MOT pass rates / Aston Martin

Aston Martin V8 Vantage MOT pass rate and common failures

Of 2,608 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 91.1% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — above the 71.2% UK average.

Pass rate by vehicle age

Common initial failure categories

These are the items that most often caused a Aston Martin V8 Vantage to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.

• Exhaust Emissions — 2% of tests. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
• Headlamp Aim — 1.5% of tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
• Springs — 0.9% of tests. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
• Position Lamps — 0.8% of tests. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
• Washers — 0.8% of tests. Empty or blocked washers. Trivial, but again a sign of the last owner's care.
• Condition — 0.8% of tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.

What this does and does not tell you

A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.

Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.

Before you buy

• Exhaust Emissions — 2% of tests in 2024. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
• Headlamp Aim — 1.5% of tests in 2024. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
• Springs — 0.9% of tests in 2024. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
• Position Lamps — 0.8% of tests in 2024. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
• Check the actual V8 Vantage — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.

Other Aston Martin models

• Aston Martin Vantage — 93.2% pass
• Aston Martin DB9 — 90.4% pass
• Aston Martin Db11 — 95.1% pass
• Aston Martin DB7 — 85.9% pass
• Aston Martin DBS — 94.6% pass
• Aston Martin Vanquish — 93.2% pass

See every Aston Martin model MOT pass rate

Common questions

What is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage MOT pass rate?

91.1% of 2,608 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average.

Why does the V8 Vantage fail its MOT?

The most common initial failure categories are exhaust emissions (2% of tests), headlamp aim (1.5% of tests), springs (0.9% of tests), position lamps (0.8% of tests).

Does this tell me whether one particular V8 Vantage is a good buy?

No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.

Methodology and limitations

MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.

Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.

Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.