2012 Aston Martin Dbs — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Aston Martin Dbs passed 92.4% of its 629 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.6% of the time, so this is 14.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.8%) and tyres (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and tyre pressure monitoring system — headlamp aim alone was recorded 21 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.4% in 2021 to 3.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 30 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.0% | 19 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 10 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 6 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 3 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 10 |
| 3 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 9 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Headlamp cleaning device | 6 |
| 6 | Wipers | 6 |
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 | 15.7% | 99 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 36 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.8% | 24 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 12 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 12 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.3% | 8 |
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 | 452 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 164 | 11.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 134 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 133 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 131 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 115 | 5.2% |
| 2025 | 116 | 3.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Dbs
On a 2012 Dbs, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.0% 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 (1.6% 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 2012 Aston Martin Dbss pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 629 2012 Aston Martin Dbs MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Aston Martin Dbs?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by tyres (3.0%).
Does the 2012 Dbs get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 11.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 629 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.