALMOST DEAD. NO ACTION FROM STARTER. VEH ALARM SOUNDED. ALARM REMAINED BLARING UNLESS KEY WAS IN #1 POSITION. I WENT INTO MY HOUSE ( TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. ) I HEARD A LOUD " BANG " . UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR I SAW THAT THE LEFT (DRIVERS) AIR BAG HAD DEPLOYED. I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR FROM THE AIRBAG WAS NOT PLEASANT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10360051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
1998 PORSCHE BOXSTER AIRBAG LIGHT, RELATED TO SEAT BELT BUCKLE, KNOWN ISSUE WITH A FIX THAT HAS A PART NUMBER, BUT PORSCHE NEVER HAD A RECALL SO THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL REPLACE IT FOR FREE IS IF THE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN THE WARRANTY TIME. COST OUT OF WARRANTY $500 TO $1500. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A WARRANTY ISSUE BUT A SAFETY ISSUE, IF THEY KNEW THAT THE PART WAS FAULTY THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE PART AND FIXED EVERY MODEL THAT CAME OUT WITH THE OLD DESIGN. THERE ARE MANY REVIEWS ALL OVER THE INTERNET BY 97' TO 99' BOXSTER OWNERS. 99' IS THIS YEAR THEY CAME OUT WITH THE FIX, BUT IF YOU KEPT YOUR PORSCHE CLEAN AND GARAGE KEPT IT WOULD BE WELL PAST THE WARRANTY BEFORE THE WIRES FAULTED AND THE LIGHT COME ON. ALTHOUGH THEY SAY IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THE AIRBAG WILL STILL DEPLOY, BY HAVING THIS FAULT ACTIVE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TELL IF A TRUE AIRBAG FAULT THAT WILL AFFECT THE AIRBAG OPERATION REALLY WENT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10282277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON IN 1999 PORSCHE BOXSTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND RECURRING PROBLEM WITH PORSCHE BOXSTERS. IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A SEAT BUCKLE PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE ISSUE IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COME ON. PORSCHE SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM IN ORDER CLEAR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10239526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 1998 POSCHE BOXSTER. THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM IN THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE OWNER WILL NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS ARE WORKING PROPERLY OR NOT. PORSCHE HAS HAD OVER 7 FIXES ON THIS ISSUE AND NONE HAVE WORKED TO DATE. THEY HAVE NOT REPLACED MINE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY LOCAL PORSCHE DEALER THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10202959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10178448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED EACH TIME THE ENGINE WAS STARTED OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED WHILE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. ALSO, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED FORWARD SO THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. AFTER THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE SEAT AS INSTRUCTED BY THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST.
NHTSA complaint #10169952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED AN ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE FINALLY HIT A CURB CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED, BUT HASN'T GONE TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE AIR BAGS ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10161053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER S, IS A 2 SEATER THAT LACKS ANY MEANS TO DISARM FRONT/SIDE PASSENGER AIRBAGS. DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR CHILD PASSENGER GIVEN THE LACK OF A BACK SEAT OR ALTERNATIVE SEATING. CERTAINTLY FORESEEABLE THAT CHILDREN WILL RIDE IN SUCH A VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10158695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I OWN A 1999 PORSCHE BOXSTER. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE CIRCUITRY BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED ON THIS DEFECT. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL FOR THIS AS IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON, KNOWN DEFECT WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON THE CAR ?
NHTSA complaint #10155418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
1998 PORSCHE BOXSTER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED OVER A YEAR AGO. *TS THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A KNOW CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE CONTACTS IN THE AIR BAG ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT SEATS HAD TO BE REMOVED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS BUT WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THE HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE EMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GAS CAP WAS DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10156224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
2001 PORSCHE BOXSTER AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED. REPAIR TO THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE THAT IS LINKED TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS NOT PERFORMED AND THE AIRBAG LED WAS AGGRESSIVELY RIPPED OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10145368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
SRS (AIRBAG LIGHT) ON DUE TO FAULTY GROUNDING IN SEATBELT SWITCH. PORSCHE BOXSTERS HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT'S AIRBAG LIGHTS ON DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE WAY PORSCHE HAS GROUNDED THE SWITCH ON THE SEAT BELT HARNESS. PORSCHE HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND PARTS UPDATE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BUT FIXES ARE DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10134077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
DT: RECALL 98V113000. WAS ISSUED CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. CALLER SAID HER CAR HAD SAME FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN RECALL. DEALER SAID THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. MANUFACTURER SAID THIS CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY , AND NOT IN THE RECALL, AND WILL OFFER NO HELP. ALSO, ANOTHER RECALL 98E005000. CONCERNING AIR BAGS WAS MENTIONED. CALLER SAID THEY WILL NOT HELP HER WITH THIS RECALL EITHER. CALLER HAS PAID FOR PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE UNDER THESE RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #10126011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.