The 2013 DB9's naturally-aspirated 6.0L V12 is a hand-built marvel but demands meticulous maintenance. Transmission cooler failures and carbon buildup on intake valves are the most common headaches, while catastrophic engine failures from bore scoring plague neglected examples at higher mileage.
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission overheating warnings on dash, Harsh shifts or slipping, especially when hot, Coolant or transmission fluid leaks near front of engine bay, Milky transmission fluid indicating coolant cross-contamination
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler and flush both cooling system and transmission. Requires front bumper removal and partial disassembly. 8-12 hours labor depending on shop familiarity. Critical to catch early before transmission damage occurs.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500
Carbon Buildup on Intake Valves (Direct Injection Issue)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle and misfires on cold starts, Loss of power and throttle response, Increased fuel consumption, Check engine light with multiple cylinder misfire codes
Fix: Walnut-blasting intake valves requires removing intake manifolds on both cylinder banks. 10-14 hours labor for V12. Some shops use chemical induction cleaning as Band-Aid but proper mechanical cleaning is only real fix.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Engine Bore Scoring and Piston Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (more than 1 qt per 1,000 mi), Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Rattling or knocking from engine on cold starts, Low compression on multiple cylinders, Metallic debris in oil during changes
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short block replacement. Scoring caused by inadequate lubrication during cold starts and extended oil change intervals. Engine-out job requiring 40-60 hours labor plus machine work. This is the catastrophic failure that totals many DB9s.
Estimated cost: $25,000-45,000
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking during shifts, especially reverse to drive, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible sagging or torn rubber on mounts, Driveline shudder during acceleration
Fix: Replace rear transmission mount and sometimes cross-member bushings. Requires exhaust removal and transmission support. 4-6 hours labor. OEM mounts are liquid-filled and expensive.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Failure
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Sudden loss of throttle response while driving, Check engine light with throttle position codes, Limp mode activation, Intermittent unintended acceleration (recall-related)
Fix: Replace accelerator pedal assembly with updated part per NHTSA recall. 1-2 hours labor. Should be done under recall but verify if already completed on used examples.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Fuel Filter Clogging and Fuel System Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Hesitation or stumbling under hard acceleration, Difficulty starting after sitting overnight, Fuel pump whining noise from rear, Loss of power at high RPM
Fix: Replace in-tank fuel filter and sometimes fuel pump assembly. Tank must be dropped. 6-8 hours labor. Filter is not a regular maintenance item in owner's manual but should be done every 60k miles preventively.
Estimated cost: $1,500-2,800
Owner tips
Use only factory-spec 10W-60 oil and change every 5,000 miles maximum to prevent bore scoring—this is not negotiable on the V12
Warm engine fully before spirited driving and let idle 1-2 minutes before shutdown to prevent carbon buildup
Budget $3,000-5,000 annually for maintenance beyond consumables—these are hand-built exotics, not Hondas
Verify transmission cooler and accelerator pedal recalls were completed before purchase
Find a specialist familiar with Aston Martin—general European shops often cause more problems than they solve
Buy only with comprehensive service records and pre-purchase inspection by Aston specialist; budget $5k-8k annually for inevitable repairs, and understand engine rebuilds can exceed the car's value.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · 17V796000
2017-12-11
Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2009-2016 DB9, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2015 Rapide, 2012 Virage, and 2014 Vanquish vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Touchtronic II Automatic Transmission. A communication error between the Engine Control Module (ECM) and the Transmission Control Module (TCM) can cause the transmission park pawl to not engage.
Consequence: If the park pawl does not engage and the vehicle is stopped on a slope and exited without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 1, 2018. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-07-0028.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES · 15V846000
2015-12-16
Aston 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."
Consequence: If the doors cannot be opened by an occupant from inside the vehicle, they may be trapped inside, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will disable the double locking feature by reprogramming the software, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-01-0021.
Aston 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.
Consequence: If the electronic control module fails, the seat heater could get hot enough that areas of the seat may overheat and smolder, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional module to the circuit that can interrupt the power to the seat heaters in case the electronic control module for the seat heaters fails, free of charge. The recall began in January 2015. Owners may contact Aston Martin Customer Service by calling 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-01-0019.
Aston 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.
Consequence: If the accelerator pedal arm breaks, the engine will return to idle and the driver will be unable to maintain or increase engine speed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assemblies. The recall began on February 11, 2014. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service by calling 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's recall number is RA-03-0017. IMPORTANT: This recall supersedes recall 13V-228. Any vehicle that has been remedied under the previous recall needs to have the current remedy applied.
Aston 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.
Consequence: If the throttle pedal arm breaks, the engine will return to idle and the driver will be unable to maintain or increase engine speed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the throttle pedal assemblies. The recall began July 19, 2013. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service by calling 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's recall number is RA-03-0016.
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