2004 Aston Martin Db7 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 575 MOT tests, the 2004 Aston Martin Db7 recorded a 92.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Db7 comes out 19.7pp better. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (2.8%) and lighting & signalling (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, catalyst emissions and wipers — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.6% once past 60-90k — 4.5× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 9.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 16 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 15 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 14 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 11 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.0% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 3 | Wipers | 9 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 5 | Washers | 5 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 5 |
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 | 9.2% | 53 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 40 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 39 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 38 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 14 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 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 | 265 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 254 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 43 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 3.5% |
| 2022 | 124 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 112 | 8.0% |
| 2024 | 111 | 8.1% |
| 2025 | 114 | 10.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Db7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 2.8% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (2.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.4% 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.
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 2004 Aston Martin Db7s pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 575 2004 Aston Martin Db7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Aston Martin Db7?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 2.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.6%).
Does the 2004 Db7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.2% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 575 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.