2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage passed 94.1% of its 1,901 recorded MOT tests. That is 14.4 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 20.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.6%) and visibility (1.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 V8 Vantage fails 5.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.8% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 12.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 49 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.6% | 31 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 31 |
| 4 | Tyres | 0.8% | 16 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.7% | 14 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.7% | 14 |
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 | 33 |
| 2 | Wipers | 22 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 20 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 6 | Washers | 14 |
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 | 12.3% | 234 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 184 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.8% | 53 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 34 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 33 |
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 | 683 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,084 | 6.0% |
| 60-90k | 113 | 8.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 394 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 376 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 390 | 5.6% |
| 2024 | 366 | 4.9% |
| 2025 | 375 | 6.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 V8 Vantage
On a 2009 V8 Vantage, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.6% 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.
- 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 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantages pass their MOT?
94.1% of the 1,901 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.6% of tests, followed by visibility (1.6%).
Does the 2009 V8 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 8.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,901 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.