2005 Aston Martin Vanquish — MOT failures & pass rate
425 MOT tests on the 2005 Aston Martin Vanquish are in this dataset, and 90.8% of them passed. That is 18.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, steering and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.5%) and steering (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, track rod end and headlamp aim — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 24 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 8.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.5% in 2021 to 4.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.5% | 19 |
| 2 | Steering | 2.6% | 11 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 8 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 6 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 6 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.7% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 24 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 12 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 5 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.0% | 34 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.5% | 32 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 18 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 15 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.3% | 14 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.8% | 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 | 262 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 152 | 7.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 96 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 81 | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 93 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 74 | 5.4% |
| 2025 | 81 | 4.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Vanquish
On a 2005 Vanquish, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (4.5% 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.
- Steering (2.6% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Lighting & signalling (1.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2005 Aston Martin Vanquishs pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 425 2005 Aston Martin Vanquish MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Aston Martin Vanquish?
Suspension, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by steering (2.6%).
Does the 2005 Vanquish get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 7.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 425 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.