Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 982

A small number of 4.0 engines (primarily early 2021 builds from August 2020 to January 2021) suffered oil pump failures or connecting rod defects that led to complete engine destruction. Symptoms include sudden loss of power, knocking, and metal fragments in the oil. Porsche issued a recall covering 190 vehicles for connecting rods and conducted a stop-sale. Additionally, some owners have reported VarioCam actuator bolt loosening leading to internal damage. Outside the recalled batch, documented failures are extremely rare. A replacement engine costs approximately €20,000-25,000 from Porsche. Most failures occurred at very low mileage (under 15,000 km). Cars built after early 2021 appear unaffected.

The GPF (fitted to all European 718 models from 2019 onward) can fail prematurely, particularly on cars used predominantly for short urban trips that never allow regeneration. The GPF and catalytic converter form an integrated unit, making replacement expensive. At a Porsche dealer, expect €5,000-7,500 for parts and labor. The Porsche extended warranty explicitly excludes all filters as wear items, leaving owners to cover the full cost. Using incorrect oil specification (A40 instead of the required C40) can accelerate degradation. Typical failure window is 25,000-60,000 km on affected vehicles. Regular drives of 30+ minutes at varied engine speeds help prevent buildup.

The water pump on the 982 platform is a known weak point across all engine variants. The pump seal begins to weep coolant, visible as residue on undertrays or a slowly dropping coolant level. Some owners report the weep hole emitting coolant at certain temperatures as the seal wears. Typical failure window is 40,000-80,000 km. Many Porsche specialists recommend proactive replacement around 50,000 km. At a Porsche dealer, expect €1,500-2,000 including thermostat and coolant flush. Independent specialists charge €1,200-1,500. The 982 is more labor-intensive than the 981 due to component accessibility.

Cars equipped with Sport Chrono Package use Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounts (PADM) which stiffen electronically during spirited driving. These are a known failure point across multiple Porsche models (981, 991, 718). When they fail, a PADM warning appears and the dynamic stiffening function is lost. The car remains fully drivable. Repair costs approximately €1,500-2,000 per side at an independent specialist, or €2,500-3,000 at a Porsche dealer for both sides. Parts alone cost approximately €1,500 per mount at retail. Not all GTS 4.0 cars have Sport Chrono fitted. Some specialists recommend solid or semi-solid aftermarket mounts for cars used outside warranty.

Some 982 models develop a slow oil seep at the rear main seal, visible as oil haze on undertrays or occasional drops forming after the car sits overnight. The seal itself is inexpensive but labor is substantial because the transmission must be removed. This issue appears less prevalent on the 4.0 flat-six than on the earlier four-cylinder engines but is still occasionally reported on forum threads. Independent specialists charge €1,500-2,000; Porsche dealers quote €2,000-2,500.

Some 718 models experience cracking of the exhaust header pipe leading to the catalytic converter. This manifests initially as a metallic rattle or ticking, especially during cold starts. The 4.0 GTS has a separate exhaust tract per bank with catalytic converters integrated into the manifold. If cracking progresses, it can lead to an exhaust leak or failed emissions test. Repair typically requires manifold replacement at €2,000-4,000 depending on which bank is affected and whether the integrated catalyst assembly needs replacing.