Used car guide

2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantages, from 899 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

899MOT tests in 2025
91%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
2,500typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for seat belts

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantages than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Seat belts2.2× usual
    Aston Martin V8 Vantage
    3.7% All 2006 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.6% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

Better than most

Tread depth: 6.6% here, against 21.4% of all 2006 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 3.2% here, against 14.1% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    13% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    13% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    9% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    8% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    2% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2007708Brakes 12%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantages registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score