2016 Porsche Cayman — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,183 MOT tests, the 2016 Porsche Cayman recorded a 95.5% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 10.8% of the time, so this is 6.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.4%) and lighting & signalling (1.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 102 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 2.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.9% once past 90-120k — 7.6× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.4% | 126 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 56 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 40 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.7% | 34 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 29 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.5% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 102 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 54 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 48 |
| 4 | Washers | 31 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 17 |
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 | 11.6% | 601 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 273 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 106 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.9% | 98 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 85 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 44 |
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 | 3,304 | 2.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,579 | 7.3% |
| 60-90k | 260 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,053 | 3.7% |
| 2022 | 1,053 | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 1,026 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 1,018 | 5.7% |
| 2025 | 1,033 | 5.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Cayman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.4% 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 (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2016 Porsche Caymans pass their MOT?
95.5% of the 5,183 2016 Porsche Cayman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Porsche Cayman?
Tyres, recorded in 2.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.1%).
Does the 2016 Cayman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.5% in the 0-30k band to 18.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,183 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.