Supercar presence at used Porsche money
The DB11 marked Aston Martin's rebirth as a modern GT manufacturer, available as a V12 from 2016 and a Mercedes-AMG-sourced V8 from 2017. In the UK used market, heavy depreciation from list prices exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand pounds means V8 examples now start around seventy thousand, representing extraordinary performance-per-pound. It competes with the Bentley Continental GT and Mercedes-AMG GT for used grand tourer buyers seeking presence and power.
We track 3 known issues across the Aston Martin DB11 range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Aston Martin DB11? Enter the reg to see which of our 3 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
DB11 (2016–2022) — Engine options included the 5.2L V12 Twin Turbo, 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo. Our database flags 3 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Front suspension component corrosion.
The DB11's aluminium front suspension control arms and wishbones can suffer from galvanic corrosion where they contact steel mounting points and bushes. This affects early production vehicles particularly severely, with corrosion appearing even on low-mileage cars stored in damp conditions. The aluminium-to-steel contact points lack adequate protective coating, allowing moisture ingress to create an electrolytic cell that rapidly deteriorates the aluminium structure. This is a safety-critical failure that can lead to complete suspension collapse.
Complete failure of corroded suspension components can cause loss of vehicle control and wheel detachment. This is a safety-critical defect requiring immediate attention. Replacement of affected aluminium components costs £2,000-£4,000 per side including labour. The vehicle should not be driven if significant corrosion is visible.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The turbocharger wastegate actuators on both V8 and V12 engines can develop an audible rattle, particularly noticeable during cold starts and light throttle applications. The wastegate flapper valve develops play in its mounting, causing it to vibrate against the housing when boost pressure fluctuates. This is a known characteristic of the Mercedes-AMG derived turbochargers used in both engine variants and does not typically affect performance or reliability in the short term.
While irritating, wastegate rattle does not typically lead to immediate turbocharger failure. However, continued operation may eventually cause the wastegate flapper to seize or fail completely, requiring turbocharger replacement. Replacement of a single turbocharger assembly costs £1,500-£2,500 including labour.
During a test drive, check for hesitation, lack of power or unusual whining from the turbo area. Watch for blue or white smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration. Check the oil condition and service history — turbos rely on clean oil.
The Mercedes-Benz derived COMAND infotainment system used in the DB11 can exhibit significant response delays, particularly when switching between functions or loading navigation maps. This is a software limitation rather than a hardware failure, affecting all DB11 models regardless of age or mileage. The system's processor and memory allocation are insufficient for the complex interface, causing frustrating delays during normal operation.
This is a user experience issue rather than a safety concern. The system remains functional but can be frustrating during daily use. No repair resolves this limitation as it is inherent to the system design. Software updates may provide marginal improvements but do not eliminate the underlying performance constraints.
Check all interior functions: infotainment, heater controls, electric seats, dashboard displays and warning lights. Look for worn or damaged trim pieces. On cars with known interior electrical issues, a diagnostic scan is recommended.
For the full breakdown of all 3 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Aston Martin DB11 common problems page.
Based on 14k real DVSA MOT tests, the Aston Martin DB11 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is anti-roll bar links worn at 207x the fleet average, followed by stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case o... (13x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Aston Martin DB11 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £200–£300 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include engine oil and filter (£200–£300), spark plugs (£300–£500), coolant flush (£200–£350).
See the full Aston Martin DB11 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Aston Martin DB11 has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. The 2018-2019 V8 Coupe is the sweet spot: Mercedes-AMG engine reliability, post-launch fixes applied, better residual values than the V12, and sharper front-end handling thanks to less weight over the nose. The 2019 V8 Volante adds open-top appeal. Avoid early 2016 V12 launch cars which had the most electrical issues and have depreciated the hardest.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Aston Martin DB11, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 3 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 3 known Aston Martin DB11 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.