What goes wrong, what it costs, and what to check before you buy a used Aston Martin Vanquish.
The Aston Martin Vanquish occupies a niche position on the UK market.
We track 6 known issues across the Aston Martin Vanquish range, with 1 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Aston Martin Vanquish? Enter the reg to see which of our 6 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
MkI (2001–2007) — Engine options included the 6.0 V12. We track 6 known issues on this generation, with 1 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Brake hose and line corrosion (£400–£800 to address).
MkII (2013–2018) — Engine options included the 6.0 V12. We track 6 known issues on this generation, with 1 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Brake hose and line corrosion (£400–£800 to address).
MkIII (2019–2021) — Engine options included the 6.0 V12. We track 6 known issues on this generation, with 1 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Brake hose and line corrosion (£400–£800 to address).
MOT data shows brake line corrosion occurring at 3.8 times the fleet average, with the trend worsening. This affects both rigid brake pipes and flexible hoses, with ferrule corrosion being particularly problematic. The Vanquish's aluminium construction may create galvanic corrosion where steel brake components connect. The high-performance braking system operates at elevated pressures, making any line weakness potentially dangerous.
Corroded brake lines can burst under pressure, causing complete brake failure without warning. This creates an immediate safety risk. Line replacement requires specialist fitting and system bleeding. Full brake line renewal typically costs £800-1,500 including labour.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
Ball joint and suspension arm dust covers on the Vanquish deteriorate significantly faster than the fleet average, with MOT data showing failure rates 16.2 times higher than typical cars in the 20-40k mile range. These rubber boots protect the ball joints from dirt and water ingress. The deterioration appears linked to the low-profile suspension design and aggressive wheel alignment settings that stress the joints. Failure to replace torn covers leads to accelerated joint wear and expensive suspension component replacement.
Torn dust covers allow water and grit to contaminate the ball joints, causing accelerated wear and play. Failed ball joints create dangerous steering imprecision and can separate completely. Joint replacement costs £200-400 per corner compared to £30-50 for dust cover renewal.
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 steering rack gaiter (protective rubber boot covering the steering rack) fails at 14.8 times the fleet average rate, particularly on low-mileage cars under 20,000 miles. This premature failure suggests a design or material issue rather than normal wear. The gaiter protects the steering rack from road dirt and moisture. Aston Martin uses a complex variable-ratio steering system that may stress the gaiter during full lock manoeuvres.
Failed gaiters allow dirt and water into the steering rack, causing internal wear and eventual power steering failure. Rack replacement costs £2,000-3,000 compared to £100-200 for gaiter renewal. Steering precision deteriorates before complete failure.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
Parking brake efficiency drops below MOT requirements at 6 times the fleet average rate in the 20-40k mile range. The Vanquish uses a conventional handbrake system with cables and rear brake integration. Cable stretch, adjuster wear, and rear brake pad contamination from infrequent use contribute to reduced holding force. The heavy weight of the car requires optimal parking brake adjustment to pass MOT efficiency tests.
Insufficient handbrake efficiency causes MOT failure and creates a safety risk on slopes. Poor adjustment accelerates cable wear and may damage the rear brake system. Cable replacement and adjustment typically costs £200-400.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
The touchscreen infotainment system across all Vanquish generations suffers from software instability, causing screen freezes, lag, and unresponsive controls. This affects navigation, audio, and vehicle settings access. The system complexity and integration with vehicle functions makes complete replacement impractical. Software updates from Aston Martin may improve reliability but do not eliminate all glitches.
System freezes can disable navigation, audio, and climate control interfaces during driving. Complete lockup may require ignition cycling to restore function. Replacement infotainment units cost £3,000-5,000 but often develop the same issues. Most problems are software-related rather than hardware failures.
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 6 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Aston Martin Vanquish common problems page.
Based on 10k real DVSA MOT tests, the Aston Martin Vanquish fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is suspension ball joints worn at 192x the fleet average, followed by anti-roll bar links worn (66x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Aston Martin Vanquish MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 12k 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 (£400–£600), coolant flush (£200–£350).
See the full Aston Martin Vanquish service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Aston Martin Vanquish is a reasonable used buy provided you check for the issues outlined above. None of the problems we track are insurmountable, but they do reward buyers who inspect thoroughly and verify the service history before committing.
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 Vanquish, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 6 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 6 known Aston Martin Vanquish issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.