2006 Porsche Cayman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Porsche Cayman passed 84.0% of its 8,368 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.0% fail rate), the 2006 Cayman comes out 5.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.0% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and catalyst emissions — position lamp alone was recorded 412 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.3% versus 5.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 669 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.9% | 410 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 389 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 355 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.8% | 231 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.8% | 150 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 412 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 366 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 358 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 300 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 179 |
| 6 | Wipers | 135 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.2% | 2,361 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.6% | 1,470 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 945 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.4% | 870 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 520 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 472 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 374 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,016 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,359 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,020 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 494 | 18.2% |
| 150k+ | 104 | 18.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,746 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 1,749 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 1,690 | 16.3% |
| 2024 | 1,616 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 1,567 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Cayman
On a 2006 Cayman, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (4.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Porsche Caymans pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 8,368 2006 Porsche Cayman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Porsche Cayman?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by brakes (4.9%).
Does the 2006 Cayman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,368 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.