2003 Aston Martin Db7 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Aston Martin Db7 passed 89.4% of its 1,200 recorded MOT tests. That is 17.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.1%) and brakes (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Db7 fails 8.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 10.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.8% in 2021 to 10.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 37 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.1% | 37 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 32 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 26 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 23 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.3% | 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 | 26 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 21 |
| 4 | Wipers | 19 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 15 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 14 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.6% | 127 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 118 |
| 3 | Tyres | 9.7% | 116 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 90 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 30 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 26 |
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 | 407 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 617 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 159 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 249 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 250 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 232 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 243 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 226 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Db7
On a 2003 Db7, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.1% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2003 Aston Martin Db7s pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 1,200 2003 Aston Martin Db7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Aston Martin Db7?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.1% of tests, followed by brakes (3.1%).
Does the 2003 Db7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,200 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.