Porsche Cayman VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Porsche Cayman you are looking at. Then check its model year against 17 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefixWP0

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Porsche Cayman

About the Porsche Cayman

Porsche has sold the Cayman in the US since the 2006 model year, and there have been three generations. Gen 987 first (2006–2012), then Gen 981 (2012–2016), and the 718 (982) took over for 2016–2025. Across those years NHTSA lists 17 vehicle recall campaigns and 60 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the Gen 987. Its 2006 and 2010 model years alone account for 17 of them, with owners bringing up engine and cooling most often and the powertrain after that. EPA rates the Gen 987 at 21–24 mpg combined, while the 718 (982) gets 19–25 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2006–2025

GenerationsGen 987 · Gen 981 · 718 (982)

NHTSA recall campaigns17

Owner complaints60 at NHTSA

Porsche Cayman photographed at a US vehicle auction — Auction lot photo, for illustration

Generations

Porsche Cayman generations

Three generations since the 2006 model year. The Gen 987 (2006–2012) has the most owner complaints, the 718 (982) (2016–2025) the most recall campaigns (11).

3 / 3

718 (982)

2016–20253rd generation

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20062010201520202025

2016–2025· Generation 3 of 3

718 (982) · 3rd generation

EPA classTwo Seaters

EPA combined mpg19–25

NHTSA recalls11

Engines (EPA)

2.7 L 6-cyl · 2016
3.4 L 6-cyl · 2016
3.8 L 6-cyl · 2016
2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2017–2025
2.5 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2017–2025
4.0 L 6-cyl · 2020–2022, 2024–2025
4.0 L 6-cyl (turbo) · 2023

Drive & transmission (EPA)

RWD
manual (2016–2025), automated manual/dual-clutch (2016–2025)

Known issues to check

Engine and cooling (7)Seat belts (5)Air bags (3)5 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 19 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · 718 (982)WP0AA2A8?GK······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2016 Porsche Cayman, built in Osnabruek, Germany

Check a Cayman VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Cayman model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 17 campaigns on file for Cayman model years 2006–2025, and the 2014 shows up in more of them than any other year (5), ahead of the 2017 (4). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

Pick a row

What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Transport Canada recalls for these model years were checked against this list; each one matches an NHTSA campaign shown here. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Porsche Cayman owners report

NHTSA data

Between them, the 2006 and 2014 hold 19 of the 60 complaints, or 32%. Tap any bar or generation.

60NHTSA complaints, 2006–2025

2mention a crash

2mention a fire

4injuries reported

Owner complaints by model year718 (982): 19 complaints · most for the 2016 (7)

Top complaint areas · 718 (982)

Mentions in 19 complaints, 2016–2025.

Engine and cooling7

Seat belts5

Air bags3

Powertrain (transmission, driveline)3

Electrical system2

Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors)2

Crashes 0Fires 1Injuries 2

2016–2025 (718 (982))

NHTSA data summary

The 2016 stands out. On its own it has 7 of the 718 (982)’s 19 complaints (37%), and owners across the generation name engine and cooling most often (7 mentions), then seat belts (5).

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner complaints · by model year

Cayman complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Cayman version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

60complaints, 2006–2025

2mention a crash

2mention a fire

4injuries reported

Most complaints: 2006 (12), 2014 (7), 2016 (7)

2006 · 12 complaints

Crashes 2 · fires 0 · injuries 1

Engine and engine cooling7

Tires2

Engine1

Power train1

Unknown or other1

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Cayman CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 112 Cayman versions for model years 2006–2025. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 352 g/mi (2016). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Gen 9872006–2011

21–24 mpg · CO₂ 370–423 g/mi

Gen 9812012–2015

21–25 mpg · CO₂ 352–423 g/mi

718 (982)2016–2025

19–25 mpg · CO₂ 352–473 g/mi

Model year2025

24combined MPG

375CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)

$3,400EPA yearly fuel cost

1/10Smog rating

1 = worst · 10 = cleanest

5/10Greenhouse gas rating

California LEV-III LEV160 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 160Emission standard

Cleanest gas version of 2025: 718 Cayman · Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo — 24 MPG · 375 g/mi

Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year

Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Cayman vs BMW Z4 vs Jaguar F-Type

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2012–2016. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the Cayman, while the BMW Z4 and Jaguar F-Type have 4 each. Pick a range to compare.

Porsche Cayman718 (982)

Model years 2016–2025

NHTSA recall campaigns: 11
NHTSA owner complaints: 19
EPA combined mpg: 19–25
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0, 2.5 L · 6-cyl 2.7–4.0 L
Also listed: turbo
Drive (EPA): RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Engine and cooling 7
Seat belts 5
Air bags 3

BMW Z4

Model years 2016–2025

NHTSA recall campaigns: 13
NHTSA owner complaints: 17
EPA combined mpg: 19–28
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed: turbo
Drive (EPA): RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Engine and cooling 6
Electrical system 5
Steering 3

Jaguar F-Type

Model years 2016–2025

NHTSA recall campaigns: 11
NHTSA owner complaints: 28
EPA combined mpg: 18–26
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L · 8-cyl 5.0 L
Also listed: supercharged, turbo
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 8
Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 7
Engine and cooling 7

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Porsche Cayman VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Cayman

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Blue Porsche Cayman (fourth generation) coupe, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

Cayman carries its VIN at the lower driver's side windshield. Door jamb sticker and door sill label are secondary references. Like the Boxster it shares a platform with, the mid-engine firewall stamp is at the rear engine access area rather than a conventional front firewall. On Cayman GT4 and GT4 RS variants, verify the firewall stamp location matches the expected position for the chassis generation, especially after track use. The 718 (982) generation starts with the 2016 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (G for 2016) shows which side of that line a car falls on.

Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge

The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.

FAQ

Common Porsche Cayman VIN questions

Which Porsche Cayman model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2006 leads with 12, ahead of the 2014 (7) and 2016 (7). Those first two alone make up 32% of the 60 Cayman complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Porsche Cayman had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 17 vehicle campaigns for model years 2006–2025, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, 718 (982) leads with 11. Then come the Gen 981 (7) and Gen 987 (1), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Porsche Cayman recalls are high risk?

17V-134 covers an air bag inflator module and how it deploys. NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 17V-054, 19V-113 and 21V-200. Do-not-drive advisories came with 24V-809. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which Cayman generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the Gen 987 is 2006–2012 and the Gen 981 2012–2016. 718 (982) spans 2016–2025. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (G is 2016).

What fuel economy does the Porsche Cayman get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2016–2025 718 (982) at 19–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 21–24 mpg for the 2006–2012 Gen 987 (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Porsche Cayman compare with the BMW Z4 and Jaguar F-Type on recalls?

For 2016–2025 models the Cayman has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns. The BMW Z4 has 13, the Jaguar F-Type 11. Complaints run 19, 17 and 28 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

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About the Porsche Cayman

Porsche Cayman generations