2017 Aston Martin Db11 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Aston Martin Db11 passed 95.4% of its 3,791 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.1 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 9.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.0%) and tyres (1.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and registration plates — headlamp aim alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 0.0% once past 60-90k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 5.9% in 2021 to 3.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 76 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.6% | 60 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.7% | 25 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 18 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.4% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 2 | Washers | 27 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 26 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 5 | Switch | 19 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 18 |
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 | 14.7% | 557 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 110 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.9% | 72 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 34 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 29 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 12 |
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 | 3,177 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 571 | 5.6% |
| 60-90k | 34 | 0.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 797 | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 769 | 3.8% |
| 2023 | 768 | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 740 | 5.1% |
| 2025 | 717 | 3.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Db11
On a 2017 Db11, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.6% 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.
- Visibility (0.7% 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 2017 Aston Martin Db11s pass their MOT?
95.4% of the 3,791 2017 Aston Martin Db11 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Aston Martin Db11?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.0% of tests, followed by tyres (1.6%).
Does the 2017 Db11 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 0.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,791 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.