The 2010 Cayman (987.2 generation) with the 2.7L M97 flat-six is generally more reliable than its IMS-bearing predecessors, but bore scoring and coolant pipe failures remain the platform's Achilles' heels. Budget for preventive cooling system work and watch oil consumption religiously.
Cylinder Bore Scoring / Lokasil Liner Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (>1 qt per 1,000 mi), Cold-start rattle or ticking that persists beyond 30 seconds, Loss of compression on one or more cylinders, Blue smoke from exhaust on deceleration
Fix: Requires complete engine rebuild with new Nikasil-coated cylinders and pistons, or short-block replacement. 40-50 hours labor if removing/reinstalling in-car; many shops pull the engine. Machine work adds time if sleeving cylinders.
Estimated cost: $12,000-18,000
Coolant Expansion Tank and Hard Pipe Cracking
Common · high severityTypical onset: 70,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant level drops with no visible external leaks, Steam or coolant smell from engine bay, Overheating under load or in traffic, Coolant dripping onto exhaust creating white smoke
Fix: Expansion tank and associated hard plastic pipes become brittle and crack. Replace tank, all hard pipes, and coolant hoses proactively while you're in there. 4-6 hours labor depending on how many pipes you replace.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500
Intermediate Shaft (IMS) Bearing Failure
Rare · high severitySymptoms: Metallic rattling from engine during startup or at idle, Metal shavings in oil during changes, Sudden catastrophic engine failure without warning
Fix: The 2009+ 9A1 DFI engines have a much-improved IMS design versus pre-2009, making failure rare but not impossible. If it fails, you're looking at full engine-out rebuild. Retrofitting an upgraded bearing is 12-16 hours with clutch replacement concurrent.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,000
Rear Main Seal (RMS) Oil Leak
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil spots under rear of car after sitting overnight, Oil residue around bell housing and transmission mount area, Low oil level between changes without visible front-engine leaks
Fix: Requires transmission and flywheel removal. Usually done concurrently with clutch replacement since you're already in there. 10-14 hours labor if doing RMS alone, but strongly recommend pairing with clutch.
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,200
Water Pump Failure
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining or grinding noise from front of engine, Coolant weeping from pump housing, Overheating or erratic temperature gauge readings, Check engine light with coolant circulation codes
Fix: Water pump is mechanically driven and tends to fail due to bearing wear or seal degradation. Replace pump, thermostat, and coolant hoses at same time. 3-5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $900-1,400
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid spots under front of vehicle, Low transmission fluid level on dipstick, Burnt smell or shifting issues if fluid gets very low, Visible fluid weeping at cooler line connections
Fix: Hard lines and rubber hoses deteriorate, especially at crimp points. Replace cooler lines and flush/refill transmission fluid. 2-4 hours labor depending on line routing accessibility.
Estimated cost: $600-1,100
Buy one if the bore-scoring risk doesn't scare you and it has documented oil consumption history under 1 qt per 2,000 mi — otherwise budget $15k for eventual engine work or walk away.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.