Aston Martin V8 Vantage MOT Failures

An analysis of 27,712 real DVSA MOT tests on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: DB9-era (2005–2017).

Where the Aston Martin V8 Vantage fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is seat mounting fault — this model is 15 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 27,712 MOT tests, 2.18% of all Aston Martin V8 Vantage tests recorded this as a failure.

Other notable weak points include anti-roll bar links worn (195x the fleet average), brake hoses perished or damaged (14x the fleet average), light unit fault (11x the fleet average), and abs fault (16x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Aston Martin V8 Vantage's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.

The failures span 5 categories: Seatbelts & Airbags, Suspension, Brakes, Lights & Electrics, Exhaust & Emissions. If you're inspecting a Aston Martin V8 Vantage before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.

How failures change with mileage

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.

Under 60,000 miles

At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.

For the Aston Martin V8 Vantage specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (195x the average) and abs fault (16x). brake hoses perished or damaged (14x) and seat mounting fault (13x) also appear frequently.

60,000 to 100,000 miles

This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.

For the Aston Martin V8 Vantage specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (124x the average) and seat mounting fault (13x). light unit fault (11x) and light unit fault also appear frequently.

Known issues beyond the MOT

An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Aston Martin V8 Vantage specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Suspension component corrosion and damage (DB9-era) Dangerous

MOT data shows suspension component failures at 195 times the national fleet average on 4.3L models, indicating severe premature corrosion or structural failure of suspension arms, bushes, or mounting points. Affects DB9-era.

Brake hose ferrule corrosion (DB9-era) Dangerous

MOT data shows brake hose ferrule corrosion failures at 14.3 times the fleet average across all mileage ranges including very low mileage cars. Affects DB9-era; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.

Brake pipe corrosion (DB9-era) Dangerous

MOT data shows brake pipe corrosion failures at 3.3 times the fleet average, primarily on 4.7L models between 20,000-60,000 miles. Affects DB9-era; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£600.

Shock absorber failure and leakage (DB9-era) Major

MOT data shows shock absorber failures at 15.6 times the fleet average, with failures occurring even on very low mileage examples (0-20k miles). Affects DB9-era.

For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Aston Martin V8 Vantage common problems breakdown.

What to check before buying a Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Aston Martin V8 Vantage:

Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault. Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn, abs fault. Brakes — check for brake hoses perished or damaged, brake pipes corroded. Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault.

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about suspension component corrosion and damage and brake hose ferrule corrosion. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.

Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.