Total Complaints
5 filings
PORSCHE CAYMAN · model year
2011 PORSCHE CAYMAN
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011PORSCHECAYMAN carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 CAYMAN is power train with 3 filings, followed by engine (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2011 CAYMAN. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated
· Front: Not Rated/5
· Side: Not Rated/5
· Rollover: Not Rated/5
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 3 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20210829FireENGINE
The vacuum pump (Porsche part number 9A1-110-090-02) cover retaining screws vibrated out causing the cover to damage the fuel lines and causing an engine oil leak. The fuel and oil were ignited by the exhaust or stray spark cause by the vacuum covers rotation and hitting other metal objects. This vacuum pump provides vacuum to the brake booster and during the event drastically reduces the ability of the car to stop. The car was quickly consumed by fire (30-45 seconds) and I received very minor burns to my left arm exiting the car (mid-engine so the flames were coming out from under the drives side rear tire). I no longer have the car or parts but do have a lot of photos of the damage
20210829ENGINE
The vacuum pump retaining screws vibrated out, causing an oil leak and reduced functionality of the braking system. This is the second 2011 Porsche Cayman S that I have owned to have this problem. The first cause a fire and I received minor burns from the incident. Fortunately this time no fire was caused and the vehicle is repairable. Please see NHTSA tracking number 11430927. I also spoke with a Porsche mechanic and was told he had seen this failure on several Porsche Cayman. I have not had the vehicle repaired yet, but will document the repair and retain the parts for inspection if needed.
20200527POWER TRAIN
THE LINKAGE FOR THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. IT HAS SEPARATED TWICE NOW, EACH TIME FAILING IN ABOUT 5,000 TO 7,000 MILES REQUIRING BEING TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. VERY DANGEROUS IF THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC AND YOUR LINKAGE FAILS WHILE SHIFTING AND YOU ARE NOW NOT IN ANY GEAR. *BF *TR CONSUMER STATED WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT THE GARAGE, AIRBAG DEPLYED.*JB
Mileage: 27,024
20150412POWER TRAIN
WHILE SHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 6TH GEAR, I FELT SOMETHING (PRESUMABLY THE SHIFT CABLE) SNAP. THE CAR WAS LOCKED IN GEAR, AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR. IN LOOKING ONLINE I FOUND COMPLAINTS BY SEVERAL OTHER PORSCHE OWNERS THAT SHIFT CABLES ON THEIR CARS HAD BROKEN. *TR
Mileage: 34,235
20120129POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 47 MPH IN TRAFFIC AND THE ON BOARD COMPUTER DISPLAYED THE WARNING MESSAGE "TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE TOO HIGH" FOLLOWED BY THE MESSAGE "TRANSMISSION EMERGENCY RUN". THE CAR AT THIS POINT STOPPED MOVING AND I COASTED TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC. THE IMMEDIATE CUT OFF OF THE POWER TRAIN AND PDK TRANSMISSION POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO SAFETY THAT COULD LEAD TO A REAR-END COLLISION DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORMATION ON THE INCIDENT WAS SENT TO PORSCHE FOR A PROBLEM DETERMINATION. PORSCHE HAS SINCE DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *TT
Mileage: 7,020
Compare 2011PORSCHECAYMAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2011 PORSCHE CAYMAN have?▼
The 2011 PORSCHE CAYMAN has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2011 PORSCHE CAYMAN?▼
The 2011 PORSCHE CAYMAN received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 PORSCHE CAYMAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 2011 PORSCHE CAYMAN is POWER TRAIN with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE.
Is the 2011 PORSCHE CAYMAN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2011 PORSCHE CAYMAN has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.