2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 916 MOT tests analysed for the 2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (78.1%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 46 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 17 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.4% | 13 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.2% | 11 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.2% | 11 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 23 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 3 | Washers | 10 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 10 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 12.2% | 112 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 80 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.5% | 23 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 18 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 18 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 431 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 447 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 33 | 9.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 200 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 178 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 178 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 182 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 178 | 6.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 V8 Vantage
Before buying a 2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 5.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (1.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantages pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 916 2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.9%).
Does the 2011 V8 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 9.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 916 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.