Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Aston Martin Db7?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1998 Aston Martin Db7?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1998 Aston Martin Db7?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 1998 Aston Martin Db7 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1998 Aston Martin Db7 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 263 vehicles, the 1998 Aston Martin Db7 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Aston Martin Db7?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Aston Martin Db7 are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (29.8% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (29.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (29.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Aston Martin Db7?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Aston Martin Db7 (1998)

263 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.6% first-time pass rate

1998 Aston Martin Db7

CarHunch analysed 263 real MOT records for the 1998 Aston Martin Db7. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1998 DB7 passes its MOT at 83%, which edges ahead of the UK average of 80%, but the real concern is that nearly a quarter of these cars (24.7%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable for a vehicle of this age and cost. Petrol and diesel breakdowns aren't available for this analysis, so assume higher failure rates than modern equivalents when budgeting for repairs.

These cars are running at just over 49,000 miles median, which is remarkably low for 26-year-old machines and suggests careful ownership, yet they're still averaging 2.57 failures and 15.9 advisories per test—pointing to age-related wear on electrics, suspension, and seals rather than abuse. Before buying, have an independent marque specialist inspect the cooling system, fuel injectors, and dashboard electrics, as these components consistently cause trouble on aging Aston Martins and can be expensive to rectify.

We have limited data for the 1998 Aston Martin Db7 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

85.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

24.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.57

Over 16.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 33k–71k

For context

These stats describe 263 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 263 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 29.8%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 29.8%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Oil leak

Brake wear 25.5%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 17.3%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 13.2%

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 263 Aston Martin Db7 cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Aston Martin Db7

Based on MOT data from 263 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,206 Aston Martin Db7 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 30.2%

967

Green 26.3%

842

Silver 26.1%

836

Black 6.9%

220

Grey 4%

129

Red 3.5%

113

Maroon 2%

Gold 0.7%

Purple 0.2%

Yellow 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Aston Martin Db7 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

49,472

typical

33,250

low mileage

70,501

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Aston Martin Db7 vehicles fall between 33,250 and 70,501 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 33,250 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 33,250–70,501 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Aston Martin Db7s sit.

⚠ Over 95,176 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Aston Martin Db7 — Still on the Road

Most 1998 Aston Martin Db7s are still being driven.

146 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 75% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.57

Avg failures per vehicle

15.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Aston Martin Db7: All Db7 years → Which year to buy? →

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Average reliability — agree?