2010 Aston Martin Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Aston Martin Vantage passed 94.2% of its 756 recorded MOT tests. That is 13.4 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 19.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, other defects and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.6%) and other defects (1.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, headlamp aim and position lamp — registration plates alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Vantage fails 6.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.3% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 10.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 5.8% in 2021 to 4.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 27 |
| 2 | Other defects | 1.7% | 13 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 9 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.2% | 9 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 19 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 15 |
| 4 | Wipers | 10 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
| 6 | Stop 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 | 10.3% | 78 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 43 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 26 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.1% | 16 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.7% | 13 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 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 | 426 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 290 | 4.5% |
| 60-90k | 39 | 10.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 156 | 5.8% |
| 2022 | 150 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 151 | 6.6% |
| 2024 | 152 | 7.2% |
| 2025 | 147 | 4.1% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Vantage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (1.7% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Emissions & environmental (1.2% 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 2010 Aston Martin Vantages pass their MOT?
94.2% of the 756 2010 Aston Martin Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Aston Martin Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by other defects (1.7%).
Does the 2010 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 10.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 756 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.