2011 Aston Martin Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
609 MOT tests on the 2011 Aston Martin Vantage are in this dataset, and 93.4% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (17.9% fail rate), the 2011 Vantage comes out 11.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 5.1% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 23 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 31 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 10 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.0% | 6 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 6 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 4 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.3% | 2 |
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 | 23 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 8 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 7 |
| 4 | Headlamp cleaning device | 6 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 4 |
| 6 | Washers | 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% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 50 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.8% | 17 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.8% | 11 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 9 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.3% | 8 |
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 | 325 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 259 | 8.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 123 | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 114 | 6.1% |
| 2023 | 127 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 119 | 5.0% |
| 2025 | 126 | 7.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Vantage
On a 2011 Vantage, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% 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 (1.0% 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 2011 Aston Martin Vantages pass their MOT?
93.4% of the 609 2011 Aston Martin Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Aston Martin Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.6%).
Does the 2011 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 8.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 609 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.