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Porsche BoxsterModel year report

1997 Porsche Boxster Problems

Complaints
22filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
56,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 2.5L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Porsche Boxster (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 1997 Porsche Boxster. The part named most often is air bags, with 7 complaints (32% of the total), followed by electrical system (7) and transmission and drivetrain (5). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 56,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 130 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the switch and 23 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

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, filed 2005-08, 40,000 miles

Electrical system: “Electrical system: ignition switch failure. The same failure as recall #w03 in 1998. Dealer replaced switch in 1999, ignition switch cracked and failed again 2005. I am told by Porsche my vehicel is not covered under the recall.”

NHTSA complaint #10116467, filed 2005-04, 74,200 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The contact owns a 1997 Porsche Boxster. While attempting to engage in park gear, the shifter became very difficult to move out of the drive position. The vehicle was towed to an unknown independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission selector seized and the selector leveler had to be replaced. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer; however, Porsche of westwood in westwood, massachusetts was contacted by phone. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 98v112000 (power train) several years ago. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #11074960, filed 2018-02, 102,000 miles

Seat belts: “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”

NHTSA complaint #10574871, filed 2014-03, 54,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 74,200 miles.

9%0–109%10–2518%25–5045%50–750%75–10018%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 56,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

1998200120044200620142018
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1997 Porsche Boxster version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Boxster RWD2.5L 6-cyl5-speed manual172420$4,100
Boxster RWD2.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic152217$4,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1997 Porsche Boxster → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 130 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 130 bulletins →

Other model years of the Porsche Boxster

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2013107,1841—25—Not enough data
2006522,0000—20—Not enough data
20051638,0480—21—Stable
20031219,0002—21—Not enough data
20021037,6002—20—Not enough data
20011353,2082—20—Not enough data
2000549,0001—20—Not enough data
19992850,0001—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19983249,1001—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19972256,0003—20—Stable

All Porsche Boxster model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Porsche Boxster have?

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 1997 Porsche Boxster as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Porsche Boxster is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 7 complaints (32% of the total), followed by electrical system with 7.

Has the 1997 Porsche Boxster been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Porsche Boxster get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Porsche Boxster (Boxster, 2.5L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Porsche Boxster reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 56,000 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 74,200 miles; 36% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.