2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
3,882 MOT tests on the 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage are in this dataset, and 92.1% of them passed. That is 13.7 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.2%) and emissions & environmental (1.8%) 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 coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 77 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.7% versus 4.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 8.8% in 2021 to 6.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 123 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 68 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 68 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.5% | 59 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 58 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 58 |
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 | 77 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 56 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 52 |
| 4 | Wipers | 42 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 35 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 32 |
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 | 13.7% | 533 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 436 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.3% | 169 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 100 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.5% | 98 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 88 |
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 | 970 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,191 | 8.2% |
| 60-90k | 643 | 10.6% |
| 90-120k | 61 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 795 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 799 | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 794 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 759 | 7.4% |
| 2025 | 735 | 6.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 V8 Vantage
On a 2007 V8 Vantage, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (1.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantages pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 3,882 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.8%).
Does the 2007 V8 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 19.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,882 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.