2014 Aston Martin Db9 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 905 MOT tests, the 2014 Aston Martin Db9 recorded a 94.4% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (13.1% fail rate), the 2014 Db9 comes out 7.5pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.1%) and lighting & signalling (1.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, registration plates and tread depth — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 13 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.1% | 19 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 15 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 15 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 9 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.8% | 7 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.5% | 5 |
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 | Registration plates | 8 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 5 | Washers | 5 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | 15.8% | 143 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.3% | 21 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 17 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.8% | 16 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 15 |
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 | 613 | 3.1% |
| 30-60k | 268 | 10.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 199 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 182 | 3.9% |
| 2023 | 183 | 6.6% |
| 2024 | 167 | 3.6% |
| 2025 | 174 | 6.9% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Db9
On a 2014 Db9, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.7% 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 2014 Aston Martin Db9s pass their MOT?
94.4% of the 905 2014 Aston Martin Db9 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Aston Martin Db9?
Tyres, recorded in 2.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2014 Db9 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.1% in the 0-30k band to 10.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 905 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.