Most common 1998 Porsche Boxster problems
Share of the 32 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Porsche Boxster complaints by model year
Best Boxster years: 2014, 2000, 2006. Years to avoid: 2005, 1998, 1999, 1997. Compare all years →
1998 Porsche Boxster recalls (1)
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Porsche Boxster:
Door cable failure
Alleged that the interior door lock release mechanism malfunctions as a result of a failed bowden cable.
What 1998 Porsche Boxster owners say
Body & 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. It was then evaluated by the service technician, and he found that a relay and motor had failed. The design involves two relays, one for the left side and one for the right side. The left side failed and would not allow the convertible top to come up. …
Coolant liquid started to pour out of vehicle ,vehicle was in service three times.cannot determine defect. *aktailpipe cover came off, convertable top motors out of adjustment causing noise on the right side,ECU had to be recoded to accept key head, left headlight lense reflector replaced, the air bag light illuminated the dealer replaced r/f seatbelt lock was inoperative. Sb
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. The cost to replace the motor with a used motor was approx 9K and they would be using the same type of motor with the same design flaw. The car has been taken to the salvage yard and we are out quite a bit of money.
Engine coolant tank cracked for Porsche Boxster (1998). The temperature monitor flashes indicating overheating engine and May cause engine to seize while driving. Contacted dealer who indicated its a common safety problem. Contacted Porsche cars north America, who did not offer any repair assistance.
Air bags
The air bag light illuminated on the car spontaneously and stays lit at all times indicating a fault in the system. From all reports on various Porsche discussion forums (thousands of incidents that have been reported and discussed), this is a common problem in the first generation Porsche boxsters. It is a defect in the seat belt buckle and seat belt ground caused by corrosion of the contact points for the seat belt that triggers the light. The purpose of an air bag light is to inform you of a defect in this safety system and to notify you that the system will not operate as it should. While there is apparently a TSB that was issued by Porsche, once your vehicle is out of warranty they will not repair it under the TSB for free. This is a widespread and common safety defect that doesn't appear until after the car is out of warranty. …
1998 Porsche Boxster airbag light, related to seat belt buckle, known issue with a fix that has a part number, but Porsche never had a recall so the only way they will replace it for free is if the light came on within the warranty time. Cost out of warranty $500 to $1500. This should not be a warranty issue but a safety issue, if they knew that the part was faulty they should have recalled the part and fixed every model that came out with the old design. There are many reviews all over the internet by 97' to 99' Boxster owners. 99' is this year they came out with the fix, but if you kept your Porsche clean and garage kept it would be well past the warranty before the wires faulted and the light come on. …
1998 Porsche Boxster engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Porsche Boxster a good car?
Based on 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Boxster rates avoid: 3.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Boxster at the same age. It is one of the Boxster years we suggest avoiding. 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 1998 Porsche Boxster?
The body & structure — 11 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body › door. Next are the engine & cooling (8) and air bags (8).
How many recalls does the 1998 Porsche Boxster have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Porsche Boxster, the most recent from January 23, 2003 (automatic transmission). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2000 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 1998, 1999 and 1997. See the full Porsche Boxster years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Porsche Boxster problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 49,000 miles; 64% 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.