2016 Aston Martin Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Aston Martin Vantage passed 95.5% of its 2,021 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.3 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 10.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (1.8%) and emissions & environmental (1.3%) 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 registration plates — headlamp aim alone was recorded 38 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 12.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 5.5% in 2021 to 3.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 36 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 27 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.1% | 22 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 21 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 11 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.5% | 10 |
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 | 38 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 17 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 15 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 14 |
| 5 | Washers | 13 |
| 6 | Wipers | 13 |
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 | 12.6% | 254 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 110 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.2% | 25 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 21 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.0% | 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 | 1,764 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 249 | 6.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 415 | 5.5% |
| 2022 | 419 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 410 | 4.4% |
| 2024 | 375 | 3.7% |
| 2025 | 402 | 3.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Vantage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 1.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (1.1% 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 2016 Aston Martin Vantages pass their MOT?
95.5% of the 2,021 2016 Aston Martin Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Aston Martin Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 1.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.3%).
Does the 2016 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 6.8% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,021 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.