Aston Martin Db7 MOT pass rate & common failures
10,567 MOT tests on the Aston Martin Db7 (1994–2022) give it an 88.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 14.3pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
Best and worst Db7 years
Ranked across Db7 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2003 (89.4% pass rate); the weakest is 2000 (86.4%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
No single area dominates — brakes (4.4%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 245 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.1% in the 0-30k band and 39.0% in the 150k+ band, a 30.9-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 16.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Db7 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 772 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 719 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 949 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 839 | 88.0% | 12.0% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 936 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 1,556 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Brakes |
| 2001 | 1,593 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 1,347 | 89.2% | 10.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 1,200 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 575 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Emissions & environmental |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.4% | 465 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 414 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.1% | 329 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 270 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 223 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.8% | 191 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 135 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 127 |
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 | 245 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 212 |
| 3 | Wipers | 166 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 163 |
| 5 | Washers | 143 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 139 |
| 7 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 138 |
| 8 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 110 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.3% | 1,722 |
| 2 | Tyres | 10.4% | 1,100 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 1,053 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 917 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 399 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 324 |
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 | 2,081 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,595 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,960 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 718 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 153 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 39.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,237 | 12.1% |
| 2022 | 2,205 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 2,140 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 2,024 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 1,961 | 11.7% |
What to check before buying a Aston Martin Db7
- Brakes (4.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 Db7?
88.0% of the 10,567 Aston Martin Db7 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.0% fail rate, across model years 1994–2022.
What does the Aston Martin Db7 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 4.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Which Db7 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2003 has the best pass rate at 89.4% and 2000 the weakest at 86.4%, from 1,200 and 1,556 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Db7 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 39.0% for 150k+, a 30.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,567 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.