Home Reliability Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid – What Are Its Worst Years?

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid – What Are Its Worst Years?

by Kelvin Yates

Porsche is a popular car brand that has been producing quality vehicles over the years. The Porsche Boxster is the best choice if you need an affordable and low-cost Porsche. However, not all model years of the Porsche Boxster will give you satisfactory performance, so you need to avoid these model years.

You should stay away from Porsche Boxster produced in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2016. These years are plagued with too many issues that will leave you frustrated and spending money on expensive repairs and replacements. The 2002 Porsche Boxster got the most complaints, it has a bad IMS, and the repair cost is very expensive. 

The common problems with the listed years include; oil separator problems, IMS bearing problems, engine issues, and so on.

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid

Porsche Boxsters Years To Avoid

Below are the worst years of Porsche Boxster and why they made the list;

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid: #1. 1999 Porsche Boxster

The 1999 Porsche Boxster is known for engine timing issues. While the engine is working, the valves open and close, leading to several issues. Another problem with this model year was the pistons rising and falling in the cylinder, causing a spark.

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid: #2. 2000 Porsche Boxster

You should avoid the 2000 Porsche Boxster because of IMS problems. A damaged IMS can cause metal debris on the engine, causing the engine to malfunction. Fixing this issue will cost you about $15,000 to $20,000. Many users reported that their cars produced excessive smoke and noise.

Another problem with the oil separator failure is causing the vehicle to emit blue and white smoke.

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid: #3. 2001 Porsche Boxster

2001 Porsche Boxster users complained about the rear main seal problem (RMS) causing oil leaks in their vehicles. Users complain about unusual noise from the shaft region and constant engine failure.

The 2001 Porsche Boxster also has a failed cabriolet top and a micro switch that prevents the power window from rolling down when you engage the door handle or cabriolet top latch. Sometimes, the door lowers by itself without you pressing anything.

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid: #4. 2002 Porsche Boxster

2002 Porsche Boxster is plagued with coolant leaks and cam tensioner problems, causing the check engine light to illuminate. People also complained about water entering the carpet through the cabriolet top clog. The water also caused several electrical issues.

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid: #5. 2003 Porsche Boxster

The 2003 Porsche Boxster is the worst model year; it has several problems and recalls. The most complaint was engine and IMS bearing issues. Several Porsche Boxster users complained about electrical problems such as exterior light failure and malfunctioning AC. The ignition keys are also an issue.

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid: #6. 2005 Porsche Boxster

The 2005 model year is plagued with engine problems. Users complain about the engine making much noise and oil leaking from the engine or fuel line. Another reason you should avoid this model year is because of shaft bearing failure and constant electrical issues.

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid: #7. 2016 Porsche Boxster

The 2016 model year got several complaints because of engine failure. Users complain about a ticking noise from the brake and annoying noise when you engage the brakes to halt the car.

You should stay away from all these years of Porsche Boxster to avoid frustration and constant spending on heavy repairs (also, fun fact, go check out our explainer on how to pronounce Porsche).

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid

Worst Porsche

Porsche is popular for producing great sports cars. However, not all vehicles produced by the brand have been a success, and below are the Porsche vehicles that lived below expectations.

  • The Cayenne from the first generation
  • Porsche 924
  • Porsche 928
  • Carrera GT
  • 986 Boxster
  • Porsche 944
  • Panamera of the first generation
  • Porsche 914
  • Porsche 912E
  • Porsche 996

To date, these are the worst Porsche models.

Porsche Boxster Models To Avoid

You should stay away from the 1999-2008 Porsche Boxster. They feature a lot of problems, such as bad engines, faulty transmission, weak batteries, suspension failure, and so on. All these problems will have your car breaking down on you regularly while you spend so much on repairs.

The Porsche Boxster is a sporty car with great handling, perfect brakes, and excellent steering. It provides a smooth ride and comes with two trunks that give a practical look. The 2005 model featured several upgrades in the interior and exterior styling, while the 2007 model features a performance upgrade with a six-speed gearbox for the base model. In 2009, it got a new engine paired with a seven-speed sequential-shift automated manual transmission.

A redesigned Porsche Boxster arrived in 2013 with a longer wheelbase, extra power, and wider track. You can choose between a seven-speed automated manual transmission and six-speed manual transmission. Handling is excellent, with electric steering. The redesign featured improvements in the exterior and interior areas.

  • Stability control
  • Brake assist
  • Traction control
  • Anti-lock brake

Porsche Boxster Engine

Porsche Boxster comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that can produce 296 horsepower and cruise to 60mph in 4.7 seconds. The 2022 Porsche Boxster comes with a 2.0-liter flat-four turbocharged engine that can produce 300 horsepower, a 2.5-liter flat-four engine that can produce 350 horsepower, and a 394 horsepower 4.0-liter flat-six.

Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid

Porsche Boxster Generations

There are four generations of Porsche Boxster. Read on to get more information about each generation.

First-Generation Porsche Boxster (1997-2004)

The first generation Porsche Boxster comes with a two-door convertible, and the code name is 986. It is an upgrade on the 1993 Boxster concept. Porsche Boxster was introduced with a 2.5-liter flat-six engine that produces 201 horsepower; three years later, it got a 217HP engine.

The Boxster S came with a 3.2-liter engine that produces 250 HP; the Porsche Boxster was facelifted in 2003, giving it more power, 258HP.

Second-Generation Porsche Boxster (2005-2012)

The second-generation Porsche Boxster also comes with a two-door convertible like the previous year; the code name is 987. The Porsche of this generation has a better look, produces more speed, has better handling, and has a more beautiful cabin. The second-generation Porsche Boxster had a larger side air intake and alloy wheels.

The base model has a 237 horsepower engine, while the Boxster S has a 276 horsepower engine. The car went through a facelift in 2008, and the power increased to 241hp and 291hp, with Boxster S having a 3.4-liter engine. Porsche introduced the Spyder model at the LA Motor Show in 2009, and it’s one of the lightest Porsche till today.

It’s also one of the agile Boxster with its returned suspension and produced an outstanding 320hp.

Third-Generation Porsche Boxster (2012-2016)

Porsche introduced the third generation Boxster in 2012, with a two-door convertible and a muscular appearance. Although with the 2.7 or 3.4 liters engine, the output increased to 261 and 311hp, respectively. It features more space with less weight, a more powerful engine, a modern cabin, and more speed.

The Porsche Boxster of this generation has a great suspension setup, and in 2014, Boxster GTS was introduced. Still, the most powerful Boxster of this generation is the Spyder, providing 370hp, 44hp more than the GTS.

Fourth-Generation Porsche Boxster

The code name is 982, and it has a two-door convertible. The Porsche Boxster is one of the best two-seat open-top sports cars, and to improve its fuel efficiency, it replaced the naturally aspirated flat-six engines with turbocharged fours. The big feature of this generation is the 2.0 and 2.5-liter turbo engines, though with more fuel consumption and higher emissions.

The base level now has a 296 hp engine, and the Boxster S has a 345 hp engine, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and a seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox.

Porsche interior

Porsche Boxster VS 911

Many people have referred to the Porsche Boxster as the Porsche you get if you don’t have money for the 911. While the 911 has 2+2 coupe seats, the Boxster is a 2-seater beast. 911’s engine produces up to 400hp, while the Boxster has a 320hp engine. Also, the 911 is more expensive than the Boxster, at least twice the price.

Porsche Reliability

If you are looking for a reliable luxury car brand, Porsche is not known for that. Porsche vehicles are best known for their performance and style but not reliability. Porsche vehicles are less reliable, and the repair cost is very high. Average cars will require repair 0.4 times a year or two times In five years, but Porsches can require repair 0.84 times a year, and 21% of these repairs are for severe problems.

The frequent and severe problems contribute to the high repair cost for Porsches. If you have a Porsche, you will spend nothing less than $1,192 annually on repair and maintenance. All these stats and figures indicate that Porsches are not very reliable. Porsches are popular among racers and celebrities, but they are not the kind of cars for everyday activity.

If you want a Porsche, you must prepare to spend double the price.

Porsche Boxster Reliability

According to RepairPal and other car reviews, the Porsche Boxster is not very reliable. It got a 2.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating and is in the 12th position out of 15 cars in its category. The Porsche Boxster will almost always need severe and unexpected repairs.

Most Reliable Porsche

Porsche is among the trendy sports car brands that have gotten many complaints from its users. For many years, Porsche got many bad reviews because of issues such as oil leaks, clutch issues, engine problems, and so on, and all these problems made people question the reliability of cars produced by the brand.

However, some Porsche models got high-reliability ratings; check them below;

1. Porsche 911 Carrera

Many car reviews tagged the 911 Carrera as one of the most reliable Porsche cars. It got little or no complaints from consumers about performance and reliability. The 911 has been voted the most reliable car the brand has ever produced.

2. Porsche 911 Speedster

The 911 Speedster is one of the most reliable models from the Porsche brand. It has outstanding rankings and offers speed and acceleration, making you enjoy your ride anytime. The 911 Speedster has been around for about six decades, and the performance is something to behold. If not for the slow start of this car during winters, it would have been number one, comfortably.

3. Porsche 918 Hybrid

People run away from this model because of its high price. However, the 918 Hybrid is at the top of the list when you need a high-performance and reliable Porsche car. The 918 Hybrid has a 10 out of 10 reliability rating, and it comes with a V8 engine that produces 211 horsepower and an electric motor to produce 887 horsepower. It is one of the best plug-in hybrid models.

4. 2016 Porsche 911R

Many car enthusiasts have tagged the 911R as one of the noisiest models from Porsche. This is because it is a sports car created to provide high speed, mechanical sounds, and vibrations typical of every sports car. It’s not a model that offers comfort, but reliability is very high.

5. Porsche 914

The Porsche 914 first appeared in 1969, and about 100,000 were produced between 1970-1980. Although many fancier models outperform this, it is popular for its reliability and performance.

6. Porsche GT3 RS

Many car enthusiasts give the GT3 RS a hundred percent reliability rating. It is among the 911 trims and offers excellent performance and outstanding reliability. It is one of the most desirable Porsche of all time.

7. Porsche 928

The Porsche 928 was popular in the 1970s and won the European Car of the year in 1979. The 928 was very popular for its reliability until Porsche stopped producing it in 1995.

8. Porsche 919 Hybrid EVO

The Porsche 919 Hybrid EVO delivered one of the best performances in a race and sent people a message about its dependability and reliability. Many car enthusiasts give this Porsche model a thumbs up regarding reliability and efficiency. Obviously it’s not road legal, but it’s certainly a very reliable race car.

9. Porsche 911 GT2RS

The GT2RS is among the fourth generation of the 911, and many car enthusiasts consider it one of the most reliable models of the brand. It offers outstanding speed and performance.

10. Porsche Turbo A (991)

Compared to the 996 and 997, the 991 is the same horse of different color. The performance is excellent and very reliable too.

Best Year Porsche Boxster

The best year for the Porsche Boxster is 2012. The car is affordable, has two different engine options, and handles great. The 2012 Porsche Boxster is available in four trims;

  • Porsche Boxster
  • Porsche Boxster S
  • Porsche Boxster S black edition
  • Porsche Boxster Spyder

Whichever trim you get is great, but the Porsche Boxster trim and the Porsche Boxster S are the best among the four trims. The Porsche Boxster has a flat-six, 2.9-liter engine that produces 255 horsepower, while the Boxster S trim has a flat-six, 3.4-liter engine that provides 255 horsepower. The Limited Edition S black uses the same 320 hp engine as the Spyder.

Best Porsche To Buy For Investment

If you are looking for a Porsche that drives well and increases value, below are some suggestions for you.

  • Porsche 968 Club Sport
  • Porsche 928 S4
  • Porsche 987 Boxster S
  • Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 WTL M491
  • Porsche 991.1 Carrera GTS

All the cars on the list don’t just drive well and offer great performance; they also increase returns.

Boxster VS Boxster S

The Boxster is the entry-level trim of the Porsche Boxster. It has a 300-hp engine and an 18-in alloy wheel and can reach 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The Porsche Boxster S has extra performance and a more powerful engine. It has a five-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 350 hp, can reach 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, and has 4-piston brake calipers.

Porsche Boxster Problems

Just like every other car, the Porsche Boxster has problems that vary from year to year. Below are the common problem with the Porsche Boxster;

1. Oil Separator Leaks

Oil separator leaks are common with 1997-2010 Porsche Boxster. Users reported that the issue usually starts around 83,000 miles. The common symptoms of this problem are excessive oil consumption and your car producing smoke while you drive.

2. Illuminated Airbag Warning Light

1997-2010 Porsche Boxster got several airbag warning lights issues due to faulty wiring, airbag module issues, and failed seat belt buckles. As for the latter, check out our guide on where to get seat belt repairs near me.

3. Ignition Switch Failure

Most 1997-2010 Porsche Boxster users complained about electrical issues due to a malfunctioning ignition switch. Ignition switch failure can prevent you from putting the car in a run position and prevent power from getting to some parts of the vehicle. Users reported that the issue starts around 75,000 miles.

4. Malfunctioning Suspension

The 2000 Porsche is the main culprit of this problem. The front of your car can break off while you drive, and the suspension may break while you are in motion.

5. Weak Battery

The battery of the Porsche Boxster can become weak every three weeks without any reason. Users reported that the issue usually starts around 12,000 miles, and in most cases, an auto mechanic won’t know the cause of this issue.

6. Engine Failure

The 1999 and 2003 Porsche Boxster have engine problems causing the car to stall or not start. Some users reported that the issue began as early as 10,000 miles.

All these problems are typical with Porsche Boxster, and you must always look out for them.

Porsche Boxster Maintenance Cost

Averagely, the maintenance cost of a Porsche Boxster is $950 annually. You should note that some maintenance tasks are required every year while some are needed several times a year, depending on your driving habit.

Porsche Boxster Reliability By Year

The 2000-2004 Porsche Boxster has a reliability rate of 77%, while the 2005-2008 Porsche Boxster has a 75% reliability score. The 2013-2016 Porsche Boxster has an 83% reliability rate, while the 2016-present Boxster has an 85% and above reliability rating.

Buying A Used Porsche Boxster

If you want to buy a used Porsche Boxster, the Porsche Boxster MK3 (2012-2016) and Porsche Boxster MK2 (2005-2012) are the way to go. They are very reliable, affordable, and easy to maintain.

FAQs On The Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid

Are Porsches Reliable

Porsche models should be at the bottom of your list if you want a sports car that offers reliability. In 2015, Porsche was ranked the second least reliable car brand in the UK and was only better in reliability than Bentley. Apart from the fact that Porsches are less reliable, they are also costly to repair or replace. You will most likely visit an auto shop with your Porsche 0.84 times in a year, while 21% of these repairs will be severe.

Are Porsches Expensive To Maintain

A Porsche’s maintenance cost is $1,192 annually for standard maintenance. You should note that the maintenance cost of your Porsche depends on the model you have and your driving behavior. For instance, a Porsche Boxsters annual maintenance cost is $961, while the yearly maintenance cost of a Porsche Cayenne is $1,177.

What Year Porsche 911 To Avoid

You should stay away from the Porsche 911 of 1983 and 2009. The 1983 model year has a broken head bolt, and 2009 is the worst model year with several issues such as stalling and leaking hoses.

How Much Is A Porsche Boxster

The 2022 Porsche Boxster costs around $62,600 and $98,300, depending on the trim level you want. The 2021 Porsche Boxster expenses between $62,000 to $140,000, depending on the trim level you are buying. The starting price of a 2020 Porsche Boxster is $50,390, while the highest trim costs $83,984.

How Long Do Porsches Last

In general, you should expect your Porsche to last at least 100,000 miles, approximately nine years, and it can pass that mileage if you cultivate better driving and maintenance practices.

How Many Miles Do Porsches Last

All things being equal, your Porsche should last at least 100,000 miles, depending on how you use and maintain it.

How Old Is Porsche

Ferdinand Porsche founded the brand Porsche in 1931, which means the brand is now 91 years old.

Is Porsche Boxster Reliable

In reliability, the Porsche Boxster got a 2.5 out of 5.0 rating, which means the car is averagely reliable. It requires frequent repair, and a significant percentage of that repair would be severe.

Are Used Porsches Reliable

A used Porsche is one of the best options if you are looking for an affordable sports car. They hold their value well and are very reliable. Used Porsches offer the best driving experience and won’t give you many issues.

Are Old Porsches Reliable

Old Porsches that the previous owners have adequately maintained are very reliable. You can get the best from a 1984 Porsche 928, 1997 Porsche Boxster, 2000 Porsche 911, 2003 Porsche Boxster S, 2003 Porsche Boxster 911, 911 Turbo X50, and 2003 Porsche Boxster.

Are Porsche Parts Expensive

Like most luxury sports cars, the parts of a Porsche are very expensive, coupled with repair and maintenance costs; you are looking to spend big.

How Many Miles Will A Porsche 911 Last

A Porsche 911 will last for at least 100,000 miles. If you cultivate a better driving behavior and maintenance culture, your Porsche can last for at least 150,000 miles before it breaks down or requires heavy repair and replacement.

Conclusion On Porsche Boxster Years To Avoid

Porsche interior

Porsche is known for being one of the best performance sports cars, and the Porsche Boxster is one of the most popular. However, that it is popular does not mean it is perfect; there are some years of the Porsche Boxster you need to stay away from. The article contains the information you need.

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