Most common 2003 Porsche Boxster S problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Porsche Boxster S complaints by model year
Best Boxster S years: 2002, 2001. Compare all years →
2003 Porsche Boxster S recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2003-2020 Porsche Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, and Cayman S, 2001-2004 Boxster, Boxster S, 2004 Boxster 50 JAHRE SPYDER 550 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all affected models and model years.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the headlights for sealing caps and install missing caps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022.
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
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.
What 2003 Porsche Boxster S owners say
Engine & cooling
My engine failed due to a part called the intermediate shaft. The car is a 2003 Porsche, Boxster s with 47,000. This problem is well documented on line and appears to be a manufacturing problem. The dealership I went to, knew right away about the failure as they see at least 1 per month. When this part fails, the remedy is a new (or used engine). There is no way to know of this failure until it happens. I replaced my engine and it cost $12,000. This website provides a lot of information about this Porsche problem and it shows some of the research conducted by their engineer, http://www.lnengineering.com/ims.html. Their research indicates that Porsche knows of the problem and thinks it has to do with particular VIN number cars (one of which is mine) and fixes it when it happens during warranty. I asked them to help cover the cost and they said no, as my car was out of warranty. …
I have had many problems with a 2003 Boxster s I purchased in May 2003 from mckenna Porsche in norwalk, ca. Some of the major problems in the last 2 years include: 1) condensation in oil filler area; 2) oil leaks in 2 locations; 3) worn drive belt; 4) clutch causing grinding noise; 5) iginition switch & key didn't work; air conditioning unit didn't cool; 6) stereo system didn't work. Mckenna has repaired/replaced all items to date except the clutch. Mckenna advised clucth problem is my responsibility due to wear and cost is $1700. The vehilce has 19000 miles. The incident date below is date I picked up the vehilce from mckenna. I have had problems with the vehicle starting with the first day I picked up the vehicle from mckenna.
2003 Porsche Boxster S engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Porsche Boxster S a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Boxster S rates average: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Boxster S at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Porsche Boxster S?
The engine & cooling — 4 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (1) and locks & latches (1).
How many recalls does the 2003 Porsche Boxster S have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Porsche Boxster S, the most recent from August 30, 2022 (headlights). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Porsche Boxster S?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002 and 2001. See the full Porsche Boxster S years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Porsche Boxster S problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.