2002 Porsche Boxster s problems
The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are mid-engine two-seater sports cars manufactured and marketed by German automobile manufacturer Porsche across four generations—as a two-door, two-seater roadster (Boxster) and a three-door, two-seater fastback coupé (Cayman).
The first generation Boxster was introduced in 1996; the second generation Boxster and the Cayman arrived in late 2005; and the third generation launched in 2012. Since the introduction of the fourth generation in 2016, the two models have been marketed as the Porsche 718 Boxster and Porsche 718 Cayman.
The nameplate Boxster is a portmanteau of boxer, a reference to its flat or boxer engine, and roadster, a reference to the body style. The nameplate Cayman is an alternative spelling of caiman, a member of the alligator family.
Social links
Common 2002 Porsche Boxster s problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Porsche Boxster S 2002, several common problems have been reported:
- RMS (Rear Main Seal) Leak: Another common problem reported by owners is a leak from the rear main seal. This oil leak can be destructive if left unattended, especially for manual cars where it can damage the clutch. Addressing this issue promptly is crucial to prevent further damage and costly repairs.
- Electrical Issues: The 2002 Porsche Boxster S has been associated with electrical problems. Owners have reported issues such as dashboard warning lights, check engine light, and misfires. These electrical issues can impact the performance and reliability of the vehicle, requiring thorough diagnosis and potential replacement of faulty components like O2 sensors and mass airflow sensors.
- Suspension Problems: Complaints from owners have highlighted suspension issues as a common problem with the 2002 Porsche Boxster S. Suspension failures can affect the handling and ride quality of the vehicle, leading to discomfort and safety concerns. Regular inspection and maintenance of the suspension components are recommended to address this issue.
- Engine Hesitation and Stalling: Some owners have experienced engine hesitation, stalling, and idling problems with the 2002 Porsche Boxster S. These issues can be indicative of underlying engine issues that may require thorough diagnosis and potential repairs. Addressing engine performance problems promptly is essential to ensure the longevity and reliability of the vehicle.
Owners of the Porsche Boxster S 2002 should be vigilant about these common problems and consider regular maintenance, inspections, and prompt repairs to address any issues that may arise. Regular servicing by qualified professionals and using genuine Porsche parts can help mitigate these common problems and ensure the optimal performance and longevity of the vehicle.
What is the biggest problem with Porsche Boxster?
The two main issues the Boxster and 996 faced at the start of the 2000s were IMS (intermediate shaft) bearing failures and RMS (rear main seal) issues. Contrary to popular belief, both of these issues, although certainly prelevant in both models, were not a guaranteed issue in models of this era.
Are early 2000s Porsche Boxsters reliable?
Early 2000s (2000 to 2004) had intermediate shaft bearing (IMS) issues just like the 996 and were prone to cracked cylinder heads, MAF issues and water pump failures. Strangely, the very early Boxsters (in the 90s) did not have the IMS issues because they had dual-row bearings.
Is Porsche Boxster high maintenance?
The annual maintenance cost of a Porsche Boxster is $952. Repair and maintenance costs vary depending on age, mileage, location and shop.
Which Boxster year is best?
If you're wanting the best of the best, most people recommend the 2012 Porsche Boxster as the #1 pick. You can likely choose any of the 987 model, which ranged from the 2005-2012 time range, with 2009-2012 being the best. This second-generation model really brought the vehicle into the spotlight.
2002 Porsche Boxster s car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Porsche Boxster s problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Electrical system problems
- Power train problems
- Structure problems
- Seat belts problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2002 Porsche Boxster s vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2002 Porsche Boxster s complaints
The NHTSA has received 11 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2002 Porsche Boxster s.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2011-11-10
- VIN: WP0CA29842U
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 2002 PORCHE BOXSTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COMPLAINT CONCERNING VEHICLE PARTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CABLES FROM THE SHIFTER TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2010-07-01
- VIN: WP0CB29892U
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: THE SEAT BELT ON MY VEHICLE, WHEN BUCKLED, HAS A TENDENCY TO NOT LATCH COMPLETELY AND ALLOWS FOR THE RELEASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. ALSO WHEN IT IS LATCHED, THERE IS A TENDENCY FOR IT TO GET CAUGHT AND NOT RELEASE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT PULLING FORCE ON THE BUCKLE. *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2011-04-05
- VIN: WP0CA29842U
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: IMS ENGINE FAILURE. KNOWN ISSUES WITH PORSCHE. PORSCHE BOXSTER 49,500 MILES. PLACE CAR IN REVERES, ENGINE SEIZED. REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE NECESSARY. $8000- $15,000. *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2008-10-01
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE
- Summary: SEE ODI CASE NUMBER: 10318487, COMPUTER FAILURE DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE INTO CAB. THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN FALL, 2008. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER (AT MY COST) AND ONE MONTH LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AGAIN, THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND THE CARPETS NEEDED REMOVAL AND CLEANING DUE TO FUNGUS, ALL AT MY COST. *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2010-02-18
- VIN: WP0CA29802U
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT
- Summary: WE OWN A 2002 PORSCHE BOXSTER WITH APPROXIMATELY 66,000 MILES. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, USED, IN LATE 2003. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT AND FLOODING THE CONTROL UNIT, RENDERING THE CAR TOTALLY INOPERABLE. THE INCIDENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN OCTOBER, 2004 AT 33,000 MILES, APRIL, 2008 AT 61,000 MILES, AND CURRENTLY IN FEBRUARY, 2010. THE REPAIR HAS INITIALED REPLACING THE CONTROL UNIT AND HAVING TO PULL OUT THE CARPET SO AS TO INHIBIT MOLD GROWTH. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY, THE SECOND TIME WAS REPAIRED AT OUR EXPENSE OF APPROX. $1,600. THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS CURRENT REPAIR IS $1,500. WE BELIEVE THIS POSES A SEVERE SAFETY RISK BECAUSE THE FIRST INCIDENT TOOK PLACE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN USE. WE WERE DRIVING UP A HILL. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND WE HAD TO MANEUVER THE CAR USING THE HANDBRAKE, TO REVERSE DOWN THE HILL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. WE HAVE INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN PORSCHE'S VEHICLES. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND/OR THE RESTRICTIVE FILTERS THAT CAUSE THEM TO BECOME CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS AND CAUSE THE WATER LEAKAGE. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM RECURRING DOMESTICALLY, WE NOTE THAT THE NHTSA, WAS INFORMED VIA FRCL-09F028-2453 DATED APRIL 5, 2009 OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN NON-U.S. MARKETS. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATING THIS DEFECT. *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-01-22
- VIN: WP0CA29812U
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN TOWN, AND THE CAR STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (PORSCHE OF LANSING) WHO INDICATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE (PREMATURELY, AS THE CAR ONLY HAS 37600MI). THE CAR WAS IN REPAIR FOR 7 WEEKS, AT A COST OF $7700. THE DAY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS FINISHED, THE CAR MADE A LOUD TICKING NOISE AND THEN A V. LOUD SNAPPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS TIME, THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A NEW (REMANUFACTURED) UNIT. I CONTACTED PORSCHE FOR GOOD WILL ASSISTANCE REGARDING THE ORIGINAL PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. THEY DECLINED TO GIVE ANY SUPPORT BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED "MORE THAN 1 YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED" (THE DEALER CLAIMED THE IN-SERVICE DATE WAS 10/2001). HOWEVER, THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL SHOWS A STAMP FROM THE ORIGINAL PORSCHE DEALER, CLEARLY INDICATING THE IN-SERVICE DATE IS 2/27/2002. SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON 1/22/2007, THIS IS LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED...
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-08-03
- VIN: WP0CB29812S
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
- Summary: TWO WEEKS AGO I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY POWER WINDOW LIFT MECHANIC AT THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH I HAD IT FIXED AT THE PARK PLACE PORSCHE IN DALLAS TEXAS AND WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER FOR THE POWER WINDOW LIFT MECHANIC AND WAS CHARGED 516 DOLLARS. HAVING DONE MY OWN RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE LIMITED WARRANTY THAT I HAVE COVERS ELECTRICAL MECHANICS INCLUDING POWER WINDOWS. HERES THE WEBSITE ITSELF (HTTP://WWW.PORSCHE.COM/USA/PRE-OWNED-VEHICLES/APPROVED/)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-06-12
- Crash: 1
- VIN: WP0CA29892U
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: BRAKES SUDDENLY LOOSE PRESSURE AND CAR DOES NOT STOP.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-01-13
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: MY CLUTCH WAS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE FOR A WEEK AFTER I INITIALLY PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEN AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. I ONLY HAVE 24000 MILES ON THE CLUTCH AND IT FAILED SUDDENLY CAUSING A BURNING CLOUD OF SMOKE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM INITIALLY TO THE PORSCHE DEALER IN NEW ORLEANS, CRESCENT CITY MOTORS, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NOISES WERE COMMON AND THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS CAUSED MY CLUTCH TO BURN UP PREMATURELY, HOWEVER, THEY FEEL LIKE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM IN THE MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE THROW OUT BEARING IN PORSCHE BOXSTERS AND THIS IS THE PART THAT WAS MAKING THE NOISE. *JB
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-07-14
- Crash: 1
- VIN: WP0CB29872U
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ON 2002 PORSCHE BOXTER S ARE NOT SAFE ON WET PAVEMENT. THE TYPE OF TIRES ARE DESIGNED FOR CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT ONLY. VERY DANGEROUS ON WET PAVEMENT. NO WARNING IS PROVIDED TO OWNER. NOT DISCLOSED TO OWNER, TIRE MANUFACTURER WARNS OF USE ON OTHER THAN CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT. CAR HYDROPLANNED DURING FIRST RAINSTORM AND CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-07-22
- Crash: 1
- VIN: WP0CA29852U
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ON TWO OCCASIONS AND ON TWO SEPARATE VEHICLE ENGINE CAMSHAFT FAILED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE OF PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
2002 Porsche Boxster s recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2002 Porsche Boxster s.
- Manufacturer: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
- Summary: 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. The caps that cover the low-beam headlight horizontal adjustment screws are missing, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence: Improperly adjusted headlights may not illuminate the road properly, or cause a glare to oncoming drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
- 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. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ANB4.
- Manufacturer: PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: 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, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- 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. 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.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2002 Porsche Boxster s problems:
Everything That Goes Wrong With A PORSCHE BOXSTER (986 ...
Jun 25, 2023 ... ALL the common issues you need to know if you're looking to buy a 986 Porsche Boxster. Considering Subscribing? Whether you're buying a ...
I'm considering buying a 2002 Boxster but I have a few questions ...
Mar 20, 2013 ... ... Porsche Technical Discussion Areas; /; Boxster & Boxster S (986) Forum ... reliability issues. Mighty Shilling's Avatar ... concerns at that mileage ...
CAR WIZARD Shows the Top 5 Common Issues on 2000 Porsche ...
Dec 12, 2018 ... The CAR WIZARD identifies several annoyances with the Boxster and shows how to fix a HUGE annoyance! Plus CRAZY D makes a guest appearance.
2002 Boxster 986 S- good buy? : r/Porsche
Dec 22, 2022 ... Generally, how reliable are these cars? I've heard of IMS bearing issues when it comes go Boxsters. Also, how expensive would spare parts be on ...
2002 Porsche Boxster Review - All The Porsche I Need! - YouTube
Jan 28, 2021 ... My thoughts on the 2002 Porsche Boxster with the 2.7L flat 6 and 5 speed manual transmission! Spencer Shipley Packey Webb Ford ...
Other years of Porsche Boxster s
Are you having problems with your 2002 Porsche Boxster s?
Leave your review of 2002 Porsche Boxster s