2003 Porsche Boxster S Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2003 Porsche Boxster S, and owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2003 Porsche Boxster S
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Headlights (exterior lighting)
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…
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…
-
Automatic transmission (power train)
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…
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…
7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Porsche Boxster S have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 66,540 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“March 5, 2019. [xxx]. [xxx] 2003 porsche boxster 3.2 engine with brand new michelin ultra-high-performance tires. On december 31, 2018 about 10:30 am, i was driving the car going east, about 80 to 100”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 14, 2019 · Tires
“Tl* the contact owned a 2003 porsche boxster s. While driving uphill at 100 MPH, the vehicle vibrated violently when the brake pedal was depressed. Also, the steering pulled to the right and the steer”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 6, 2019 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Porsche Boxster (Boxster S). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–18 / 24–27 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Two Seaters |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 2.7/3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Porsche Boxster S model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Porsche Boxster S model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Porsche Boxster S | 1 | 3 |
| 2001 Porsche Boxster S | 2 | 2 |
| 2002 Porsche Boxster S | 2 | 1 |
| 2003 Porsche Boxster S | 2 | 7 |
| 2004 Porsche Boxster S | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 Porsche Boxster S | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 Porsche Boxster S | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 Porsche Boxster S | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 Porsche Boxster S | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 Porsche Boxster S | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2003 Porsche Boxster S
How do I know if my 2003 Porsche Boxster S has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2003 Porsche Boxster S; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Porsche dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V004000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Porsche models
- Cayenne503 complaints
- Taycan272 complaints
- Macan239 complaints
- Boxster164 complaints
- 911143 complaints
- Panamera114 complaints
- Cayenne S105 complaints
- 911 Turbo79 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.