Aston Martin Vantage 2018-2024 Reliability & Common Problems

Is the Aston Martin Vantage reliable?

The Aston Martin Vantage is an exceptionally well built sports car that shouldn't present any major reliabilty issues. Of course, any car isn't totally free of problems, but most of the issues that afflict the Vantage are known and parts are widely available.

If the engine is well maintained and regularly serviced, you shouldn't have any problems.

Engine: Coil pack failure is common with the AMG engine due to water getting inside the coil pack itself. An engine management light should appear in the dashboard to highlight the issue. The pack can be replaced under warranty.

Gearbox: Be wary of any jerky or hesitant gearshifts from the eight-speed ZF auto. If the ’box is a little sluggish on downshifts, this could be a software-related issue.

Drivetrain: A whining noise when cruising on the motorway is typically caused by the electronic differential. Most dealers will replace the diff under warranty.

Tyres: It’s always worth checking the tread on the standard-fit Pirelli P Zeros. A set of four new tyres will set you back around £1000. You can fit Michelin Pilot Sport 5s but it won’t cost you much less.

Body: Check the front splitter and rear diffuser for any scuffs and scratches, and inspect the diamond-cut alloys for any damage because these are expensive to refurbish.

Infotainment: The Mercedes-sourced infotainment system is prone to glitches and can be unresponsive to inputs. Ensure any updates have been carried out and check the system works properly on a test drive.

An owner’s view

Ian Slater: “I bought my 2019 Vantage in April 2021 with 8000 miles on the clock and have done 25,000 miles in it since then. During my ownership, it’s been fitted with an aftermarket rear-view camera and CarPlay – both essential.

“The car has been recovered twice: once for an airbag fault and once for a sensor issue, both fixed under warranty. The only bills I’ve had have been for tyres, corrective work on the seat leather and a battery. A major service is coming up, and that will be £1500. Running costs aside, the only thing that could replace it is another Vantage. It’s fast, comfortable and an event every time I drive it.”

Also worth knowing

The convertible V8 Vantage Roadster is a whisker slower but does enhance the sound of that V8 motor with the roof down – a decent compromise.

Aston Martin launched the V12 Vantage in 2022, with its twin-turbocharged 12-pot boosting output to 690bhp. It’s a proper track weapon, but the bigger engine seems to distort rather than necessarily enhance the driving experience.

Limited-run specials include the 007 Edition and beautifully sculpted V12 Speedster. Budget six figures for the latter.

The standard V8 Vantage is £600 to tax annually. A service costs from £700-£1000.

Sam Phillips

Title: Staff Writer

Sam joined the Autocar team in summer 2024 and has been a contributor since 2021. He is tasked with writing used reviews and first drives as well as updating top 10s and evergreen content on the Autocar website.

He previously led sister-title Move Electric, which covers the entire spectrum of electric vehicles, from cars to boats – and even trucks. He is an expert in new car news, used cars, electric cars, microbility, classic cars and motorsport.

Sam graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 with a BA in Journalism. In his final year he produced an in-depth feature on the automotive industry’s transition to electric cars and interviewed a number of leading experts to assess our readiness for the impending ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.

Matt Saunders

Title: Road test editor

As Autocar’s chief car tester and reviewer, it’s Matt’s job to ensure the quality, objectivity, relevance and rigour of the entirety of Autocar’s reviews output, as well contributing a great many detailed road tests, group tests and drive reviews himself.

Matt has been an Autocar staffer since the autumn of 2003, and has been lucky enough to work alongside some of the magazine’s best-known writers and contributors over that time. He served as staff writer, features editor, assistant editor and digital editor, before joining the road test desk in 2011.

Since then he’s driven, measured, lap-timed, figured, and reported on cars as varied as the Bugatti Veyron, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Tesla Roadster, Ariel Hipercar, Tata Nano, McLaren Senna, Renault Twizy and Toyota Mirai. Among his wider personal highlights of the job have been covering Sebastien Loeb’s record-breaking run at Pikes Peak in 2013; doing 190mph on derestricted German autobahn in a Brabus Rocket; and driving McLaren’s legendary ‘XP5’ F1 prototype. His own car is a trusty Mazda CX-5.