The 2022 718 Cayman GTS with the 4.0L flat-six is a high-strung naturally-aspirated engine that's generally reliable but has documented issues with bore scoring and IMS bearing failures carried over from earlier flat-six designs, plus transmission cooling and mount problems under hard use.
Cylinder Bore Scoring and Piston Ring Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: excessive oil consumption (1qt per 1000 mi or worse), cold-start smoke from exhaust, loss of compression, rough idle when warm, metallic rattling under load
Fix: Requires engine removal and complete teardown. Cylinder sleeves or new case, pistons, rings, bearings. 40-50 labor hours for full rebuild or short block replacement. This is the big-ticket item on these engines.
Estimated cost: $18,000-28,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 30,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid puddles under car, burnt transmission fluid smell, low fluid warning on dash, shifting quality degradation
Fix: Cooler lines crack at fittings or corrode. Replace lines and top off fluid. 2-3 hours labor. Catch it early before transmission overheats and damages clutches.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Transmission Mount Deterioration
Common · low severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking when shifting or engaging clutch, excessive drivetrain movement felt through cabin, vibration at idle in gear, visible cracking in rubber mount
Fix: Track use and aggressive launches accelerate wear. Replace all transmission mounts as a set. 3-4 hours labor with proper lifting.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Fuel Filter Clogging (High-Mileage or Poor Fuel Quality)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: hesitation under hard acceleration, stumbling at high RPM, check engine light with lean codes, reduced power output
Fix: In-tank fuel pump module replacement required, filter not serviceable separately on this platform. 4-5 hours labor, tank drop needed.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800
Head Gasket Seepage (Early Warning Sign)
Rare · high severityTypical onset: 50,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: oil weeping from cylinder head mating surface, coolant level slowly dropping, white residue on oil filler cap, rough cold starts
Fix: If caught early, head gasket replacement with ARP studs. Engine-out job. 35-45 hours labor. Often discovered during bore scoring inspection, which means full rebuild anyway.
Estimated cost: $12,000-18,000
Connecting Rod Bearing Wear (Track/Aggressive Use)
Rare · high severitySymptoms: rod knock at idle (rhythmic metallic tapping), sudden loss of oil pressure, metal shavings in oil filter, catastrophic failure if ignored
Fix: High-RPM abuse or missed oil changes cause premature wear. Requires engine teardown, crank polishing or replacement, new bearings throughout. 30-40 hours if crank salvageable, more if not. Often discovered too late.
Estimated cost: $15,000-25,000
Buy only with comprehensive PPI including borescope—when healthy these are exceptional drivers, but engine rebuilds cost more than the depreciation you'll save buying used.
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.