2015 Aston Martin Db9 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Aston Martin Db9 passed 95.7% of its 1,065 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.5 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (1.6%) and emissions & environmental (1.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, tread depth and tyre pressure monitoring system — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 12 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1.6% | 17 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 14 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 11 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 9 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 7 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 3 |
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 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 3 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 6 |
| 4 | Washers | 5 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
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 | 14.3% | 152 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.4% | 36 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.8% | 19 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.7% | 18 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 9 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 7 |
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 | 844 | 3.9% |
| 30-60k | 203 | 5.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 228 | 3.5% |
| 2022 | 220 | 6.4% |
| 2023 | 210 | 4.3% |
| 2024 | 204 | 4.4% |
| 2025 | 203 | 3.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Db9
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 1.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (1.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (1.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2015 Aston Martin Db9s pass their MOT?
95.7% of the 1,065 2015 Aston Martin Db9 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Aston Martin Db9?
Tyres, recorded in 1.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.3%).
Does the 2015 Db9 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.9% in the 0-30k band to 5.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,065 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.