Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2009 Porsche Cayman — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
The parts named most often across 2 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Porsche Cayman year.
WHILE ON A PUBLIC FREEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND THE SHIFTER CABLES BROKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR, LEAVING THE VEHICLE STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. VEHICLE WAS IN A GRADUAL ACCELERATION AT THE TIME OF FAILURE ENTERING THE FREEWAY. THIS RESULTED IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION, AS INITIALLY IT WAS NOT APPARENT WHAT HAPPENED AND THE ENGINE OVER REVED CAUSING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. EVENTUALLY IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN GEAR. SPEED CONTROL WAS IMPAIRED, AND VEHICLE WAS IN AN UNSAFE, DIMINISHED CONTROL CONFIGURATION. THIS ALSO CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL FOR A MOMENT AS THE TAIL OF THE CAR SWEPT OUT. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS MINIMAL TRAFFIC WHICH ALLOWED THE SITUATION TO BE HANDLED. HAD THE TRAFFIC BEEN HEAVIER THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE. THIS ALSO MADE FOR AN UNSAFE SITUATION TRYING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND MOVE OFF THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, SO EVENTUALLY REDUCED THROTTLE AND USE OF THE CLUTCH ENABLED A SAFE OUTCOME. REPLACEMENT OF THE SHIFTER CABLES WAS REQUIRED TO RESTORE VEHICLE TO OPERATIONAL CONDITION ( AFTER TOW TO A REPAIR LOCATION). UPON SEARCHING FORUMS, THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SHIFT CABLES. A PLASTIC SHEATH CAN MOVE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING METAL ON METAL WEAR OF THE CABLE UNTIL IT SNAPS.
WHILE ON A PUBLIC HIGHWAY, THE SHIFTER CABLES FAILED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO 6TH GEAR, LEAVING THE VEHICLE STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. VEHICLE WAS IN A GRADUAL ACCELERATION AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THIS RESULTED IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION, AS INITIALLY IT WAS NOT APPARENT WHAT HAPPENED. EVENTUALLY IT BECAME APPARENT THAT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF SOME TYPE HAD OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN GEAR. SPEED CONTROL WAS IMPAIRED, AND VEHICLE WAS IN AN UNSAFE, DIMINISHED CONTROL CONFIGURATION. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS MINIMAL TRAFFIC WHICH ALLOWED THE SITUATION TO BE EVALUATED WITHOUT PERIL. HAD THE TRAFFIC BEEN HEAVIER THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE. VEHICLE IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, SO EVENTUALLY REDUCED THROTTLE AND USE OF THE CLUTCH ENABLED A SAFE OUTCOME. REPLACEMENT OF THE SHIFTER CABLES WAS REQUIRED TO RESTORE VEHICLE TO OPERATIONAL CONDITION ( AFTER TOW TO A REPAIR LOCATION). *TR
Over 5 years this costs $4,750 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.
Rated configuration: 2009 Porsche Cayman 2-DR w/SAB
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