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Aston Martin V8 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Aston Martin V8 car check

Is the Aston Martin V8 reliable? We analysed 2,433 real MOT tests across 295 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,433 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.7%
Typical Mileage
39,564mi
Annual Mileage
466mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
55yrs

The Aston Martin V8 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Aston Martin V8.

Aston Martin V8 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Aston Martin V8. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Aston Martin V8 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Aston Martin V8 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

92.3%
2008
90.4%
2007
91.6%
2006
88%
1999
77.6%
1996
82.5%
1979
85.9%
1978
79.9%
1977
76.9%
1975
83.5%
1974
84%
1973
79.2%
1971

Aston Martin V8 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Aston Martin V8 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 39
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 37
Stop lamp not working 34
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 32
Direction indicator not working 26
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 23
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 22
Headlamp aim too low 22
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 22
position lamp(s) not working 20

Aston Martin V8 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Aston Martin V8 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
134 mi/yr
Typical
466 mi/yr
Average
1,319 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,197 mi/yr

Aston Martin V8 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Aston Martin V8 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 52 92.3% 24,362 34,413 38,510
2007 115 90.4% 17,788 28,968 44,713
2006 119 91.6% 16,538 26,284 36,118
1999 92 88.0% 6,887 9,914 21,386
1996 76 77.6% 64,174 69,061 75,696
1979 206 82.5% 15,450 41,736 87,714
1978 177 85.9% 13,070 48,131 72,405
1977 244 79.9% 61,302 70,020 81,302
1975 91 76.9% 68,251 78,490 80,542
1974 266 83.5% 26,808 51,866 77,244
1973 294 84.0% 13,767 39,727 62,913
1971 106 79.2% 18,158 46,499 74,472

How Long Does a Aston Martin V8 Last?

Based on 295 Aston Martin V8 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
34.2 years
Median
38.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
55 years

Aston Martin V8 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Aston Martin V8 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
39,564 mi
75th Percentile
69,851 mi
95th Percentile
91,943 mi
Max Recorded
857,473 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Aston Martin V8

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2008

92.3% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

Year to avoid
1975

76.9% MOT pass rate from 91 tests

The best year to buy a used Aston Martin V8 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.3% across 52 tests. The 1975 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Aston Martin V8 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Aston Martin V8 THIS CAR 84.7% 2,433 39,564 mi 55 yrs
Aston Martin DB9 89.4% 83,149 28,217 mi 22 yrs
Aston Martin V8 Vantage 90% 61,949 29,688 mi 21 yrs
Aston Martin DB7 85.1% 55,755 42,831 mi 31 yrs
Volkswagen Jetta S Bluemotion Tech-gy TDI 84.1% 2,610 96,903 mi — yrs

Compared to the Aston Martin DB9 (89.4% pass rate) and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (90.0% pass rate), the Aston Martin V8 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Aston Martin V8?

The Aston Martin V8 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.7% across 2,433 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Aston Martin V8 are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (39 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (37), and stop lamp not working (34). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Aston Martin V8 owner drives around 466 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Aston Martin V8 models stay on UK roads for around 55 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Aston Martin V8 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Aston Martin V8 reliable?
Based on 2,433 MOT tests, the Aston Martin V8 has a 84.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Aston Martin V8?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Aston Martin V8 do per year?
The typical Aston Martin V8 does around 466 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Aston Martin V8 last?
Most Aston Martin V8 models stay on UK roads for around 55 years based on our analysis of 295 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Aston Martin V8?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Aston Martin V8?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Aston Martin V8 is 2008 with a 92.3% pass rate across 52 tests.