Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2016 Porsche 718 Cayman
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
325.0%
Seat Belts
216.7%
Other & Unspecified
18.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
18.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
18.3%
Lights
18.3%
Steering
18.3%
Electrical System
18.3%
Engine & Cooling
18.3%
Median failure at 7,800 miles
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 2020peak 3Sep 2024
Recalls on the 2016 Porsche 718 Cayman
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2019353550 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, the airbag electronic control unit could be damaged by an electrical fault. This could cause the airbag system not to work properly in a crash. It could also result in a deployment of the airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners without a crash. Safety Risk: Airbags that do not work properly in a crash could create an increased risk of injury. Airbags or seat belt pretensioners that deploy without a crash could create a risk of injury and also increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to inspect the airbag control module. If an electrical fault is detected, the airbag control module will be replaced.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Woodbridge, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #11614898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodbridge, VA
STEERING
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.
NHTSA complaint #11610745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodbridge, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #11610745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodbridge, VA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #11610745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boulder, CO
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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.
NHTSA complaint #11471245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boulder, CO
AIR BAGS
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. In 2019, in response to the TRW recall, Porsche recalled 2016 Porsche Caymans in NHTSA 19V-533 but Porsche & the NHTSA failed to include 2016 Porsche Cayman VIN [XXX] (Vehicle Production Date: June 29, 2015) from this recall by setting an incorrect production date bracket starting at July 8, 2015 which is at least 9 days too late. The ACU failed during normal operation of the vehicle on February 1, 2020. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11451121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,800 milesDenver, CO
ENGINE
THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ADJUSTER SPROCKET BOLTS HAVE A TENDENCY TO SHEAR UNDER HIGH LOAD. THIS IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE THAT WAS ALSO COMMON IN SEVERAL OTHER PORSCHE MODELS OF SIMILAR PRODUCTION YEAR RANGES. 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. OTHER MODELS WERE RECALLED BUT THE CAYMAN AND BOXSTERS THAT CAME WITH THE 9A1 ENGINE WERE NOT. PORSCHE REPAIRED MY ENGINE BUT THEY PUT THE SAME PART NUMBER THAT FAILED BACK INTO THE CAR. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ENGINEERING REVISION TO THE PART, AND ANOTHER FAILURE IS POSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #11375115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toronto, ON, Canada M5V3T9, NY
SEAT BELTS
PORSCHE HAS IDENTIFIED A PREVIOUSLY UNREPORTED FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT SERIAL NUMBER 11050089RI EQUIPPED IN THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN IN JUNE 2015 BY PORSCHE AG MERE DAYS BEFORE THE PRODUCTION DATE BRACKET START OF JULY 8, 2015 FOR MANUFACTURER RECALL AKB4. THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN WAS ORDERED AS A CUSTOM SPECIFICATION 2015 PORSCHE CAYMAN IN EARLY 2015 HOWEVER, WHILE WAITING FOR THE CAR, THE OWNER WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER THAT DELAYS HAVE PUSHED YOUR DELIVERY DATE BACKBUT YOU WILL RECEIVE A 2016 MODELTHE FACTORY IS GOING TO PRODUCE THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEIR SUMMER BREAK AND YOULL HAVE IT IN JULY 2015 BUT IT WILL BE A 2016 CAYMAN. THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN IS A JULY 2015 PARTS BIN VEHICLE ASSEMBLED WITH FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT SERIAL NUMBER 11050089RI IN JUNE 2015 BY PORSCHE AG. WITH COMPONENT SUPPLIER CORRECTIVE ACTION OCCURRING DURING WEEK 38 OF 2015 (MID-SEPTEMBER 2015) PORSCHE AG INSTALLED FAULTY AIRBAG TRIGGERING UNIT SERIAL NUMBER 11050089RI IN THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN. THIS IS EVIDENT BY SCAN RESULTS PERFORMED ON THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN DISPLAYING FAILURE CODE: C11005 AIRBAG TRIGGERING UNIT, FAULTY. 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 2019353 & NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 19V-533). PORSCHE MUST INCLUDE THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN IN MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER AKB4, NOTIFY THE OWNER BY MAIL AND INSTRUCT THEM TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO REPLACE THE FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE UNDER RECALL. REFER TO VOLKSWAGEN GROUP COMPLIANCE REF. NUMBER 12638/2020, PCNA CASES 5591432 & 5595168, TC CONFIRMATION NUMBERS 2020-1107/-1108/-1310/-1311 AND US NHTSA TCN FKN23-56239 FOR DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #11342230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toronto, ON, Canada M5V3T9, NY
AIR BAGS
PORSCHE HAS IDENTIFIED A PREVIOUSLY UNREPORTED FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT SERIAL NUMBER 11050089RI EQUIPPED IN THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN IN JUNE 2015 BY PORSCHE AG MERE DAYS BEFORE THE PRODUCTION DATE BRACKET START OF JULY 8, 2015 FOR MANUFACTURER RECALL AKB4. THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN WAS ORDERED AS A CUSTOM SPECIFICATION 2015 PORSCHE CAYMAN IN EARLY 2015 HOWEVER, WHILE WAITING FOR THE CAR, THE OWNER WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER THAT DELAYS HAVE PUSHED YOUR DELIVERY DATE BACKBUT YOU WILL RECEIVE A 2016 MODELTHE FACTORY IS GOING TO PRODUCE THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEIR SUMMER BREAK AND YOULL HAVE IT IN JULY 2015 BUT IT WILL BE A 2016 CAYMAN. THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN IS A JULY 2015 PARTS BIN VEHICLE ASSEMBLED WITH FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT SERIAL NUMBER 11050089RI IN JUNE 2015 BY PORSCHE AG. WITH COMPONENT SUPPLIER CORRECTIVE ACTION OCCURRING DURING WEEK 38 OF 2015 (MID-SEPTEMBER 2015) PORSCHE AG INSTALLED FAULTY AIRBAG TRIGGERING UNIT SERIAL NUMBER 11050089RI IN THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN. THIS IS EVIDENT BY SCAN RESULTS PERFORMED ON THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN DISPLAYING FAILURE CODE: C11005 AIRBAG TRIGGERING UNIT, FAULTY. 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 2019353 & NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 19V-533). PORSCHE MUST INCLUDE THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN IN MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER AKB4, NOTIFY THE OWNER BY MAIL AND INSTRUCT THEM TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO REPLACE THE FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE UNDER RECALL. REFER TO VOLKSWAGEN GROUP COMPLIANCE REF. NUMBER 12638/2020, PCNA CASES 5591432 & 5595168, TC CONFIRMATION NUMBERS 2020-1107/-1108/-1310/-1311 AND US NHTSA TCN FKN23-56239 FOR DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #11342230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toronto, ON, Canada M5V3T9, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PORSCHE HAS IDENTIFIED A PREVIOUSLY UNREPORTED FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT SERIAL NUMBER 11050089RI EQUIPPED IN THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN IN JUNE 2015 BY PORSCHE AG MERE DAYS BEFORE THE PRODUCTION DATE BRACKET START OF JULY 8, 2015 FOR MANUFACTURER RECALL AKB4. THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN WAS ORDERED AS A CUSTOM SPECIFICATION 2015 PORSCHE CAYMAN IN EARLY 2015 HOWEVER, WHILE WAITING FOR THE CAR, THE OWNER WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER THAT DELAYS HAVE PUSHED YOUR DELIVERY DATE BACKBUT YOU WILL RECEIVE A 2016 MODELTHE FACTORY IS GOING TO PRODUCE THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEIR SUMMER BREAK AND YOULL HAVE IT IN JULY 2015 BUT IT WILL BE A 2016 CAYMAN. THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN IS A JULY 2015 PARTS BIN VEHICLE ASSEMBLED WITH FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT SERIAL NUMBER 11050089RI IN JUNE 2015 BY PORSCHE AG. WITH COMPONENT SUPPLIER CORRECTIVE ACTION OCCURRING DURING WEEK 38 OF 2015 (MID-SEPTEMBER 2015) PORSCHE AG INSTALLED FAULTY AIRBAG TRIGGERING UNIT SERIAL NUMBER 11050089RI IN THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN. THIS IS EVIDENT BY SCAN RESULTS PERFORMED ON THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN DISPLAYING FAILURE CODE: C11005 AIRBAG TRIGGERING UNIT, FAULTY. 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 2019353 & NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 19V-533). PORSCHE MUST INCLUDE THE 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN IN MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER AKB4, NOTIFY THE OWNER BY MAIL AND INSTRUCT THEM TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO REPLACE THE FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE UNDER RECALL. REFER TO VOLKSWAGEN GROUP COMPLIANCE REF. NUMBER 12638/2020, PCNA CASES 5591432 & 5595168, TC CONFIRMATION NUMBERS 2020-1107/-1108/-1310/-1311 AND US NHTSA TCN FKN23-56239 FOR DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #11342230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, NY
SEAT BELTS
2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN HAS AN ERROR CODE 'C11005 ? AIRBAG TRIGGERING UNIT, FAULTY' AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED BUT THIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN PORSCHE'S RECALL (AKB4) CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. PORSCHE HAS NOT CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE RECALL POPULATION OF 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN CARS AFFECTED BY MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER AKB4 (TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL 2019353 & NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 19V-533) AND SHOULD INCLUDE THIS 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN VIN, NOTIFY THE OWNER BY MAIL AND INSTRUCT THEM TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO INSPECT, AND REPLACE, THE FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE UNDER RECALL. BASED ON A PRODUCTION DATE BRACKET OF JULY 8, 2015 ? APRIL 18, 2016 AND COMPONENT SUPPLIER CORRECTIVE ACTION OCCURRING DURING CALENDAR WEEK 38 OF 2015 (APPROXIMATELY MID-SEPTEMBER 2015) PORSCHE HAS MISSED THIS 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN (PRODUCED JUNE 2015) FROM ITS DATABASE OF 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN VINS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. PORSCHE DID NOT CONSIDER THAT IT WAS PRODUCING 2016 PORSCHE CAYMANS EARLIER THAN JULY 8, 2015 AND, AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE OWNER OF THIS 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN WAS NOT ALERTED DURING THE CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION PERIOD OF MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER AKB4 AND DID NOT BECOME AWARE OF THIS KNOWN SAFETY RISK UNTIL ALMOST A YEAR HAD PASSED. AT THIS TIME, PORSCHE REFUSES TO REPAIR THE FAULTY VEHICLE UNDER RECALL. THERE MAY BE OTHER 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN VEHICLES IN ADDITION TO THIS 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN ASSEMBLED OUTSIDE THE STATED PRODUCTION DATE BRACKET THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND WERE MISSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #11330990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, NY
AIR BAGS
2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN HAS AN ERROR CODE 'C11005 ? AIRBAG TRIGGERING UNIT, FAULTY' AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED BUT THIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN PORSCHE'S RECALL (AKB4) CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. PORSCHE HAS NOT CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE RECALL POPULATION OF 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN CARS AFFECTED BY MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER AKB4 (TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL 2019353 & NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 19V-533) AND SHOULD INCLUDE THIS 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN VIN, NOTIFY THE OWNER BY MAIL AND INSTRUCT THEM TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO INSPECT, AND REPLACE, THE FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE UNDER RECALL. BASED ON A PRODUCTION DATE BRACKET OF JULY 8, 2015 ? APRIL 18, 2016 AND COMPONENT SUPPLIER CORRECTIVE ACTION OCCURRING DURING CALENDAR WEEK 38 OF 2015 (APPROXIMATELY MID-SEPTEMBER 2015) PORSCHE HAS MISSED THIS 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN (PRODUCED JUNE 2015) FROM ITS DATABASE OF 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN VINS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. PORSCHE DID NOT CONSIDER THAT IT WAS PRODUCING 2016 PORSCHE CAYMANS EARLIER THAN JULY 8, 2015 AND, AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE OWNER OF THIS 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN WAS NOT ALERTED DURING THE CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION PERIOD OF MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER AKB4 AND DID NOT BECOME AWARE OF THIS KNOWN SAFETY RISK UNTIL ALMOST A YEAR HAD PASSED. AT THIS TIME, PORSCHE REFUSES TO REPAIR THE FAULTY VEHICLE UNDER RECALL. THERE MAY BE OTHER 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN VEHICLES IN ADDITION TO THIS 2016 PORSCHE CAYMAN ASSEMBLED OUTSIDE THE STATED PRODUCTION DATE BRACKET THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND WERE MISSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #11330990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.