The picture
Vantage: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 4,707 MOT tests, the Vantage returns 92.6% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A seriously damaged tyre and the engine warning light staying lit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 24,602, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
41 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 02
A tyre seriously damaged
36 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 03
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
34 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 04
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
27 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 05
A headlamp cleaning device inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)
24 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 06
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
18 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 07
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
18 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 08
Wiper blade defective
17 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 09
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
15 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 10
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
15 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£25–£115
If every one of this Vantage's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a Vantage?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Vantage and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.