AI DamagePorsche Cayman: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Porsche Cayman across 3 model years: 7 owner complaints and 436 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 43% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 29% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 14% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 14% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 14% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 14% of all complaints
- Air bags: 3 complaints (43% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (29% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 74.
- Engine: 1 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 65.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2017–2020
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2017–2020
- 2.7 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2007–2016
- 2.9 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2009–2012
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2006–2016
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2016
- automatic, 5-speed 2006–2008
- automatic, 7-speed 2009–2012
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed 2014–2020
- manual, 5-speed 2007–2008
- manual, 6-speed 2006–2020
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 74 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 65 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 13 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tail lamps are prone to hairline cracks difficult to see, when driven in rain or car wash tail lamp floods and causes electrical system to short circuit resulting in death or accident in inclement weather due to low visibility.
Engine stalls when stopped if not in sport mode. Electronic gauge display for oil level is confusing and shows low oil level in green, causing the user to add oil when it is full. Steering rubs and knocks when turning.
Windshield washer hose has snapped at the hood hinge which is preventing clearing of the windsheild of debris and obscuring forward visibility. This part was replaced by the dealer in 2016 during the first annual service for reasons unknown to me and has now failed.
TRW Automotive Inc. Airbag Control Unit (Part No. 218737-124 RI; Serial No. 11050089RI; Produced: April 20, 2015) was equipped in 2016 Porsche Cayman VIN [XXX] by Porsche (Vehicle Production Date: June 29, 2015). In 2019, TRW recalled the aforementioned ACU in NHTSA 19E-043.
The valvetrain loses timing, resulting in a catastrophic engine failure which disables a vehicle. My vehicle sustained such a failure and the car immediately went into "limp mode." all the valves on one cylinder bank were bent.
The airbag light is also illuminated on the dash. Porsche did not identify that faulty airbag control unit serial number 11050089ri is affected by manufacturer recall akb4 and has not correctly identified the population of 2016 porsche cayman cars impacted by manufacturer recall number akb4 (transport canada recall…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Special Tools and Equipment Information for alignment machines - Q3 2026 Software Spec Update Available
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C40 Engine Oils
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C20 Engine Oils
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche C30 Engine Oils
- Manufacturer's Certificate for Overview of Approved Porsche A40 Engine Oils
- Technical Information for Damage to Nano Plug Contacts Due to Utilization of Incorrect Measuring Equipment
- Special Tools and Equipment Information for Diagnostic Equipment Standards for all USA Porsche Centers
- Special Tools and Equipment Information for alignment machines - Q2 2026 Software Spec Update Available
- Product Knowledge for Model Type Designations
- Product Knowledge for Chassis/VIN Numbering Systems
- Belt Lock Warning on Driver Side Permanently Active / No Fault Memory Entries
- Warranty Information
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.