Aston Martin Virage MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 31 model years and 1,576 tests, the Aston Martin Virage passes its MOT 89.9% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 22.7% of the time, so this is 12.6pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.7%) and brakes (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rbt (sp) and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 43 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.6% in the 0-30k band and 15.2% in the 60-90k band, a 6.7-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Virage model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 127 | 84.3% | 15.8% | Brakes |
| 1991 | 53 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 39 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 51 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1994 | 116 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 68 | 88.2% | 11.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1996 | 78 | 89.7% | 10.3% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 31 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Brakes |
| 2011 | 409 | 92.7% | 7.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 540 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 59 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.4% | 54 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 53 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 35 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.0% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 11 |
| 7 | Suspension | 0.4% | 7 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.3% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 43 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 42 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 4 | Headlamp cleaning device | 21 |
| 5 | Wipers | 20 |
| 6 | Washers | 19 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 16 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 15 |
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 | 14.5% | 229 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 105 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.9% | 77 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 65 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.6% | 57 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 27 |
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 | 864 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 578 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 92 | 15.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 323 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 318 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 330 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 293 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 312 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a Aston Martin Virage
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (3.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Aston Martin Virage?
89.9% of the 1,576 Aston Martin Virage MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.1% fail rate, across model years 1990–2020.
What does the Aston Martin Virage most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.7% of tests, then brakes (3.4%).
How much does mileage affect Virage MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 15.2% for 60-90k, a 6.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,576 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.