The 982-generation 718 Cayman S with the 2.5L turbo flat-four is mechanically solid for most owners, but a small percentage face catastrophic engine failures due to cylinder scoring and bearing issues—costly enough to total an otherwise great car.
Catastrophic Engine Failure (Cylinder Scoring / Spun Bearings)
Rare · high severityTypical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden oil pressure loss warning, Metallic knocking or rattling from engine bay, White/blue smoke from exhaust on cold start, Excessive oil consumption (more than 1 qt per 1,000 mi)
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short block replacement. Requires engine removal, crankshaft inspection, bore scoring repair or new block, new pistons/rings, bearings, and reassembly. 30-40 labor hours for full rebuild; 20-25 hours for short block swap if available.
Estimated cost: $18,000-28,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid pooling under car after parking, Low transmission fluid warning on dash, Burnt smell near rear of car, Harsh or delayed shifts if fluid level drops significantly
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler and lines. Requires rear subframe access, cooler removal, new seals, and fluid refill with Porsche-spec ATF. 4-6 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking or thudding when shifting or accelerating hard, Excessive drivetrain movement felt through chassis, Vibration at idle in gear, Visible rubber separation or cracks on mount inspection
Fix: Replace rear transmission mount. Requires lifting car, supporting transmission, removing old mount, and installing OEM or upgraded aftermarket unit. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Fuel Filter Clogging (Early Models)
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Intermittent misfires or rough running under load, Hesitation or stumbling during acceleration, Check engine light with lean fuel trim codes, Hard starting after sitting overnight
Fix: Replace in-tank fuel filter and pump assembly. Requires fuel tank drop or access through rear trunk area depending on approach. 3-4 labor hours. More common on 2017-2019 models but can affect early 2020s.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Head Gasket Seepage (Non-Catastrophic)
Rare · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Small oil weepage visible on cylinder head seams, Slight oil smell from engine bay after heat cycles, Minor coolant loss over time (not rapid), No mixing of oil and coolant in most cases
Fix: Replace head gaskets on affected bank or both. Engine removal recommended for proper access on flat-four. New gaskets, ARP studs optional for longevity, retorque procedure. 18-24 labor hours for both banks.
Estimated cost: $5,500-8,500
Buy it if you can stomach the 5-10% engine-failure lottery or have $25k in reserve; otherwise, the 981 Cayman S with the 3.4L NA flat-six is the safer used buy.
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.