2012 Porsche Cayman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Porsche Cayman passed 93.1% of its 1,684 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 16.3% of the time, so this is 9.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (2.4%) 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 wipers — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 50 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.9% versus 4.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 2.4% | 40 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.2% | 37 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 28 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 19 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 10 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 3 | Wipers | 19 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 17 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 10 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 16.3% | 275 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.1% | 254 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.8% | 97 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 73 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 40 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 28 |
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 | 378 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 841 | 6.4% |
| 60-90k | 389 | 9.0% |
| 90-120k | 64 | 10.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 342 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 334 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 339 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 340 | 6.5% |
| 2025 | 329 | 5.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Cayman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 2.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (2.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2012 Porsche Caymans pass their MOT?
93.1% of the 1,684 2012 Porsche Cayman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Porsche Cayman?
Brakes, recorded in 2.4% of tests, followed by tyres (2.2%).
Does the 2012 Cayman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,684 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.