Aston Martin Rapide MOT pass rate & common failures
The Aston Martin Rapide appears in 4,369 MOT tests spanning model years 2009–2021, and 92.0% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 16.4% of the time, so this is 8.4pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.0%) and tyres (2.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 54 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.8% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 7.8% in 2021 to 6.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rapide model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 734 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 674 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 384 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 591 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 488 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 516 | 94.2% | 5.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 247 | 97.2% | 2.8% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 291 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 208 | 91.3% | 8.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 175 | 93.7% | 6.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 54 | 96.3% | 3.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 133 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.7% | 117 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 76 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 55 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.2% | 52 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.6% | 27 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 19 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 54 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 54 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 49 |
| 4 | Washers | 44 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 43 |
| 6 | Headlamp cleaning device | 42 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 41 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 25 |
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 | 18.8% | 822 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 539 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 120 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.7% | 118 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 97 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 93 |
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 | 1,876 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,984 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 446 | 10.8% |
| 90-120k | 51 | 11.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 856 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 920 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 898 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 856 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 839 | 6.1% |
What to check before buying a Aston Martin Rapide
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.7% 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 (1.7% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Aston Martin Rapide?
92.0% of the 4,369 Aston Martin Rapide MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.0% fail rate, across model years 2009–2021.
What does the Aston Martin Rapide most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.0% of tests, then tyres (2.7%).
How much does mileage affect Rapide MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.8% for 90-120k, a 5.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,369 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.