Porsche Cayman S: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
The Porsche Cayman S has 8 model year(s) in the federal index and no scored complaint record yet, so this page carries the catalogue entry and the years we hold rather than a verdict.
Porsche Cayman S: which years to avoid
Across 5 scored model years the Porsche Cayman S ranges from 88/100 in 2016 to 93/100 in 2011 — a 5-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Air Bags (3 of them).
Safest years: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
How the Cayman S changed, run by run
The federal record falls into 2 stretches of years that behave alike. A redesign shows up here as a step in the complaint rate that then holds.
2011–2012
Mean score 92/100. Owners of these years complain about Power Train more than anything else (3 complaints). 1 recall campaign(s) in this run touch fire, crash or stall risk.
2014–2016
Mean score 91/100, about 1 complaints per year on the road. Owners of these years complain about Air Bags more than anything else (5 complaints).
Year-by-year data table
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,680 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,520 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,800 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 88 | BUY | $4,953 | 7 | 0 |
| 2015 | 92 | BUY | $5,086 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 92 | BUY | $5,220 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 | 90 | BUY | $5,650 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | 93 | BUY | $5,796 | 5 | 0 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Cayman S sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Porsche Cayman S
Across every Cayman S model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Air Bags5 complaints across all Cayman S years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Power Train4 complaints across all Cayman S years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Engine3 complaints across all Cayman S years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other2 complaints across all Cayman S years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Seat Belts2 complaints across all Cayman S years · typical job: Pretensioner or retractor replacement$360–$800
- Steering1 complaints across all Cayman S years · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement$1,020–$2,500
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Porsche Cayman S years to buy?
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2011 at 93/100, on 5 complaints and 0 recall campaigns.
What is the most common Porsche Cayman S problem?
5 of the complaints filed against the Cayman S across all its model years sit in the Air Bags group — more than any other component.
Compare with
Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04