Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 66.7% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 4 complaints, typically at 6.8 years.
Aston Martin DB9 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 | 4 | yes |
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 22.2% | covered | |
| 1 year | 33.3% | covered | |
| 3 years | 44.4% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 55.6% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 77.8% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 88.9% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 33.3% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 66.7% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 22% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Aston Martin DB9, the early trouble is Engine And Engine Cooling and Fuel System — reported at around 0.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Electrical System at 6.8 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6.8 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 0.5 yrs | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting | 6.5 yrs | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Structure | 6 yrs | — | — | |
| Parking Brake | — | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the DB9's vehicle class.
| Same class as the DB9 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche 911 | 287 | 1981–2026 | |
| Mini Cooper | 33 | 2002–2010 | |
| Toyota 86 | 5 | 2017–2020 | |
| Toyota GR86 | 4 | 2022–2026 | |
| Subaru BRZ | 13 | 2013–2026 | |
| Fiat 500 | 33 | 2012–2019 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Aston Martin DB9 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1 against 3.73 for the average car.
When do DB9 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 6.8 years, followed by Engine and Engine Cooling.
Will the warranty cover DB9 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 33.3% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 22% of the complaints here.
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