2011 Porsche Cayman — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,799 MOT tests, the 2011 Porsche Cayman recorded a 91.6% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 17.8% of the time, so this is 9.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (2.9%) and tyres (2.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and tread depth — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 67 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.1% versus 3.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 16.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 2.9% | 80 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.2% | 61 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.0% | 57 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 57 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 27 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.9% | 26 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 67 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 40 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 25 |
| 5 | Wipers | 23 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 23 |
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 | 16.1% | 451 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.4% | 376 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 182 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.3% | 92 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 72 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 47 |
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 | 425 | 3.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,397 | 7.4% |
| 60-90k | 752 | 10.8% |
| 90-120k | 185 | 16.2% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 12.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 572 | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 555 | 6.1% |
| 2023 | 546 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 574 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 552 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Cayman
On a 2011 Cayman, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (2.9% 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.
- Tyres (2.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (2.0% 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 2011 Porsche Caymans pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 2,799 2011 Porsche Cayman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Porsche Cayman?
Brakes, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by tyres (2.2%).
Does the 2011 Cayman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,799 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.