Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Aston Martin Db9?

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 2004 Aston Martin Db9?

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 2004 Aston Martin Db9?

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.

Is the 2004 Aston Martin Db9 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 385 vehicles, the 2004 Aston Martin Db9 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Aston Martin Db9?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Aston Martin Db9 are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (46.5% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (42.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (42% 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 2004 Aston Martin Db9?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Aston Martin Db9 (2004)

385 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.6% first-time pass rate

2004 Aston Martin Db9

CarHunch analysed 385 real MOT records for the 2004 Aston Martin Db9. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

Moderate sample. 385 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2004 Aston Martin DB9 passes its MOT first time at 87.9%, which is meaningfully better than the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 14.5% of vehicles. This is a fundamentally reliable sports car, at least in the hands of owners who maintain it.

These DB9s are running low mileage for their age—an average of just 36,834 miles—which explains both the strong pass rate and the high advisory count of 10.5 per vehicle (typically wear items and minor issues that aren't yet failures). When you buy one, budget for addressing those advisories promptly, and always get a pre-purchase inspection by an Aston specialist, since dealer servicing history will make the difference between a bargain and a money pit.

The 2004 Aston Martin Db9 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (88.6% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

88.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

14.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.09

Over 16.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

35k

Middle half: 23k–49k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.6% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 10.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 385 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.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 385 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 46.5%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Tyre wear 42.5%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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 31.3%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction

Suspension & steering 10.1%

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 385 Aston Martin Db9 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Aston Martin Db9

Based on MOT data from 385 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.6% 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 5,521 Aston Martin Db9 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 47.6%

2,628

Black 23.7%

1,309

Blue 14.5%

802

Green 4.9%

271

Grey 4.1%

226

Red 2.8%

153

White 2%

108

Bronze 0.2%

Gold 0.1%

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Aston Martin Db9 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.

34,940

typical

22,937

low mileage

48,621

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Aston Martin Db9 vehicles fall between 22,937 and 48,621 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 22,937 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.

✓ 22,937–48,621 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Aston Martin Db9s sit.

⚠ Over 65,638 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Aston Martin Db9 — Still on the Road

Most 2004 Aston Martin Db9s are still being driven.

243 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 79% 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

16.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.09

Avg failures per vehicle

10.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Aston Martin Db9: All Db9 years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2013 2014 2015 2016

Or browse all models: Aston Martin →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Aston Martin Db9 stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?