Sports car and convertible · 1997–2021 cars
Aston Martin Vantage reliability
The Aston Martin Vantage fails 6% of first MOT tests, 65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 18,812 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Aston Martin Vantage before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 6%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 65% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 18,812
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 2,800
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Aston Martin Vantage ages
Each point is the share of Aston Martin Vantages of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Aston Martin Vantage | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 4.6% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 5% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 6.4% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 3.9% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 6.1% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 6.8% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 7.8% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 6.6% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 5% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 10.2% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 7.2% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 12.5% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 8.9% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 5.5% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 4.6% | 43.5% |
By year
The best and worst Aston Martin Vantage years
2006 cars come out best and 2018 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 278 | 1.4% | 83% fewer fails | 11,982 |
| 2020 | 649 | 4.3% | 51% fewer fails | 13,072 |
| 2019 Vantage | 2,861 | 3.9% | 61% fewer fails | 14,944 |
| 2018 Vantage | 2,056 | 5.6% | 47% fewer fails | 14,210 |
| 2017 Vantage | 1,319 | 5.3% | 53% fewer fails | 11,665 |
| 2016 Vantage | 1,678 | 5% | 61% fewer fails | 16,895 |
| 2015 Vantage | 1,554 | 4.6% | 69% fewer fails | 20,262 |
| 2014 Vantage | 1,491 | 7.1% | 57% fewer fails | 23,142 |
| 2013 Vantage | 1,447 | 7.7% | 58% fewer fails | 23,978 |
| 2012 | 871 | 7% | 65% fewer fails | 27,992 |
| 2011 | 452 | 6.9% | 70% fewer fails | 28,676 |
| 2010 | 553 | 11% | 53% fewer fails | 27,771 |
| 2009 | 606 | 10.2% | 62% fewer fails | 33,148 |
| 2008 | 675 | 8.3% | 73% fewer fails | 43,763 |
| 2007 | 852 | 7.7% | 75% fewer fails | 43,255 |
| 2006 Vantage | 1,270 | 6.5% | 80% fewer fails | 49,652 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Aston Martin Vantage
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics2.1%60% below avg
- Tyres1.2%69% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.1%69% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.1%17% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.6%175% above avg
- Brakes0.5%84% below avg
- Suspension0.3%94% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.2%84% below avg
- Steering0.1%84% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 0.56% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 2
Headlamp aim set too high 0.46% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 3
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.45% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.36% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Number plate does not meet standards 0.32% of tests
The plate does not meet legal specifications, so it must be replaced with a compliant one before the car is driven.
- 6
Headlamp aim set too low 0.3% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 7
Position lamp not working 0.24% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 8
Windscreen washers not working 0.23% of tests
Without working washers the windscreen cannot be cleaned while driving, which is a safety risk in dirty weather.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Aston Martin Vantage's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking3.72%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit3.14%
- Brake pads wearing thin1.46%
- Brake disc pitted or scored0.95%
- Seat belt webbing slightly frayed0.95%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy0.75%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Aston Martin 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
Headlamp aim set too high
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 3
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 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 Vantage covers about 2,800 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
- Petrol100%
- Diesel0%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Blue, Grey, Red
Average engine size: 4.7 litres.
Compare
How the Aston Martin Vantage compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Martin DB9 | 9% | 67% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Aston Martin Vantage | 6% | 65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi R8 | 7.7% | 63% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Honda S2000 | 18.5% | 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lotus Elise | 14.2% | 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan 350 Z | 26.1% | 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MGF | 34.1% | about average for its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Aston Martin models.
Questions
Aston Martin Vantage questions, answered
Is the Aston Martin Vantage reliable?
On MOT results, the Aston Martin Vantage is better than average: it fails 6% of first MOT tests, 65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 9 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Aston Martin Vantage MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Aston Martin Vantage are engine warning light inoperative or lit (0.56% of tests), headlamp aim set too high (0.46% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (0.45% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 2.1% of its tests.
Which Aston Martin Vantage year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2006 cars do best (80% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2018 cars do worst (47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Aston Martin Vantage do a year?
A typical Aston Martin Vantage covers about 2,800 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 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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