2016 Aston Martin Db9 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Aston Martin Db9 passed 96.9% of its 865 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.6 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 10.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (1.5%) and visibility (0.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tyre pressure monitoring system, malfunction indicator lamp and tread depth — tyre pressure monitoring system alone was recorded 6 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 4.9% in 2021 to 1.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1.5% | 13 |
| 2 | Visibility | 0.7% | 6 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 6 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.6% | 5 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.2% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 6 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 6 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 4 | Wipers | 4 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 3 |
| 6 | Washers | 2 |
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 | 10.9% | 94 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.4% | 21 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.5% | 13 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 8 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.5% | 4 |
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 | 770 | 2.9% |
| 30-60k | 94 | 5.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 184 | 4.9% |
| 2022 | 178 | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 176 | 2.8% |
| 2024 | 164 | 3.0% |
| 2025 | 163 | 1.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Db9
On a 2016 Db9, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 1.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (1.5% 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.
- Visibility (0.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (0.7% 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 2016 Aston Martin Db9s pass their MOT?
96.9% of the 865 2016 Aston Martin Db9 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Aston Martin Db9?
Tyres, recorded in 1.5% of tests, followed by visibility (0.7%).
Does the 2016 Db9 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.9% in the 0-30k band to 5.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 865 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.