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Porsche Cayman S S-a Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Porsche Cayman S S-a car check

Is the Porsche Cayman S S-a reliable? We analysed 1,618 real MOT tests across 164 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,618 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
94.1%
Typical Mileage
34,440mi
Annual Mileage
2,877mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
17yrs

The Porsche Cayman S S-a is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced and headlamp aim too high. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche Cayman S S-a.

Porsche Cayman S S-a Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Porsche Cayman S S-a. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Porsche Cayman S S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Porsche Cayman S S-a to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

95%
2013
85.7%
2012
90.9%
2011
91.5%
2009

Porsche Cayman S S-a Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Porsche Cayman S S-a fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 7
registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced 6
Headlamp aim too high 3
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3

Porsche Cayman S S-a Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Porsche Cayman S S-a models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 15

Porsche Cayman S S-a Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Porsche Cayman S S-a owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,527 mi/yr
Typical
2,877 mi/yr
Average
3,790 mi/yr
Heavy usage
4,991 mi/yr

Porsche Cayman S S-a MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche Cayman S S-a year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 1,290 95.0% 19,695 32,416 47,949
2012 77 85.7% 27,878 44,247 66,307
2011 55 90.9% 35,114 46,349 57,708
2009 94 91.5% 27,477 46,215 75,872

How Long Does a Porsche Cayman S S-a Last?

Based on 164 Porsche Cayman S S-a vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.7 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
17 years

Porsche Cayman S S-a Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Porsche Cayman S S-a MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
34,440 mi
75th Percentile
50,194 mi
95th Percentile
81,000 mi
Max Recorded
189,139 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Porsche Cayman S S-a

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2013

95.0% MOT pass rate from 1,290 tests

Year to avoid
2012

85.7% MOT pass rate from 77 tests

The best year to buy a used Porsche Cayman S S-a is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.0% across 1,290 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Porsche Cayman S S-a Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Porsche Cayman S S-a THIS CAR 94.1% 1,618 34,440 mi 17 yrs
Porsche 911 85.2% 977,057 55,056 mi 47 yrs
Porsche Boxster 82.8% 726,695 55,739 mi 29 yrs
Porsche Cayenne 84.5% 388,697 65,616 mi 23 yrs
Audi A4 Technik 30 TDI S-a 88.6% 1,130 53,148 mi — yrs

Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche Cayman S S-a outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Porsche Cayman S S-a?

The Porsche Cayman S S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 94.1% across 1,618 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Porsche Cayman S S-a are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (7 recorded failures), registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6), and headlamp aim too high (3). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Porsche Cayman S S-a with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Porsche Cayman S S-a owner drives around 2,877 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Porsche Cayman S S-a models stay on UK roads for around 17 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Porsche Cayman S S-a — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Porsche Cayman S S-a reliable?
Based on 1,618 MOT tests, the Porsche Cayman S S-a has a 94.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Porsche Cayman S S-a?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced, and headlamp aim too high. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Porsche Cayman S S-a do per year?
The typical Porsche Cayman S S-a does around 2,877 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Porsche Cayman S S-a last?
Most Porsche Cayman S S-a models stay on UK roads for around 17 years based on our analysis of 164 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Porsche Cayman S S-a?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Porsche Cayman S S-a?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Porsche Cayman S S-a is 2013 with a 95.0% pass rate across 1,290 tests.