The 2017 718 Cayman S with its 2.5L turbo flat-four is a strong performer, but early turbo four-cylinder 718s suffer from a catastrophic engine defect: cylinder scoring and bearing failure, primarily affecting 2017-2019 models. When it happens, it's not a repair—it's a full rebuild or replacement.
Cylinder Scoring and Bearing Failure (Engine Carnage)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: metallic knocking or ticking from engine bay, especially cold start, sudden oil consumption increase (1+ qt per 1,000 mi), white or blue smoke on startup, loss of compression on cylinder 2 or 3 most commonly, check engine light with misfire codes
Fix: This is a total engine failure requiring either short block replacement (12-18 hours labor) or complete engine rebuild with new pistons, rings, bearings, and bore honing (25-35 hours). Porsche extended warranty coverage to 10 years/120,000 miles for affected VINs, but out-of-warranty cases are financially devastating. Many shops won't attempt in-chassis rebuild due to precision required—recommend factory short block.
Estimated cost: $18,000-28,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid spots under vehicle, left side, low fluid warning on PDK-equipped cars, burnt transmission fluid smell after spirited driving, visible seepage at cooler line connections behind front bumper
Fix: PDK oil cooler lines develop leaks at crimped fittings or rubber sections crack from heat cycling. Requires bumper removal for access, replace both supply and return lines as a set (3-4 hours labor). OEM lines mandatory—aftermarket don't seal properly.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Transmission Mount Failure (PDK)
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: clunk when shifting from reverse to drive or vice versa, vibration through chassis at idle in gear, excessive driveline lash during throttle transitions, visible sagging or cracking of rubber mount
Fix: Rear transmission mount deteriorates from heat and vibration, especially on cars driven hard. Access is from underneath, requires transmission support (2-3 hours labor). Upgrade to aftermarket solid or polyurethane mount is common modification during replacement.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Fuel Filter Clogging (Ethanol-Related)
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: rough idle or misfires under load, loss of power above 4,000 rpm, extended cranking before start, lean fuel trim codes (P0171/P0174), fuel pressure lower than 58 psi spec
Fix: In-tank fuel filter assembly clogs prematurely with ethanol-blend fuels, particularly E15 or higher. Requires fuel tank drop (4-5 hours labor). Replace entire fuel pump/filter module assembly—filter is not serviceable separately. Use only Top Tier gas to prevent recurrence.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 20,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: rattling sound from engine bay between 1,800-2,500 rpm under light load, sound disappears under acceleration or at idle, no performance loss or codes, most noticeable in 3rd-4th gear cruise
Fix: Wastegate actuator rod develops play in bushing, causing characteristic rattle. Porsche issued updated turbochargers with revised actuators under warranty for many cases. Requires turbo removal for actuator replacement or full turbo swap (8-10 hours labor per side if both affected). Does not affect reliability but annoying.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,000
Coolant Expansion Tank Cracking
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: coolant smell in cabin or under hood, visible coolant seepage at tank seams, low coolant warning light, steam from rear engine bay after shutdown, coolant level drops without external leaks visible
Fix: Plastic expansion tank develops stress cracks at mounting tabs or seams from heat cycling. Tank is buried behind left rear wheel liner. Requires wheel removal and liner drop (2-3 hours labor). Replace tank, cap, and system flush. Inspect all coolant hoses while accessible.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Owner tips
Check VIN against Porsche's cylinder bore scoring warranty extension—many 2017-2018s are covered to 10yr/120k miles
Pre-purchase inspection MUST include borescope cylinder inspection and oil analysis—this is non-negotiable on 2017-2019 turbo fours
Use only Mobil 1 0W-40 or approved equivalent, change every 5,000 miles max regardless of monitor—oil quality is critical for turbo bearing and cylinder wall protection
PDK fluid change every 40,000 miles with genuine Porsche fluid—this transmission does not have lifetime fill despite what manual says
Avoid extended idle times and short trips—these engines need full heat cycles to prevent carbon buildup on intake valves
Brilliant chassis and transmission, but the 2017 engine is a landmine—only buy with documented Porsche warranty coverage or provable cylinder health via borescope, otherwise budget for catastrophic failure 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.
Fitment notes: Located in front trunk; AGM battery required for proper vehicle operation
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Every control module on the 2016-2017 Porsche 718 Cayman S — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Transmission Control Unit (TCU)4.5 hr R&Rdealer / factory tool +0.8 hr▸ programming details
📍 Transmission housing, integrated valve body (PDK)
🔧 PIWIS II/III + PPN
⚠️ PDK transmission requires fluid fill and adaptation; manual transmission has no TCU
Electric Power Steering Control Unit (EPS)3.5 hr R&Rdealer / factory tool +0.5 hr▸ programming details
📍 Steering column, integrated with steering rack
🔧 PIWIS II/III
⚠️ Steering angle sensor calibration and wheel alignment required
⚠️ Optional equipment; headlight aim calibration required after replacement
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2019 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S vehicles and 2018-2019 718 Boxster GTS and 2018-2019 718 Cayman GTS vehicles. In the event of a crash, a crossmember may detach from the luggage compartment bracket, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will secure the crossmember with additional rivets, free of charge. The recall began April 19, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA3.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V134000
2017-03-02
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2016 911 GT3 RS and 911 R vehicles and 2017 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Targa 4, 911 Targa 4S, 911 Turbo S, 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S vehicles. The passenger frontal air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash.
Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH03.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 17V054000
2017-01-25
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Targa 4, 911 Targa 4S + GTS, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, and 718 Cayman S vehicles. The screws that fasten the fuel collection pipes in the engine compartment may shear off, resulting in a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will install improved fastening screws, free of charge. The recall began March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH01.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · 16V946000
2016-12-30
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2017 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, 718 Cayman S, 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Turbo, 911 Turbo S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, and 911 Turbo Cabriolet vehicles. The seat mounted side air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash.
Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the side air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG10.
Performance
Horsepower
350hp
Torque
309lb-ft
0–60 mph
4.2sec
Quarter mile
12.6sec
Top speed
177mph
Capability & size
Curb weight
3,020lb
Wiper blades
Coupe body style, no rear wiper. Standard hook-type attachment for 718 Cayman platform.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman S 2.5L Turbo H4 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Mechanic · 20+ years.