There are 3 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2001 Porsche Boxsterin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MOTOR FAILED WHILE TRYING TO START IT. ALL VALVES BENT. REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND IT WAS SERVICED AS PER FACTORY RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WAS RECENTLY TOLD BY A PORSCHE DEALER THAT THE REAR ENGINES SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2400. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS EXTENSIVELY OVER THE INTERNET, MOST IF NOT ALL PORSCHE BOXSTERS NEED THIS REPLACED BEFORE 60,000 MILES. AND THIS IS DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SEALS BEING USED UP TO AT LEAST 2004. PORSCHE EVEN DURING THE LATE 1990'S, REPLACED ENGINES UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT THE ISSUES WITH THE REAR MAIN SEALS ARE AN EPIDEMIC AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED. I CALLED PORSCHE HQ AND THEY DECLINED TO DO ANYTHING UNDER GOOD WILL. IT IS JUST NOT RIGHT WHEN SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED. *JB
PORSCHE BOXSTERS FROM 1999-2004 HAVE A DEFECTIVE REAR ENGINE SEAL WHICH FAILS IN ALL VEHICLES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE EVEN THE DEALER SAYS IT IS COMMON. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY FIX AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH YEARS AGO. THE NHTSA EVEN HAS TECHNICAL BULLETINS ISSUED ON THIS. THIS IS FAR TOO COMMON OF A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY PORSCHE. THEY HAVE SINCE THEN REPLACED THE REAR SEALS WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE USED ON CAYENNES. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026