2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,896 MOT tests, the 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage recorded a 91.4% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.0% of the time, so this is 13.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.6%) and emissions & environmental (1.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 88 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 V8 Vantage fails 5.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 4.8% at 120-150k, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.9% in 2021 to 7.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 176 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 95 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.9% | 93 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 91 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 88 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.5% | 71 |
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 | 88 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 82 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 76 |
| 4 | Wipers | 63 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 47 |
| 6 | Washers | 44 |
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 | 13.5% | 660 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 575 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.2% | 256 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.1% | 154 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 116 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 114 |
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 | 965 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,630 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,056 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 187 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 4.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,020 | 9.9% |
| 2022 | 984 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 995 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 958 | 8.1% |
| 2025 | 939 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 V8 Vantage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (1.9% 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 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantages pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 4,896 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.9%).
Does the 2006 V8 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 4.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,896 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.