Sports car and convertible · 1996–2007 cars
Aston Martin DB7 reliability
The Aston Martin DB7 fails 14.1% of first MOT tests, 56% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 5,836 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Aston Martin DB7 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 14.1%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 56% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 5,836
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Aston Martin DB7 ages
Each point is the share of Aston Martin DB7s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Aston Martin DB7 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 12.9% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 10.7% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 12.7% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 14% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 15.7% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 14.5% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 15.2% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 13.6% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Aston Martin DB7 years
2001 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 403 | 9.7% | 66% fewer fails | 35,785 |
| 2003 | 808 | 12% | 61% fewer fails | 38,240 |
| 2002 | 887 | 13.6% | 58% fewer fails | 44,752 |
| 2001 DB7 | 1,070 | 14% | 57% fewer fails | 46,910 |
| 2000 DB7 | 1,018 | 15.5% | 51% fewer fails | 49,671 |
| 1999 | 701 | 18.7% | 42% fewer fails | 57,007 |
| 1998 | 608 | 13.2% | 58% fewer fails | 60,228 |
| 1997 | 273 | 11% | 66% fewer fails | 64,844 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Aston Martin DB7
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Brakes4.5%50% below avg
- Lights and electrics3.9%71% below avg
- Suspension2.8%70% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.5%61% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.1%56% below avg
- Tyres1.7%58% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure1.7%74% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.7%24% below avg
- Steering0.9%52% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 1.17% of tests
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
- 2
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 1.17% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.99% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
Headlamp aim set too high 0.75% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 5
Parking brake inoperative on one side 0.69% of tests
The parking brake does not work on one side, so the car may not hold on a slope and needs repair.
- 6
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 0.63% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 7
Parking brake efficiency under half required 0.62% of tests
The parking brake is well below required strength and is unlikely to hold the car on a slope.
- 8
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 0.57% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Aston Martin DB7's MOT certificate most often.
- Engine oil leak, not excessive5.21%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.68%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion3.67%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear3.38%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit3.02%
- Wheel bearing slight play2.59%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Aston Martin DB7
- 1
Airbag warning lamp shows fault
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
- 2
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
Headlamp aim set too high
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol99.9%
- Diesel0.1%
Most common colours
Blue, Silver, Green, Black, Grey
Average engine size: 5.3 litres.
Compare
How the Aston Martin DB7 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lamborghini Huracan | 2.6% | 78% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Ferrari 458 | 3.9% | 74% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Aston Martin DBS | 4.6% | 71% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| TVR Chimaera | 13.1% | 58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Aston Martin DB7 | 14.1% | 56% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz GT | 5.8% | 55% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Smart Roadster | 28.9% | 26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Aston Martin models.
Questions
Aston Martin DB7 questions, answered
Is the Aston Martin DB7 reliable?
On MOT results, the Aston Martin DB7 is better than average: it fails 14.1% of first MOT tests, 56% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 17 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Aston Martin DB7 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Aston Martin DB7 are airbag warning lamp shows fault (1.17% of tests), parking brake efficiency below minimum (1.17% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (0.99% of tests). By area, brakes fails 4.5% of its tests.
Which Aston Martin DB7 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2001 cars do best (57% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Aston Martin DB7 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
Found a Aston Martin DB7? Check it free.
MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.