1998 Porsche BOXSTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
49,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 17 complaints (41.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 29.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 1 |
Air Bags: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Engine: 1; Equipment: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10047056 · 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)
ENGINE COOLANT TANK CRACKED FOR PORSCHE BOXSTER (1998). THE TEMPERATURE MONITOR FLASHES INDICATING OVERHEATING ENGINE AND MAY CAUSE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER WHO INDICATED ITS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM. CONTACTED PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY REPAIR ASSISTANCE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 27,879 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121034 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)
PORSCHE STARTED SELLING BOXSTERS IN 1997. 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 REPLACE MINE UNDER WARRANTY, AND IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY LOCAL PORACHE DEALER THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121034 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133799 · 2005-08-22 (August 22, 2005)
I HAD JUST RETURNED TO MY CAR AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER, THE SKY HAD BEGUN TO LOOK AS IF A STORM WAS APPROACHING AND I DECIDED TO PUT UP MY CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE TOP WOULD NOT GO UP, SO I PROCEEDED HOME IN HOPES THAT I WOULD BEAT THE IMPENDING BAD WEATHER HOME. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT BEGAN TO STORM AND MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF WERE SOAKED. I WAS TERRIFIED AS I COULD BARELY SEE TO DRIVE. FORTUNATELY I MADE IT HOME BEFORE MY CAR CONKED OUT. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO HAVE MY DISABLED VEHICLE TOWED TO THE PORSCHE DEALER. IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 49,697 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137104 · 2005-09-20 (September 20, 2005)
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CABLE FAILURE. BOTH INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CABLES HAVE FAILED. THIS HAS MADE THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE LOCAL PORSCHE DEALER AND PORSCHE NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PORSCHE IS AWARE OF THIS PERVASIVE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS A NHTSA RECALL IS ISSUED. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOW THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156224 · 2006-04-12 (April 12, 2006)
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. T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171161 · 2006-10-18 (October 18, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE KEY, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN OR WOULD TURN TOO FAR CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO BE INOPERABLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V113000, REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 12/01/06 *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196852 · 2007-07-19 (July 19, 2007)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE 1998 PORSCHE BOXSTER, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND HAVE DISCOVERED A LATENT DEFECT WHICH PCNA DESIGNATES A305, AND NTSB HAS ADDITIONAL RECALLS RELATING TO THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART ON THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR INVOLVING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ATTACHED IGNITION ASSEMBLY. THE LATENT HAZARD IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS DAMAGED WITHIN THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND RESULTANT FIRES. I HAVE DETERMINED THROUGH PCNA AND PORSCHE THAT THE ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY WAS REDESIGNED DUE TO INHERENT (DESIGN) …
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202959 · 2007-09-13 (September 13, 2007)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202959 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V004000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
CERTAIN 2-DOOR CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TIPTRONIC (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH AN INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED KEY-LOCK-CABLE DOWN TO THE SHIFT SELECTOR. IF THE KEY-LOCK-CABLE IS NOT ADJUSTED CORRECTLY, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE IGNITION KEY WILL SNAG UPON BEING REMOVED FRO THE IGNITION LOCK OR THE SLECTOR LEVER CAN BE SHIFTED FROM POSITION "P" WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED AND THE LOCKING BUTTON OPERATED.
Consequence: IF THE SELECTOR LEVER IS THEN SHIFTED FROM POSITION "P" TO POSITION "R, N OR D" WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED, AND IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT ON, THE VHEICLE WILL NOT BE SECURED FROM INADVERTENLY ROLLING AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CABLE ADJUSTMENT AND, REGARDLESS OF THE RESULTS OF THIS INSPECTION, THE KEY-LOCK-CABLE MUST ALSO BE ADJUSTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.
NHTSA campaign record ↗