2011 Aston Martin Dbs — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 753 MOT tests, the 2011 Aston Martin Dbs recorded a 93.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.1% fail rate), the 2011 Dbs comes out 16.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.1% of tests against 0.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and registration plates — position lamp alone was recorded 25 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 8.3% in 2021 to 5.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 38 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 6 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 6 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 5 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.7% | 5 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.5% | 4 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 9 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 4 |
| 6 | Driver's seat | 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 | 17.3% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 30 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.4% | 18 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 15 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 11 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.2% | 9 |
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 | 517 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 207 | 7.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157 | 8.3% |
| 2022 | 156 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 156 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 136 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | 148 | 5.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Dbs
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (0.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Visibility (0.8% 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.
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 2011 Aston Martin Dbss pass their MOT?
93.4% of the 753 2011 Aston Martin Dbs MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Aston Martin Dbs?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (0.8%).
Does the 2011 Dbs get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 7.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 753 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.