2013 Aston Martin Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,723 MOT tests, the 2013 Aston Martin Vantage recorded a 94.0% pass rate. That is 8.7 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 14.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.4%) and emissions & environmental (1.5%) 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 44 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.3% versus 5.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 11.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 58 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 26 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.4% | 24 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.6% | 10 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.5% | 8 |
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 | 44 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 25 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 19 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 11 |
| 6 | Washers | 8 |
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 | 11.7% | 202 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 137 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.9% | 32 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.6% | 28 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 24 |
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 | 1,166 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 505 | 7.3% |
| 60-90k | 45 | 13.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 344 | 4.1% |
| 2022 | 347 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 357 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 337 | 5.6% |
| 2025 | 338 | 5.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Vantage
On a 2013 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (1.4% 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 2013 Aston Martin Vantages pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 1,723 2013 Aston Martin Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Aston Martin Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.5%).
Does the 2013 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 13.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,723 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.