2011 Porsche CAYMAN: complaints, problems and recalls

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 SITUA…

Look up ODI 10548017 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PORSCHE CAYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK ON FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Look up ODI 10691091 at NHTSA ↗

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 POR…

Look up ODI 10445731 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT I INTENDED TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR BUT WHEN STARTING TO MOVE, THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE GEAR AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES IN DIFFERENT A FEW OCCASIONS. I AM WELL TRAINED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND MY PREVIOUS 300,000 MILES OF DRIVING WERE ON SIMILAR CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM DIFFERENT VENDORS. A LARGE NUMBER OF 981 OWNERS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION REPORTED SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AS CAN BE SEEN IN THIS PORSCHE 981 FORUM HTTP://WWW.PLANET-9.COM/981-CHAT/9050…

Look up ODI 10554173 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2015 Porsche Cayman. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the rear housing axle carriers repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V679000 (Power Train). However, upon picking up the vehicle, the rear suspension was unstable and drifted all over the road while driving. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and completed a torque adjustment however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified but did not provide any assistanc…

Look up ODI 11464390 at NHTSA ↗

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 C…

Look up ODI 10724454 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Look up ODI 11430927 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS GOING DOWN HILL IN 3RD GEAR OF A MANUAL SHIFT. THE SHIFT SUDDENLY BROKE AND I COULD NOT CHANGE THE GEAR AND HAD TO PULL OVER IN A NARROW ROAD WITHOUT ANY SPACE FOR CARS TO PASS BY. IT TOOK PORSCHE 110 MINUTES TO COME A GET THE CAR. LUCKY FOR ME, I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER A HIGHWAY! *TR

Look up ODI 10703819 at NHTSA ↗

IGNITION COIL FAILURE ON CYLINDER #3 DUE TO NO HEAT SHIELD BETWEEN COIL & CATALYST WHICH IS SITUATED JUST BELOW THE COIL. THIS RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND MISFIRES OF #3 CYLINDER. MECHANIC STATES THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL A PROPER HEAT SHIELD IS INSTALLED BETWEEN THE COIL & THE CATALYST. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AT THE TIME ON A FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH.

Look up ODI 11078393 at NHTSA ↗

The Cayman S model with V6, 3.4L motor, commonly referenced as a 9A1 motor had been self destructing with increasing amounts of metal slivers/chips found in the drained oil, oil filter and oil filter housing. The in-warranty Porsche dealer "installed oil" was first inspected by my shop at 27,031 mi - alarmingly metal was found, PIC attached. Metal was non magnetic, appearing to be aluminium. Subsequent oil/filter inspections found the metal volume to be significantly increasing, PIC attached, putting the motor at risk of self destructing. Car w…

Look up ODI 11492138 at NHTSA ↗

DOOR PANEL IS WARPING AWAY FROM THE DOOR FRAME AT THE WINDOW. THIS APPEARS TO BE WHERE THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYS FROM.

Look up ODI 11112101 at NHTSA ↗

My door panels are delaminating around where the side curtain airbags are located. It has me concerned about driving the vehicle if I was involved in an accident.

Look up ODI 11448327 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE NORMALLY, THE ENGINE JUST BLEW. NO OVER REV OR SHIFT MISS. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT SEEMED ONE BEARING AT THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED. I'VE SEEN MANY SIMILAR ENGINE BLOWS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLES ON THE NET SO I'M WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE A DESIGN FLAW. I EXPECT NHTSA'S INVESTIGATION.

Look up ODI 10424968 at NHTSA ↗

INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BROKE. IMS FAILURE. RESULT IS WHOLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR

Look up ODI 10429213 at NHTSA ↗

A SMALL ROCK CAME THROUGH THE FRONT AIR INLET ON DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR STRIKING THE FRONT AC CONDENSER. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF FREON THAT BOTH ENTERED THE CABIN THROUGH THE SYSTEM VENTS AND SPEWED AC OIL INTO THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CAR, LEFT FRONT TIRE, ETC. THIS PRESENTED A HAZARD FROM INHALATION OF FREON GAS SUCKED INTO THE HVAC SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITY OF OIL CONTAMINATING THE FRONT TIRE OR BRAKE ASSEMBLY NO PROTECTION (GRILL,SCREEN, ETC) IS PROVIDED FROM THE FACTORY. THE FRONT CONDENSERS ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE. THER…

Look up ODI 10595932 at NHTSA ↗

INTERIOR HEADLINER MATERIAL BECOMES UNGLUED AND DROOPS DOWN CREATING A DISTRACTION AND OBSTRUCTING REARWARD VISION THROUGH REAR VIEW MIRROR.

Look up ODI 10850932 at NHTSA ↗

Rear axel carrier side section fractured in half. This can lead to loss of control of the vehicle when driving. Recall was issued for some models/years with specific batches, but mine was not included even though it’s the same issue.

Look up ODI 11732544 at NHTSA ↗

Porsche dashboard leather has strunk and separated from the main dashboard. My understanding is that in the event of an accident, this could interfere with the airbag's ability to deploy correctly. A Porsche dealer has reviewed but was unable to repair it. The next step would be to replace. I've discovered this is a very common issue with Porsche vehicles from model years similar to this one.

Look up ODI 11605640 at NHTSA ↗

Fuel tank is rubbing against the body causing visible rub marks on the plastic tank itself. This is caused by foam pads either being misplaced or not installed at all from the factory. Porsche themselves have a TSB on it (SB-1403), but they will not handle the fix outside of warranty. This seems like a major safety issue where a plastic component holding flammable fuel is rubbing against the metal body and causing a potential failure point where fuel can leak onto hot components. Porsche has stated this is not a safety issue, but I cannot see h…

Look up ODI 11433408 at NHTSA ↗

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 C…

Look up ODI 10724454 at NHTSA ↗

SHIFTER CABLE BROKE AS I WAS ENTERING THE FREEWAY LEAVING ME WITHOUT CONTROL OF THE TRANSMISSION. AS IT WAS, I WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK OUT OF GEAR, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DANGEROUS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND KNOW DEFECT TO PORSCHE MECHANICS AND MANY OCCURRENCES ARE POSTED ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BESIDES BEING A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

Look up ODI 10694285 at NHTSA ↗

IGNITION COIL FAILURE ON CYLINDER #3 DUE TO NO HEAT SHIELD BETWEEN COIL & CATALYST WHICH IS SITUATED JUST BELOW THE COIL. THIS RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND MISFIRES OF #3 CYLINDER. MECHANIC STATES THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL A PROPER HEAT SHIELD IS INSTALLED BETWEEN THE COIL & THE CATALYST. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AT THE TIME ON A FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH.

Look up ODI 11078393 at NHTSA ↗