2014 Aston Martin Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,926 MOT tests, the 2014 Aston Martin Vantage recorded a 93.7% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (13.2% fail rate), the 2014 Vantage comes out 6.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.7%) and visibility (1.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 45 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 7.4% in 2021 to 4.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 52 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.7% | 32 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.5% | 29 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 27 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 16 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 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 | 45 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 21 |
| 3 | Wipers | 21 |
| 4 | Headlamp cleaning device | 17 |
| 5 | Washers | 13 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 11 |
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 | 14.3% | 275 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.5% | 125 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.1% | 60 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 36 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.5% | 29 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 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 | 1,413 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 496 | 8.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 406 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 394 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 384 | 7.5% |
| 2024 | 371 | 6.5% |
| 2025 | 371 | 4.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Vantage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 2.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Tyres (1.5% 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 2014 Aston Martin Vantages pass their MOT?
93.7% of the 1,926 2014 Aston Martin Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Aston Martin Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.7% of tests, followed by visibility (1.7%).
Does the 2014 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 8.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,926 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.