2007 Aston Martin Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Aston Martin Vantage passed 93.2% of its 1,101 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the 2007 Vantage comes out 14.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.0%) and emissions & environmental (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, malfunction indicator lamp and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 19 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.0% in the 0-30k band and 8.2% in the 60-90k band, a 4.2-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 8.7% in 2021 to 6.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 33 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 18 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.6% | 18 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 16 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 13 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.0% | 11 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 13 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 10 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 10 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 9 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 9 |
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 | 11.0% | 121 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 94 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.1% | 34 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 29 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 26 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 22 |
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 | 278 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 590 | 7.1% |
| 60-90k | 208 | 8.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 230 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 218 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 223 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 215 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 215 | 6.0% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Vantage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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.
- Brakes (1.6% 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.
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 Vantages pass their MOT?
93.2% of the 1,101 2007 Aston Martin Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Aston Martin Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.6%).
Does the 2007 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 8.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,101 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.