Selling a broken or junk Porsche Cayman

If a repair bill now outruns what your Cayman is worth, sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

What owners reported, generation by generation

Wikipedia splits the Boxster and Cayman into generations by internal code. The Cayman sits behind the seats in all of them: a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.

987 (2005-2012): engine complaints on the early cars

The second-generation Boxster arrived for 2005, and the Cayman joined it on the 987 platform. The 2006-2012 Caymans hold 30 of the 43 complaints. On the 2006, 7 of the 12 name the engine and engine cooling, 2 name the tires, and 2 report a crash. The 2010 and 2011 lean toward the power train: 4 of 5 on the 2010, and 3 of 5 on the 2011, which also has one complaint that reports a fire.

Only one recall reaches this generation. Campaign 11V409 asked dealers to inspect seat belt anchors on 2012 Caymans and replace belts where needed. It also covered the Boxster and several 911s, and counted 235 vehicles across all of them.

981 (2012-2016): the 2014 recall year

Wikipedia dates the 981 to its Geneva debut on March 13, 2012, and says Cayman and Boxster production moved to the former Karmann plant in Osnabrück after 2012. The 2014 and 2015 hold 11 complaints between them, spread across fuel and propulsion, air bags, the power train and the engine.

The 2014's five campaigns, with whole-campaign counts:

• 13V502: front passenger seat replaced (81 vehicles, with Boxster and 911).
• 14V698: front hood upper lock replaced on 2014-2015 cars (1,382, with 911 and Boxster).
• 19V875: an owner's manual supplement on child seat installation (15,501 vehicles in the campaign, which also covers several 911 GT3, GT3 RS, R and GT2 RS years).
• 21V679: rear-axle carrier side sections that may fracture, replaced on 2014-2015 cars (4,934, with Boxster).
• 22V656: headlights checked for missing sealing caps (222,858 across Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, Boxster and Cayman S).

2017-2020: the 718 change

From the 982 generation, Porsche marketed the car as the 718. Wikipedia says it "lost two cylinders," moving from a naturally aspirated flat-6 to a turbocharged flat-4. NHTSA lists no complaints and no recalls under the plain Cayman name for 2016-2020. A newer car has simply had less time for any Cayman owner to write in, so that empty record proves nothing. Complaints and recalls filed under the newer name, including recall 19V113 on 2017-2019 718 Cayman and Boxster models (14,388 vehicles in the campaign), are on our 718 page.

Cayman complaints and recalls by model year

These are our October 10, 2026 Cayman tallies from NHTSA's records. Because two of the 2014 campaigns also land on the 2015, the recall column totals eight, not six. The 2005 and 2021 rows come from NHTSA's file, outside the EPA's 2006-2020 range.

Repair it or sell it?

1. Put the VIN into NHTSA's lookup before anything else. On a 2014 or 2015, the rear-axle carrier recall is the one with a structural part in it, and dealers replace it free.
2. Engine or power train trouble on a 987? That's where the complaints cluster. Get a written diagnosis, then set it against what a running Cayman of the same year brings. Our blown engine guide walks through that call.
3. Quote bigger than the car? See our guide on a repair bill that tops the car's value.

Selling a Cayman whole

1. Name the car exactly. EPA data lists the Cayman, Cayman S, R, GTS, T and GT4. Tell us which one, plus the VIN and mileage.
2. Describe the problem and whether the car rolls. With the engine mid-mounted, say whether it's still in the car.
3. Say where the Cayman is parked: garage, driveway or a shop's lot. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
4. Leave it as it sits. Mention anything already removed.
5. Call (877) 421-6008 or start online. The driver will want the Cayman's title and your ID. Plate rules vary from state to state; after you sell lists them.

Comparing Porsches? See the Boxster, the 911, or every Porsche we cover.