2002 Porsche Boxster Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Porsche Boxster, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine325.0%
- Electrical216.7%
- Body & structure216.7%
- Seat belts18.3%
- Tires & wheels18.3%
- Transmission18.3%
- Brakes18.3%
- Powertrain (other)18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN TOWN, AND THE CAR STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (PORSCHE OF LANSING) WHO INDICATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE (PREMATURELY, AS THE CAR ONLY HAS 37600MI). THE CAR WAS IN REPAIR FOR 7 WEEKS, AT A COST OF $7700. THE DAY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS FINISHED, THE CAR MADE A LOUD TICKING NOISE AND THEN A V. LOUD SNAPPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS TIME, THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A NEW (REMANUFACTURED) UNIT. I CONTACTED PORSCHE FOR GOOD WILL ASSISTANCE REGARDING THE ORIGINAL PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. THEY DECLINED TO GIVE ANY SUPPORT BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED "MORE THAN 1 YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED" (THE DEALER CLAIMED THE IN-SERVICE DATE WAS 10/2001). HOWEVER, THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL SHOWS A STAMP FROM THE ORIGINAL PORSCHE DEALER, CLEARLY INDICATING THE IN-SERVICE DATE IS 2/27/2002. SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON 1/22/2007, THIS IS LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED...
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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 THE RESTRICTIVE FILTERS THAT CAUSE THEM TO BECOME CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS AND CAUSE THE WATER LEAKAGE. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM RECURRING DOMESTICALLY, WE NOTE THAT THE NHTSA, WAS INFORMED VIA FRCL-09F028-2453 DATED APRIL 5, 2009 OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN NON-U.S. MARKETS. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATING THIS DEFECT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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 THE RESTRICTIVE FILTERS THAT CAUSE THEM TO BECOME CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS AND CAUSE THE WATER LEAKAGE. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM RECURRING DOMESTICALLY, WE NOTE THAT THE NHTSA, WAS INFORMED VIA FRCL-09F028-2453 DATED APRIL 5, 2009 OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN NON-U.S. MARKETS. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATING THIS DEFECT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ON 2002 PORSCHE BOXTER S ARE NOT SAFE ON WET PAVEMENT. THE TYPE OF TIRES ARE DESIGNED FOR CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT ONLY. VERY DANGEROUS ON WET PAVEMENT. NO WARNING IS PROVIDED TO OWNER. NOT DISCLOSED TO OWNER, TIRE MANUFACTURER WARNS OF USE ON OTHER THAN CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT. CAR HYDROPLANNED DURING FIRST RAINSTORM AND CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY CLUTCH WAS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE FOR A WEEK AFTER I INITIALLY PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEN AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. I ONLY HAVE 24000 MILES ON THE CLUTCH AND IT FAILED SUDDENLY CAUSING A BURNING CLOUD OF SMOKE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM INITIALLY TO THE PORSCHE DEALER IN NEW ORLEANS, CRESCENT CITY MOTORS, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NOISES WERE COMMON AND THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS CAUSED MY CLUTCH TO BURN UP PREMATURELY, HOWEVER, THEY FEEL LIKE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM IN THE MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE THROW OUT BEARING IN PORSCHE BOXSTERS AND THIS IS THE PART THAT WAS MAKING THE NOISE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES SUDDENLY LOOSE PRESSURE AND CAR DOES NOT STOP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .