2013 Aston Martin Db9 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Aston Martin Db9 passed 94.0% of its 880 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (14.6% fail rate), the 2013 Db9 comes out 8.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.2%) and emissions & environmental (1.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, headlamp aim and washers — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 13 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.7% 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 | 2.2% | 19 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 14 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 12 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.4% | 12 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 11 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 4 |
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 | 13 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 3 | Washers | 6 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 5 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 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 | 14.7% | 129 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 59 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.9% | 26 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.8% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 20 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 8 |
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 | 553 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 300 | 7.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 179 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 179 | 5.6% |
| 2023 | 176 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 175 | 6.9% |
| 2025 | 171 | 5.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Db9
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 2.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (1.4% 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 2013 Aston Martin Db9s pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 880 2013 Aston Martin Db9 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Aston Martin Db9?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.6%).
Does the 2013 Db9 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 7.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 880 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.