2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage: common problems and reliability
· 1977-2016One of the weaker V8 Vantage years.
1 owner complaint, most about exterior lighting. 7 recalls.
Should I buy a 2012 V8 Vantage?The 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage has 1 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 7 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are exterior lighting. Owners most often flag clutch wear and replacement.
Safety record for the 2012 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other V8 Vantage years only. How we score it
Is 2012 a good year for the V8 Vantage?
Across the 8 V8 Vantage model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2012) to 4 (2016). With 1 complaints, the 2012 V8 Vantage sits about the same as the model's median of 2.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2012 V8 Vantage
power train
Campaign 17V391000Aston Martin the Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2011-2014 V8 Vantage vehicles equipped with 7-speed Auto-Shift Manual (ASM) "SportShift II" transmissions. A connector for the clutch fluid line may break, resulting in a hydraulic fluid leak.
electrical system:software
Campaign 17V389000Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2011-2012 V8 Vantage vehicles. The affected vehicles received updated transmission and engine control software which may conflict with the pre-existing clutch settings and may cause the transmission to shift to neutral, or enable clutch protection mode which give abrupt gear shifts.
latches/locks/linkages
Campaign 15V846000Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 DB9, 2010-2012 DBS, 2010-2016 V8 Vantage, 2012 Virage, 2010-2016 Rapide, 2014-2016 Vanquish, 2011-2016 V12 Vantage, and 2012-2013 V12 Zagato vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with interior door unlocking mechanisms that may not function when the vehicle has been locked from the outside. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
power train
Campaign 17V390000Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2012 V8 Vantage vehicles equipped with 6-speed Auto-Shift Manual (ASM) transmissions. A connector for the transmission fluid lines may break resulting in a hydraulic fluid leak.
Show 3 more recalls
seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Campaign 14V753000Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 DB9, V12 Vantage, V8 Vantage, DBS, and Virage vehicles manufactured July 3, 2006, to November 5, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic control module for the driver and front passenger seat heaters may fail, preventing the seat heaters from being able to be turned off.
vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Campaign 14V010000Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 DB9 and V8 Vantage, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2012 Rapide, 2014 Rapide S, 2011-2012 V12 Vantage, 2011-2014 V8 Vantage S and 2012 Virage vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the accelerator pedal arm may break.
vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Campaign 13V228000Aston Martin is recalling certain model year DB9, Virage, V8 Vantage, V12 Vantage, and Rapide vehicles manufactured from May 14, 2012, through April 10, 2013. Due to a manufacturing error, the throttle pedal arm may break.
What owners report on the 1977-2016 V8 Vantage
Owners of the 1977-2016 V8 Vantage broadly love these cars, describing them as reliable, special, and a strong value for the money, with the engine repeatedly called bulletproof and the driving experience raw, analog, and involving.
- Very frequentClutch wear and replacement
- RecurrentThermostat failure
- RecurrentSportShift automated manual behavior and clutch life
- IsolatedPop-up navigation mechanism failure
- IsolatedDoor lock failure
Owner insights for the 1977-2016 V8 Vantage. Read the full 1977-2016 owner report.
Typical used price
Used V8 Vantage listings typically run $40,390–$65,490 across 2006 to 2016 model years.
Other V8 Vantage model years
Compare every V8 Vantage year side by side to see how 2012 ranks against the rest.
Compare the V8 Vantage against its rivals
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