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Porsche BoxsterModel year report

1998 Porsche Boxster Problems

Complaints
32filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
49,100miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns 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 1998 Porsche Boxster (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 1998 Porsche Boxster. The part named most often is body and structure, with 11 complaints (34% of the total), followed by air bags (8) and engine cooling (7). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 64% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 49,100 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 127 technical service bulletins for this model year. Body and structure complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Body and structure: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10133799, filed 2005-08, 49,697 miles

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, filed 2007-09, 43,000 miles

Engine cooling: “We bought a 1998 Porsche Boxster in aug 2009. Serviced as required. On 9/7/10 out driving, stopped at a stop sign as we proceeded through the stop sign the engine died, white smoke came pouring out the back. Had it towed to mechanic and was informed that then motor had seized due to the ims (intermediate shaft). Car had approx 34k for mileage. Contacted Porsche america and was basically told there was nothing they could do. After researching on the web, this appears to be a pretty common problem with the 97-99 boxsters. …”

NHTSA complaint #10354966, filed 2010-09, 34,000 miles

Electrical system: “My vehicle had only approximately 65,000 miles when the horn started to malfunction. The horn started to routinely deploy on its own. In the short term I had to have it disconnected by my regular mechanic so I could continue to operate the car. I called barrier Porsche in bellevue washington where they seemed to be already aware of this issue. I learned the parts (clock spring and something else) cost close to $600 and I assume at least a couple of hours of shop time. With sales tax I'm sure it would cost $1,000 to repair this important safety equipment that should never fail .please help! …”

NHTSA complaint #10475062, filed 2012-09, 65,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

64% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 34,700 and 60,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2564%25–5036%50–750%75–1000%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: 49,100 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’998’01’03’06’09’12’14
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 1998 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 1998 Porsche Boxster → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

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. 127 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 127 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 1998 Porsche Boxster have?

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 1998 Porsche Boxster as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1998 Porsche Boxster is reported most often?

Body and structure is named most often, in 11 complaints (34% of the total), followed by air bags with 8.

Has the 1998 Porsche Boxster been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Porsche Boxster get?

The EPA rates the 1998 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 1998 Porsche Boxster reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 49,100 miles and the middle half falls between 34,700 and 60,000 miles; 64% 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.