1995 Aston Martin Db7 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 772 MOT tests, the 1995 Aston Martin Db7 recorded an 86.7% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (24.2% fail rate), the 1995 Db7 comes out 10.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.9%) and brakes (5.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, flexible brake hoses and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 38 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.5% versus 13.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 53 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.2% | 40 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 28 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.3% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 16 |
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 | 38 |
| 2 | Flexible brake hoses | 20 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 20 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 5 | Washers | 17 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 13 |
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 | 28.0% | 216 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 109 |
| 3 | Tyres | 11.3% | 87 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 69 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 50 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.2% | 40 |
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 | 52 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 191 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 329 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 133 | 15.8% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 24.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 165 | 14.5% |
| 2022 | 170 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 157 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 145 | 14.5% |
| 2025 | 135 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Db7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.2% 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.
- Suspension (4.5% 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
How many 1995 Aston Martin Db7s pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 772 1995 Aston Martin Db7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Aston Martin Db7?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.2%).
Does the 1995 Db7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 772 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.