2020 Porsche Cayman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Porsche Cayman passed 96.1% of its 1,426 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 8.2% of the time, so this is 4.3pp 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 (3.0%) and lighting & signalling (0.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 28 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 12.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 43 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 13 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.6% | 9 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.2% | 3 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.2% | 3 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 2 |
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 | 28 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 3 | Washers | 8 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 6 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 6 | Switch | 3 |
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 | 12.9% | 184 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.2% | 31 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.2% | 31 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 30 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 10 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 4 |
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 | 1,264 | 3.3% |
| 30-60k | 156 | 8.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 480 | 3.3% |
| 2024 | 474 | 4.0% |
| 2025 | 454 | 4.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Cayman
On a 2020 Cayman, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.0% 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 (0.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.6% 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 2020 Porsche Caymans pass their MOT?
96.1% of the 1,426 2020 Porsche Cayman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Porsche Cayman?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.9%).
Does the 2020 Cayman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.3% in the 0-30k band to 8.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,426 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.