Sports car and convertible · 1996–2020 cars
Aston Martin V8 Vantage reliability
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage fails 8.8% of first MOT tests, 70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 12,442 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Aston Martin V8 Vantage before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 8.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 70% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 12,442
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 2,700
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Aston Martin V8 Vantage ages
Each point is the share of Aston Martin V8 Vantages of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Aston Martin V8 Vantage | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 12.4% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 8.3% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 8.4% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 7.3% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 8.2% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 7.5% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 9.7% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 8.6% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 12.4% | 43.5% |
By year
The best and worst Aston Martin V8 Vantage years
2009 cars come out best and 2006 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 535 | 10.7% | 52% fewer fails | 30,231 |
| 2011 | 671 | 7.5% | 68% fewer fails | 30,793 |
| 2010 | 872 | 6.3% | 75% fewer fails | 32,613 |
| 2009 V8 Vantage | 1,512 | 5.6% | 79% fewer fails | 35,020 |
| 2008 V8 Vantage | 1,906 | 9% | 69% fewer fails | 39,037 |
| 2007 V8 Vantage | 2,890 | 8.9% | 71% fewer fails | 42,459 |
| 2006 V8 Vantage | 3,594 | 10.3% | 68% fewer fails | 46,655 |
| 2005 | 260 | 12.3% | 66% fewer fails | 59,559 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics3.4%71% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.7%69% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.6%46% below avg
- Brakes1.5%78% below avg
- Tyres1.3%72% below avg
- Suspension1.1%88% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.4%26% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.2%95% below avg
- Steering0.2%84% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 1.02% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 2
Coil spring fractured or broken 0.74% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.71% 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 low 0.66% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 5
Position lamp not working 0.59% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 6
Windscreen washers not working 0.43% of tests
Without working washers the windscreen cannot be cleaned while driving, which is a safety risk in dirty weather.
- 7
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.41% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 8
Stop lamp not working 0.37% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Aston Martin V8 Vantage's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.07%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit4.44%
- Brake pads wearing thin2.87%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy1.78%
- Brake disc pitted or scored1.77%
- Seat belt webbing slightly frayed1.56%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Aston Martin V8 Vantage
- 1
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 2
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 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 low
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 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 typical Aston Martin V8 Vantage covers about 2,700 miles a year. A big gap or 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
Silver, Black, Blue, Grey, Red
Average engine size: 4.5 litres.
Compare
How the Aston Martin V8 Vantage compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan GT-R | 5.6% | 76% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Aston Martin V8 Vantage | 8.8% | 70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Aston Martin DB11 | 3.9% | 66% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Roadster | 19.6% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Convertible | 28.1% | 14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mazda RX-8 | 31.9% | 13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Cascada | 22.6% | 4% 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 V8 Vantage questions, answered
Is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage reliable?
On MOT results, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is better than average: it fails 8.8% of first MOT tests, 70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 5 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Aston Martin V8 Vantage MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage are engine warning light inoperative or lit (1.02% of tests), coil spring fractured or broken (0.74% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (0.71% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 3.4% of its tests.
Which Aston Martin V8 Vantage year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (79% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2006 cars do worst (68% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Aston Martin V8 Vantage do a year?
A typical Aston Martin V8 Vantage covers about 2,700 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Aston Martin V8 Vantage 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.
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