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1998 Porsche Boxster

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Boxster.

Transmission Automatic 5-spd

The 1998 Porsche Boxster pairs its five-speed automatic transmission with EPA fuel-economy ratings of 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined. Within the 1997–2024 model-year range, this vehicle records the highest complaint volume at 34 owner-reported cases—with structure identified as the top concern area—alongside three recalls, a tally that stands in sharp contrast to the line’s most reliable entry, the 2008 model, which attracted only a single complaint. This concentration of documented issues positions the 1998 Boxster as the statistical peak for reported problems in the model’s history, establishing it as a critical reference point for reliability research.

Model year2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 1998

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque96 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/22/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 650 CCA battery, OE oil filter 99610722560. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 650 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	99610722560
Engine air filter	99611013104
Fuel filter	99611025301
Spark plug	99917020190
Battery	9A7915105
Front wiper blades	99662890111
Serpentine belt	99610215167 alt 99610215168
Thermostat	99610612554 alt 99610632651
Cabin air filter	99757121902

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	170.9 in
Overall width	70.1 in
Overall height	50.8 in
Wheelbase	95.3 in
Curb weight	2756 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.9 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	46/54

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 22 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Boxster of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.0–6.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.00 sec — 1998 Convertible

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1998	Convertible 2.5L F-6	6.00 sec	14.50 sec	201 hp	RWD
1998	Convertible 2.5L F-6	6.10 sec	14.70 sec	201 hp	RWD
1998	Convertible 2.5L F-6	6.30 sec	14.80 sec	201 hp	RWD
2000	S Convertible 3.2L F-6	5.20 sec	13.80 sec	250 hp	RWD
2000	S Convertible 3.2L F-6	5.30 sec	13.90 sec	250 hp	RWD
2000	S Convertible 3.2L F-6	5.50 sec	13.90 sec	250 hp	RWD
2000	S Convertible 3.2L F-6	5.80 sec	14.30 sec	250 hp	RWD
2000	Convertible 2.7L F-6	6.20 sec	14.90 sec	217 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 96 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.7 Pints
Engine Coolant	FILLED WITH PORSCHE LIFTIME COOLANT

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

96 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-2-4-3-5
Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-3-6-2-4
Spark Plug Gap	0.031-0.035 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0-21.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.87 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	ND 8 oil
Oil Capacity	6.59 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	650 cca

Brakes

Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.079 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: .866; Rear: .709
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish	Front: .890; Rear: .732
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	.0008
Maximum Rotor Runout	.001
Maximum Drum Diameter	Parking Brake: 6.496

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	Loosen all bolts 720 degrees	720 degrees
3	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
4	60 degrees	60 degrees
5	60 degrees	60 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 15,000 mi.

At 15,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Universal Vehicle Operation (read dtcs)
Every 30,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 90,000 mi	Final Drive (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1998 Porsche Boxster represents the peak of early-generation federal complaints with 34 logged issues, a noticeable jump from 23 in 1997 and higher than the 28 recorded in 1999. It uniquely triggered the only federal investigation in the entire dataset, while its top complaint areas center on Structure (9), Air Bags (6), and Engine & Engine Cooling (6), though the data does not specify the root causes for these clusters. Looking at the broader arc, the 1998 model sits at the apex of a steep complaint and recall curve that characterizes the car's initial launch years, as complaints plummet to just 5 by 2000 and recalls steadily decline. Meanwhile, technical service bulletins began at 151 in 1998 but expanded significantly in later model years, indicating ongoing manufacturer refinements long after this early production run. Given that the 1998 model carries the highest complaint volume and the generation's sole federal investigation, this is not an optimal year to buy; shoppers should prioritize later models that benefit from documented post-launch improvements.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

151

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’97’98’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’24

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 34 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure9

Air Bags6

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Electrical System4

Engine1

Fuel System, Gasoline,Air Bags1

Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Electrical System,Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

03V004000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 23/01/2003

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… 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…

98E005000Air Bags:On-Off Switch AssemblyReported 24/02/1998

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… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED AIR BAG DEACTIVATION KIT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 151 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
No. 2404	2024-03-15	Equipment	Special tools and equipment information for the Boxster, Cayman, 911, and Panamera
No. 2403	2024-03-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	Special tools and equipment information for brake caliper pins for the 911, Boxster, and…
PIWIS2401j	2024-02-09	Unknown Or Other	Information for PIWIS tester update 42.500.020
PIWIS2302s	2023-11-17	Equipment	Information for PIWIS tester update 42.300.050 & .052
No. 33-23	2023-11-14	Equipment	Instructions on manufactures certificate for approved Porsche C30 engine oils

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Boxster. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 battery Engine oil filter 99610722560 Engine air filter 99611013104 Fuel filter 99611025301 Spark plug 99917020190

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1998 Boxster have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Boxster get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined mpg.