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1997 Porsche Boxster Recalls & Complaints

6

open safety recalls on record

Serious

30 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.20 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious03V004000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

IF THE SELECTOR LEVER IS THEN SHIFTED FROM POSITION "P" TO POSITION "R, N OR D" WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED, AND IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT ON, THE VHEICLE WILL NOT BE SECURED FROM INADVERTENLY ROLLING AWAY, raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

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. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.

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. IF THE KEY-LOCK-CABLE IS NOT ADJUSTED CORRECTLY, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE IGNITION KEY WILL SNAG UPON BEING REMOVED FRO THE IGNITION LOCK OR THE SLECTOR LEVER CAN BE SHIFTED FROM POSITION "P" WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED AND THE LOCKING BUTTON OPERATED.

Serious98E005000

Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS RESULTS IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG(S) WHICH COULD RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED AIR BAG DEACTIVATION KIT.

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: CHILD SEATING SYSTEM AIR BAG DEACTIVATION KIT FOR USE ON 1997-1998 911 CARRERA S, CARRERA 4, CARRERA 4S, AND TURBO (1997 MODEL ONLY), PART NO. 993 803 283 00, AND 1997-1998 BOXSTER MODEL VEHICLES, PART NOS. 996 803 283 00 AND 996 803 083 00. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, THE CONTACT BUCKLE (WHICH IS PART OF THE KIT) DOES NOT DEACTIVATE THE AIR BAG(S).

Serious09E012000

Exterior Lighting

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & full details

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Serious09E025000

Exterior Lighting:Headlights

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Moderate98V113000

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING, HEATER BLOWER, HEADLAMPS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TYPE IGNITION SWITCH.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN CRACK AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL FAILURES.

Moderate98V112000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)

THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER BECOMES INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MOVE RESULTING IN FAILURE TO ACTIVATE THE SELECTOR LEVER.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED BEARING SLEEVES OF THE LEVER WITH BEARING SLEEVES OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE BEARING SLEEVES CAN SEIZE IN THE INTERMEDIATE SELECTOR LEVERS.

Complaint volume

30 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
2Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 30 complaints. Severity Index 0.20.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Air Bags8 · 27%Seat Belts3 · 10%Electrical System · Ignit…3 · 10%Power Train2 · 7%Power Train · Manual Tran…1 · 3%Seat Belts · Front · Anch…1 · 3%Electrical System · Wirin…1 · 3%Power Train · Automatic T…1 · 3%
  1. Air Bags — 8 reports
  2. Seat Belts — 3 reports
  3. Electrical System:Ignition:Switch — 3 reports
  4. Power Train — 2 reports
  5. Power Train:Manual Transmission — 1 reports
  6. Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage — 1 reports
  7. Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood — 1 reports
  8. Power Train:Automatic Transmission — 1 reports
  9. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline — 1 reports
  10. Electrical System:Wiring — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1997 · 1998 (4) · 1999 (3) · 2000 (3) · 2001 (4) · 2002 (4) · 2003 (4) · 2004 (3) · 2005 · 2006 · 2012 (1) · 2013 (1) · 2014 (3) · 2015 (2) · 2017 (1)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.