2008 Aston Martin Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 784 MOT tests, the 2008 Aston Martin Vantage recorded a 93.0% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2008 Vantage comes out 14.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.4%) and visibility (2.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 18 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.0% versus 1.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 27 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.2% | 17 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.3% | 10 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 9 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.0% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 6 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Washers | 9 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 8 |
| 4 | Wipers | 7 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 6 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 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 | Tyres | 15.6% | 122 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 72 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.4% | 42 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 37 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 26 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.7% | 21 |
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 | 170 | 1.8% |
| 30-60k | 453 | 7.1% |
| 60-90k | 121 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 30 | 10.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 158 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 165 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 158 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 145 | 6.2% |
| 2025 | 158 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Vantage
On a 2008 Vantage, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.2% 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.
- Tyres (1.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2008 Aston Martin Vantages pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 784 2008 Aston Martin Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Aston Martin Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by visibility (2.2%).
Does the 2008 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 784 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.