2012 Aston Martin Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
1,043 MOT tests on the 2012 Aston Martin Vantage are in this dataset, and 93.1% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 16.2% of the time, so this is 9.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.5%) and tyres (1.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 27 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.9% versus 5.7%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 36 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.8% | 19 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 18 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 14 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.6% | 6 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 4 |
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 | 27 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 14 |
| 4 | Washers | 12 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 6 | Wipers | 7 |
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 | 11.1% | 116 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 81 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.9% | 20 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 18 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 17 |
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 | 653 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 343 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 46 | 10.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 215 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 215 | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 202 | 6.4% |
| 2024 | 213 | 6.6% |
| 2025 | 198 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Vantage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.8% 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.
- Visibility (1.7% 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.
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 2012 Aston Martin Vantages pass their MOT?
93.1% of the 1,043 2012 Aston Martin Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Aston Martin Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by tyres (1.8%).
Does the 2012 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,043 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.