2012 Aston Martin Rapide — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 384 MOT tests, the 2012 Aston Martin Rapide recorded a 90.1% pass rate. That is 8.6 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.1%) and emissions & environmental (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, headlamp cleaning device and tread depth — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 11 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 12 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 11 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.9% | 11 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 6 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.8% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 11 |
| 2 | Headlamp cleaning device | 6 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 4 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 4 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 3 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 3 |
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 | 21.6% | 83 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 60 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 22 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 15 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.9% | 11 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 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 | 143 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 207 | 10.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 79 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 79 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 75 | 12.0% |
| 2025 | 78 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Rapide
On a 2012 Rapide, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (2.9% 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.
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 Rapides pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 384 2012 Aston Martin Rapide MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Aston Martin Rapide?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (2.9%).
Does the 2012 Rapide get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 384 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.