2009 Aston Martin Dbs — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Aston Martin Dbs passed 93.3% of its 1,074 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 18.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.1%) and tyres (1.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and registration plates — position lamp alone was recorded 20 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.4% versus 5.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 11.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 44 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.2% | 13 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.0% | 11 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 10 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.7% | 8 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 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 | Position lamp | 20 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 13 |
| 4 | Wipers | 10 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 7 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 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 | 11.3% | 121 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 43 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.5% | 37 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 17 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 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 | 586 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 418 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 67 | 10.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 224 | 6.3% |
| 2022 | 234 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 199 | 4.0% |
| 2024 | 206 | 6.8% |
| 2025 | 211 | 6.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Dbs
On a 2009 Dbs, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.2% 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.
- Brakes (1.0% 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 2009 Aston Martin Dbss pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 1,074 2009 Aston Martin Dbs MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Aston Martin Dbs?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by tyres (1.2%).
Does the 2009 Dbs get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 10.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,074 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.