2018 Aston Martin Vantage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,434 MOT tests, the 2018 Aston Martin Vantage recorded a 95.7% pass rate. That is 4.7 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 9.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (1.9%) and tyres (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, registration plates and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 48 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 9.5% 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 | 1.9% | 47 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.7% | 41 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 20 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.7% | 18 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 17 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.4% | 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 | 48 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 31 |
| 3 | Washers | 18 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 5 | Switch | 10 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 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 | 9.5% | 231 |
| 2 | Other defects | 2.8% | 68 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 42 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 18 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 17 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 9 |
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 | 2,253 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 174 | 6.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 496 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 491 | 3.7% |
| 2023 | 491 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 477 | 5.7% |
| 2025 | 479 | 4.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Vantage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 1.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (1.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.7% 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 (0.8% 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 2018 Aston Martin Vantages pass their MOT?
95.7% of the 2,434 2018 Aston Martin Vantage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Aston Martin Vantage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 1.9% of tests, followed by tyres (1.7%).
Does the 2018 Vantage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.2% in the 0-30k band to 6.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,434 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.