2009 Porsche Cayman — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,561 MOT tests, the 2009 Porsche Cayman recorded a 90.5% pass rate. That is 10.8 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 20.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.3%) and brakes (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 93 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.2% versus 4.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 119 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.0% | 106 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.4% | 87 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.3% | 83 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 47 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 93 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 69 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 4 | Wipers | 37 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 36 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 36 |
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 | 20.8% | 741 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.2% | 577 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 283 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 208 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 99 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 96 |
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 | 249 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,390 | 6.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,389 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 431 | 13.9% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 12.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 712 | 8.6% |
| 2022 | 734 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 697 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 716 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 702 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Cayman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.0% 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.
- Suspension (2.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2009 Porsche Caymans pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 3,561 2009 Porsche Cayman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Porsche Cayman?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by brakes (3.0%).
Does the 2009 Cayman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 12.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,561 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.