2011 Aston Martin Cygnet — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Aston Martin Cygnet passed 93.0% of its 302 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (23.1% fail rate), the 2011 Cygnet comes out 16.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.3%) 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 washers, position lamp and wipers — washers alone was recorded 8 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.4% in 2021 to 6.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 13 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.3% | 10 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.3% | 4 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.0% | 3 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.0% | 3 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 8 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 7 |
| 3 | Wipers | 5 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 5 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 3 |
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 | 16.9% | 51 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 34 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 12 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 6 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 6 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.7% | 5 |
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 | 182 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 92 | 7.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 57 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 60 | 5.0% |
| 2024 | 58 | 3.5% |
| 2025 | 60 | 6.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Cygnet
On a 2011 Cygnet, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% 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 (1.3% 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
How many 2011 Aston Martin Cygnets pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 302 2011 Aston Martin Cygnet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Aston Martin Cygnet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by visibility (3.3%).
Does the 2011 Cygnet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 7.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 302 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.