Aston Martin Cygnet MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 7 model years and 703 tests, the Aston Martin Cygnet passes its MOT 92.2% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (22.0% fail rate), the Cygnet comes out 14.1pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.8%) and visibility (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and washers — position lamp alone was recorded 20 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.5% versus 6.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.7% in 2021 to 7.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cygnet model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 32 | 90.6% | 9.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 302 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 253 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 56 | 94.6% | 5.4% | Visibility |
| 2014 | 59 | 94.9% | 5.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 34 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.3% | 23 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.7% | 12 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 3 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 3 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.4% | 3 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 2 |
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 | 20 |
| 2 | Wipers | 17 |
| 3 | Washers | 14 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 5 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 5 |
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 | 15.7% | 110 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 70 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.7% | 19 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 17 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 17 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 14 |
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 | 470 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 183 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 38 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157 | 12.7% |
| 2022 | 133 | 7.5% |
| 2023 | 143 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 135 | 4.4% |
| 2025 | 135 | 7.4% |
What to check before buying a Aston Martin Cygnet
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.3% 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.
- Tyres (1.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Aston Martin Cygnet?
92.2% of the 703 Aston Martin Cygnet MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.8% fail rate, across model years 2010–2016.
What does the Aston Martin Cygnet most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.8% of tests, then visibility (3.3%).
How much does mileage affect Cygnet MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 10.5% for 60-90k, a 4.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 703 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.