2019 Porsche Cayman — MOT failures & pass rate
4,338 MOT tests on the 2019 Porsche Cayman are in this dataset, and 95.3% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (8.6% fail rate), the 2019 Cayman comes out 3.8pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.3%) and lighting & signalling (0.7%) 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 94 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 8.9% versus 4.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 1.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 5.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.3% | 142 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 29 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.7% | 28 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.5% | 22 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.3% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 11 |
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 | 94 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 40 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 4 | Washers | 24 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 9 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
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 | 17.2% | 746 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 167 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.7% | 119 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 70 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 48 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 24 |
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 | 3,482 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 810 | 6.7% |
| 60-90k | 45 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | 1.6% |
| 2022 | 1,132 | 4.7% |
| 2023 | 1,091 | 3.3% |
| 2024 | 1,016 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 1,037 | 5.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Cayman
On a 2019 Cayman, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.3% 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 (0.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.7% 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 2019 Porsche Caymans pass their MOT?
95.3% of the 4,338 2019 Porsche Cayman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Porsche Cayman?
Tyres, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.7%).
Does the 2019 Cayman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 8.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,338 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.