2002 Aston Martin Vanquish — MOT failures & pass rate
497 MOT tests on the 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish are in this dataset, and 89.7% of them passed. That is 17.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.4%) and brakes (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are linkage ball joint dust cover, ball joint dust cover and rbt (sp) — linkage ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 27 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 10.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.4% | 27 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 18 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 11 |
| 4 | Steering | 1.8% | 9 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 8 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 27 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 23 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 11 |
| 4 | Washers | 8 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 7 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 6 |
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 | 10.1% | 50 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.8% | 39 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.8% | 29 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 23 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 15 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.4% | 12 |
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 | 218 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 250 | 11.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 99 | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 105 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 100 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 95 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Vanquish
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (3.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.2% 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 2002 Aston Martin Vanquishs pass their MOT?
89.7% of the 497 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish?
Suspension, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by brakes (3.6%).
Does the 2002 Vanquish get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 497 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.