1999 Aston Martin Db7 — MOT failures & pass rate
936 MOT tests on the 1999 Aston Martin Db7 are in this dataset, and 83.3% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.0% fail rate), the 1999 Db7 comes out 9.4pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.4%) and lighting & signalling (5.5%) 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 component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 29 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.8% versus 10.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 23.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.8% in 2021 to 15.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.4% | 60 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 51 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 39 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 34 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.4% | 22 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.4% | 22 |
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 | 29 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 28 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 24 |
| 4 | Washers | 23 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 20 |
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 | 23.2% | 217 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 119 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 118 |
| 4 | Tyres | 10.4% | 97 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 72 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 43 |
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 | 108 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 375 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 368 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 78 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 197 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 191 | 13.1% |
| 2023 | 180 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 189 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 179 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Db7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 6.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (6.4% 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 (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.2% 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 1999 Aston Martin Db7s pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 936 1999 Aston Martin Db7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Aston Martin Db7?
Brakes, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.5%).
Does the 1999 Db7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 936 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.