Porsche Cayman Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls — NHTSA Data
Comparing used Porsche Cayman options? We analyzed 10 model years (2007–2016) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Porsche Cayman you plan to buy.
PORSCHE CAYMAN (2007–2016) has 35 NHTSA complaints and 8 recalls. Powertrain issues lead with 12 complaints, followed by engine (7) and air bags (6). No crash complaints were filed. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Make
- Porsche
- Model
- Cayman
- Model years analyzed
- 2007–2016 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 35
- Safety recall campaigns
- 8
- Crash-related complaints
- 0
- Fire-related complaints
- 1
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2014 (7 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2015 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Average
Porsche Cayman: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
AverageBased on NHTSA complaint data, the 2007–2016 Porsche Cayman has 35 total complaints and 8 recalls over 10 model years. The most common issues involve the powertrain (12 complaints) and engine (7 complaints). No crash-related complaints were reported. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Powertrain accounts for 12 of 35 total complaints.
- Engine issues represent 7 complaints.
- Air bag complaints total 6, indicating potential safety concerns.
- Powertrain: 12 complaints suggest transmission or driveline issues.
- Engine: 7 complaints may involve oil leaks or cooling problems.
- Air bags: 6 complaints could indicate deployment or sensor failures.
2014 and 2016 each had 7 complaints, driven mainly by powertrain and engine problems.
2008 and 2013 had zero complaints, indicating potentially fewer issues.
- Inspect seat belts for proper retraction and latch function.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for powertrain and engine repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
🔔 NHTSA Safety Recalls
8 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2007–2016. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
🔧 Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 35 NHTSA complaints.
📋 NHTSA Complaint Reports
35 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
On the freeway the brakes began pressing themselves, lifting the pedal had no impact on the brakes being applied. I had to shift into 3rd gear and floor it to move off the freeway safely. The wheel weights fell off the wheels the brakes were so hot I had to keep away from the wheel. The tire was damaged from the heat and the sidewalls began to form cracks. It looks like this is a BRAKE BOOSTER failure as I have now read several people reporting the fix for it.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 PORSCHE CAYMAN. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ROOF LINING DROPPED AND BLOCKED THE REARVIEW VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I OWN A 2007 PORSCHE CAYMAN S AND I JUST WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT I BELIEVE IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. THE MUFFLER STICKS OUT EVEN SO MINIMALLY (ALMOST AN INCH) THAT I HAVE BEEN BURNED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AT EXACT SAME AREA ON MY LOWER LEG WHEN AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, I GO TO OPEN MY BACK TRUNK TO RETRIEVE STUFF. I'VE TOLD MYSELF THAT I'LL REMEMBER THE NEXT TIME BUT SINCE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WON'T EXPECT FROM A CAR, OF COURSE, I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE BURNED AREAS (1 1/2 INCHLONG AND X 3/4 CM WIDE) IN MY LEG IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS JUST LAST WEEK, 09/04, AND THE BURN IS STILL RAW. I SENT AN EMAIL TO PORSCHE OF NO AMERICA AND THIS IS WHAT THEY ADVISED ME TO DO. "THE BEST DEPARTMENT TO SPEAK WITH IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE THE SERVICE OR PARTS DEPARTMENT AT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED PORSCHE DEALER AS THEY CAN ADVISE IF ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES CAN BE RECOMMENDED FOR THIS SPECIFIC CONCERN AS THEY ARE PORSCHE'S TECHNICAL SUPPORT " I'VE FORWARDED MY COMPLAINT TO RUZNAK PORSCHE. *TR
INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BROKE. IMS FAILURE. RESULT IS WHOLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR
Rear axel carrier side section fractured in half. This can lead to loss of control of the vehicle when driving. Recall was issued for some models/years with specific batches, but mine was not included even though it’s the same issue.
Code P1023 Fuel Pump pressure/ quantity too low at start. Rough Start when engine is cold, high pressure fuel pump appears to be leaking. Replacement part is out of stock, unavailable. Unsafe to drive, could start a fire.
Fuel tank is rubbing against the body causing visible rub marks on the plastic tank itself. This is caused by foam pads either being misplaced or not installed at all from the factory. Porsche themselves have a TSB on it (SB-1403), but they will not handle the fix outside of warranty. This seems like a major safety issue where a plastic component holding flammable fuel is rubbing against the metal body and causing a potential failure point where fuel can leak onto hot components. Porsche has stated this is not a safety issue, but I cannot see how that is possibly the case. Many others online are facing the same issue and are getting quotes of $2k USD for the fix to be carried out. Please look into this as I do not feel safe driving my car knowing that the fuel tank can rub itself to failure at any point.
DOOR PANEL IS WARPING AWAY FROM THE DOOR FRAME AT THE WINDOW. THIS APPEARS TO BE WHERE THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYS FROM.
IGNITION COIL FAILURE ON CYLINDER #3 DUE TO NO HEAT SHIELD BETWEEN COIL & CATALYST WHICH IS SITUATED JUST BELOW THE COIL. THIS RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND MISFIRES OF #3 CYLINDER. MECHANIC STATES THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL A PROPER HEAT SHIELD IS INSTALLED BETWEEN THE COIL & THE CATALYST. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AT THE TIME ON A FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH.
A SMALL ROCK CAME THROUGH THE FRONT AIR INLET ON DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR STRIKING THE FRONT AC CONDENSER. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF FREON THAT BOTH ENTERED THE CABIN THROUGH THE SYSTEM VENTS AND SPEWED AC OIL INTO THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CAR, LEFT FRONT TIRE, ETC. THIS PRESENTED A HAZARD FROM INHALATION OF FREON GAS SUCKED INTO THE HVAC SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITY OF OIL CONTAMINATING THE FRONT TIRE OR BRAKE ASSEMBLY NO PROTECTION (GRILL,SCREEN, ETC) IS PROVIDED FROM THE FACTORY. THE FRONT CONDENSERS ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE. THERE ARE AT LEAST 10 OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ONLINE FROM OTHER 2013 TO 2014 BOXSTER AND CAYMAN MODELS. MY VEHICLE IS A 2014 CAYMAN S, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. PORSCHE WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. COST TO REPAIR $1200. *TR
AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT I INTENDED TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR BUT WHEN STARTING TO MOVE, THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE GEAR AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES IN DIFFERENT A FEW OCCASIONS. I AM WELL TRAINED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND MY PREVIOUS 300,000 MILES OF DRIVING WERE ON SIMILAR CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM DIFFERENT VENDORS. A LARGE NUMBER OF 981 OWNERS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION REPORTED SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AS CAN BE SEEN IN THIS PORSCHE 981 FORUM HTTP://WWW.PLANET-9.COM/981-CHAT/90509-ACCIDENTALLY-SELECTED-REVERSE-STOPLIGHT.HTML THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF TWO DESIGN ISSUES WITH THIS CAR MODE: 1. THERE IS NO MECHANICAL BLOCK THAT PREVENTS SHIFTING INTO THE REVERSE GEAR WHEN INTENDING TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR (E.G. BY REQUIRING TO PRESS THE STICK SHIFT DOWN TO ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR) 2. THE CAR HAS AN ELECTRONIC GEAR INDICATOR BUT IT STAYS BLANK WHEN THE CAR STOPS AND DISPLAYS THE ENGAGED GEAR ONLY WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE AND ACHIEVED A CERTAIN SPEED, WHICH IS TOO LATE. THIS COMPLAINTS APPLIES TO 2014 PORSCHE 981 BOXSTER, BOXSTER S, CAYMAN AND CAYMAN S WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION ONLY. *TR
The vacuum pump (Porsche part number 9A1-110-090-02) cover retaining screws vibrated out causing the cover to damage the fuel lines and causing an engine oil leak. The fuel and oil were ignited by the exhaust or stray spark cause by the vacuum covers rotation and hitting other metal objects. This vacuum pump provides vacuum to the brake booster and during the event drastically reduces the ability of the car to stop. The car was quickly consumed by fire (30-45 seconds) and I received very minor burns to my left arm exiting the car (mid-engine so the flames were coming out from under the drives side rear tire). I no longer have the car or parts but do have a lot of photos of the damage
The vacuum pump retaining screws vibrated out, causing an oil leak and reduced functionality of the braking system. This is the second 2011 Porsche Cayman S that I have owned to have this problem. The first cause a fire and I received minor burns from the incident. Fortunately this time no fire was caused and the vehicle is repairable. Please see NHTSA tracking number 11430927. I also spoke with a Porsche mechanic and was told he had seen this failure on several Porsche Cayman. I have not had the vehicle repaired yet, but will document the repair and retain the parts for inspection if needed.
THE LINKAGE FOR THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. IT HAS SEPARATED TWICE NOW, EACH TIME FAILING IN ABOUT 5,000 TO 7,000 MILES REQUIRING BEING TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. VERY DANGEROUS IF THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC AND YOUR LINKAGE FAILS WHILE SHIFTING AND YOU ARE NOW NOT IN ANY GEAR. *BF *TR CONSUMER STATED WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT THE GARAGE, AIRBAG DEPLYED.*JB
WHILE SHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 6TH GEAR, I FELT SOMETHING (PRESUMABLY THE SHIFT CABLE) SNAP. THE CAR WAS LOCKED IN GEAR, AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR. IN LOOKING ONLINE I FOUND COMPLAINTS BY SEVERAL OTHER PORSCHE OWNERS THAT SHIFT CABLES ON THEIR CARS HAD BROKEN. *TR
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 47 MPH IN TRAFFIC AND THE ON BOARD COMPUTER DISPLAYED THE WARNING MESSAGE "TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE TOO HIGH" FOLLOWED BY THE MESSAGE "TRANSMISSION EMERGENCY RUN". THE CAR AT THIS POINT STOPPED MOVING AND I COASTED TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC. THE IMMEDIATE CUT OFF OF THE POWER TRAIN AND PDK TRANSMISSION POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO SAFETY THAT COULD LEAD TO A REAR-END COLLISION DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORMATION ON THE INCIDENT WAS SENT TO PORSCHE FOR A PROBLEM DETERMINATION. PORSCHE HAS SINCE DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *TT
WHILE ON A PUBLIC FREEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND THE SHIFTER CABLES BROKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR, LEAVING THE VEHICLE STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. VEHICLE WAS IN A GRADUAL ACCELERATION AT THE TIME OF FAILURE ENTERING THE FREEWAY. THIS RESULTED IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION, AS INITIALLY IT WAS NOT APPARENT WHAT HAPPENED AND THE ENGINE OVER REVED CAUSING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. EVENTUALLY IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN GEAR. SPEED CONTROL WAS IMPAIRED, AND VEHICLE WAS IN AN UNSAFE, DIMINISHED CONTROL CONFIGURATION. THIS ALSO CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL FOR A MOMENT AS THE TAIL OF THE CAR SWEPT OUT. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS MINIMAL TRAFFIC WHICH ALLOWED THE SITUATION TO BE HANDLED. HAD THE TRAFFIC BEEN HEAVIER THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE. THIS ALSO MADE FOR AN UNSAFE SITUATION TRYING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND MOVE OFF THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, SO EVENTUALLY REDUCED THROTTLE AND USE OF THE CLUTCH ENABLED A SAFE OUTCOME. REPLACEMENT OF THE SHIFTER CABLES WAS REQUIRED TO RESTORE VEHICLE TO OPERATIONAL CONDITION ( AFTER TOW TO A REPAIR LOCATION). UPON SEARCHING FORUMS, THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SHIFT CABLES. A PLASTIC SHEATH CAN MOVE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING METAL ON METAL WEAR OF THE CABLE UNTIL IT SNAPS.
WHILE ON A PUBLIC HIGHWAY, THE SHIFTER CABLES FAILED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO 6TH GEAR, LEAVING THE VEHICLE STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. VEHICLE WAS IN A GRADUAL ACCELERATION AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THIS RESULTED IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION, AS INITIALLY IT WAS NOT APPARENT WHAT HAPPENED. EVENTUALLY IT BECAME APPARENT THAT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF SOME TYPE HAD OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN GEAR. SPEED CONTROL WAS IMPAIRED, AND VEHICLE WAS IN AN UNSAFE, DIMINISHED CONTROL CONFIGURATION. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS MINIMAL TRAFFIC WHICH ALLOWED THE SITUATION TO BE EVALUATED WITHOUT PERIL. HAD THE TRAFFIC BEEN HEAVIER THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE. VEHICLE IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, SO EVENTUALLY REDUCED THROTTLE AND USE OF THE CLUTCH ENABLED A SAFE OUTCOME. REPLACEMENT OF THE SHIFTER CABLES WAS REQUIRED TO RESTORE VEHICLE TO OPERATIONAL CONDITION ( AFTER TOW TO A REPAIR LOCATION). *TR
Porsche dashboard leather has strunk and separated from the main dashboard. My understanding is that in the event of an accident, this could interfere with the airbag's ability to deploy correctly. A Porsche dealer has reviewed but was unable to repair it. The next step would be to replace. I've discovered this is a very common issue with Porsche vehicles from model years similar to this one.
The Cayman S model with V6, 3.4L motor, commonly referenced as a 9A1 motor had been self destructing with increasing amounts of metal slivers/chips found in the drained oil, oil filter and oil filter housing. The in-warranty Porsche dealer "installed oil" was first inspected by my shop at 27,031 mi - alarmingly metal was found, PIC attached. Metal was non magnetic, appearing to be aluminium. Subsequent oil/filter inspections found the metal volume to be significantly increasing, PIC attached, putting the motor at risk of self destructing. Car was parked with only 29,509 mi in fear of having the motor blowup/lockup while driving at highway speeds. It would have the potential of stopping abruptly or locking up the rear wheels putting the car in a spin, possibly causing a crash. Risky. Without taking the motor out and disassembling, professional opinion and speculation indicates possible early main crankshaft bearing or rod bearing failure. Motor needs replaced (estimates from $25,000 to $45,000 depending on damage and whether a dealer or independent does the work.) The vehicle is currently parked and taken off the road. Too expensive to fix. Porsche North America offered no investigative or repair support because it is out of warranty. Disappointing customer support, with this being my fourth Porsche. Isolated incident or have others found a similar problem ????
Showing 20 of 35 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Before You Buy, Check the Exact Porsche Cayman
These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
📖 Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Porsche Cayman has 35 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Porsche Cayman has 8 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 0 of the Porsche Cayman's 35 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Porsche Cayman vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Porsche Cayman vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Porsche Cayman has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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