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Sports car and convertible · 1996–2021 cars

Porsche Boxster reliability

The Porsche Boxster fails 16.4% of first MOT tests, 48% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 126,985 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 93/100#26 of 62 sports car and convertibles

Checking a Porsche Boxster before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
16.4%
first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
48% fewer
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
126,985
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings
4,300
typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Porsche Boxster ages

Each point is the share of Porsche Boxsters of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

0%12.5%25%37.5%50%3691215182124Age at MOT (years)
Porsche BoxsterAll cars
Porsche Boxster first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)Porsche BoxsterAll cars
34.7%12.3%
44.2%14.1%
55.6%16.4%
65.6%19.1%
75.6%22.1%
86.1%25.5%
97.3%28.8%
108.6%31.8%
118.3%34.6%
128.2%37.3%
1310.5%39.5%
1411.1%41.1%
1514.3%42.3%
1616.8%42.9%
1718.3%43.4%
1821%43.5%
1922.5%43.4%
2025.7%42.8%
2126.3%41.4%
2225%40.6%
2324.8%38.9%
2428.5%37.1%
2528.3%35.8%

By year

The best and worst Porsche Boxster years

2009 cars come out best and 1998 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Porsche Boxster MOT results by year of first registration
First registeredTestsFail rateAgainst same-age carsTypical mileage
20212192.7%66% fewer fails14,729
2020 Boxster1,3683.7%62% fewer fails15,367
2019 Boxster3,7494.2%61% fewer fails17,814
2018 Boxster4,8345.9%52% fewer fails21,598
2017 Boxster4,5195%65% fewer fails25,950
2016 Boxster5,3746.2%60% fewer fails27,143
2015 Boxster4,6595.2%70% fewer fails29,244
2014 Boxster4,8597.8%63% fewer fails35,558
2013 Boxster5,3307.5%68% fewer fails39,940
2012 Boxster4,5548.8%65% fewer fails43,005
2011 Boxster2,8449.1%67% fewer fails47,463
2010 Boxster3,1358.5%72% fewer fails50,407
2009 Boxster3,2478.3%75% fewer fails58,176
2008 Boxster4,22812.9%63% fewer fails59,831
2007 Boxster6,20115.3%59% fewer fails65,963
2006 Boxster7,40317.4%55% fewer fails71,924
2005 Boxster12,52918.7%53% fewer fails74,024
2004 Boxster7,66824.3%39% fewer fails75,746
2003 Boxster9,10325.3%37% fewer fails79,845
2002 Boxster8,01126.8%34% fewer fails83,107
2001 Boxster7,81025.7%34% fewer fails84,398
2000 Boxster6,80725.9%32% fewer fails86,237
1999 Boxster4,69827.4%26% fewer fails92,064
1998 Boxster3,14429.3%18% fewer fails91,990
199767429.5%17% fewer fails92,041

Common problems

What fails most on a Porsche Boxster

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

  • Lights and electrics6.2%54% below avg
  • Exhaust, emissions and leaks4%10% below avg
  • Suspension3.8%64% below avg
  • Brakes3.7%56% below avg
  • Tyres2.7%47% below avg
  • Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.1%63% below avg
  • Body, chassis and structure1.7%69% below avg
  • Steering0.7%68% below avg
  • Number plates and VIN0.5%5% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

  1. 1

    Lambda reading outside specified limits 2.19% of tests

    An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.

  2. 2

    Coil spring fractured or broken 1.39% of tests

    A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

  3. 3

    Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.21% of tests

    Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.

  4. 4

    Position lamp not working 1.01% of tests

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  5. 5

    Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.93% of tests

    Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.

  6. 6

    Tyre tread below 1.6mm 0.88% of tests

    Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

  7. 7

    Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 0.73% of tests

    A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.

  8. 8

    Dipped beam headlamp not working 0.65% of tests

    A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Porsche Boxster's MOT certificate most often.

  • Brake pipes corroded and greasy9.05%
  • Brake disc pitted or scored7.25%
  • Tyre worn close to legal limit7.03%
  • Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.23%
  • Engine oil leak, not excessive3.43%
  • Slight play in steering rack joints1.48%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Porsche Boxster

  1. 1

    Lambda reading outside specified limits

    An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.

  2. 2

    Coil spring fractured or broken

    A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

  3. 3

    Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded

    Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.

  4. 4

    Position lamp not working

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  5. 5

    Every MOT since new

    Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.

  6. 6

    The mileage record

    A typical Porsche Boxster covers about 4,300 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.

  7. 7

    Finance, stolen and write-off

    The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

  • Petrol99.9%
  • LPG0.1%
  • Other0%
  • Diesel0%
  • Electric0%

Most common colours

Silver, Blue, Black, Grey, Red

Average engine size: 2.9 litres.

Compare

How the Porsche Boxster compares with its rivals

Porsche Boxster against similar models
ModelFail rateAgainst same-age cars
Porsche 91110.4%62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Porsche Cayman9.8%60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar F-Type7.8%52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz SL15.3%51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Porsche Boxster16.4%48% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW Z422.2%33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz SLK25.9%21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Porsche models.

Questions

Porsche Boxster questions, answered

Is the Porsche Boxster reliable?

On MOT results, the Porsche Boxster is better than average: it fails 16.4% of first MOT tests, 48% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 26 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.

What fails most on a Porsche Boxster MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Porsche Boxster are lambda reading outside specified limits (2.19% of tests), coil spring fractured or broken (1.39% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (1.21% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 6.2% of its tests.

Which Porsche Boxster year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (75% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1998 cars do worst (18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Porsche Boxster do a year?

A typical Porsche Boxster covers about 4,300 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Porsche Boxster before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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