Aston Martin · 2018-2023
DBS Superleggera
Known issues.
The DBS Superleggera is a modern flagship with fewer age-related headaches than older Astons, but it still asks for strong battery discipline, clean software history, and careful consumable management. Factory campaigns and published service prices added on 27 October 2026 are sourced on this page. A campaign describes the cars it names, not a fault rate for every example.
What to watch forLiving with the DBS Superleggera
Ownership snapshot
The car is happier when exercised regularly and serviced on time. Most complaints begin with voltage, sensors, tyres, or brake wear rather than true major engine trouble.
Indicative service and repair costs
These are published menu figures from the named page, retrieved on the date shown. They are not a quote for a particular car, and extra diagnosis or parts change the bill.
| Item | Published price | VAT | Retrieved | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual service on the combined DBS / DBS Superleggera row, 2007–2024The row is shared with the earlier DBS. It is not a Superleggera-only quote. | £653 + VAT | excluding VAT | Aston Martin V8 and V12 servicing — McGurk Performance Cars | |
| Sixth service on the menu headed DB11 and Vantage V12 (2022), DBSThe heading does not say Superleggera. Services one to five are FREE; the seventh is £870 and the eighth is £995, including VAT. | £1,640 | including VAT | Aston Martin fixed-price servicing — Sytner Aston Martin | |
| Year 7 / 10,000-mile service, V12 (2017–present) menuAston Workshop says its AMDS2 equipment can service the DBS Superleggera. The priced row is V12 (2017–present), not a Superleggera-only column. The year-6 / 20,000-mile figure is £1,275. | £715 | including VAT | Independent Aston Martin servicing — Aston Workshop |
What to watch for
12 issues01Battery and software-related warning storms
Multiple warning lights, inconsistent module behaviour, or a car that seems to have several faults at once.
All DBS Superleggera variants, especially cars that sit.
Battery and software-related warning storms
Multiple warning lights, inconsistent module behaviour, or a car that seems to have several faults at once.
All DBS Superleggera variants, especially cars that sit.
- Driveability
- Often manageable, but repeated warning clusters should not be normalised.
- DIY or specialist
- DIY-safe for tender use and basic battery planning. Specialist help for recurring warnings.
Early warning signs
- Weak starts after short storage
- Feature glitches that vanish after a long drive or charge
- The car responds differently depending on how recently it has been used
Likely root causes
- Battery state below the car's preferred range
- Old battery with acceptable voltage but weak reserve capacity
- Software logic reacting badly to low-voltage events
Typical cost context
- Battery replacement and health checks are low relative to the rest of the car.
- Diagnostic labour climbs if the car has been allowed to log repeated low-voltage events.
Prevention
- Use a tender on cars that are not driven weekly.
- Replace weak batteries before they trigger a long fault list.
- Record recurring warnings rather than assuming they are random.
02Brake and tyre consumable load
Rapid front tyre wear, steering vibration under braking, or a car that feels expensive simply because the wear rate is high.
All cars, especially DBX-like usage patterns or frequent short urban runs with heavy stops.
Brake and tyre consumable load
Rapid front tyre wear, steering vibration under braking, or a car that feels expensive simply because the wear rate is high.
All cars, especially DBX-like usage patterns or frequent short urban runs with heavy stops.
- Driveability
- Avoid sustained hard use if braking feel or vibration worsens.
- DIY or specialist
- Inspection is realistic. Correction belongs with a specialist or main dealer.
Early warning signs
- Outer-edge or shoulder wear developing early
- Brake pedal or steering feedback worsening at speed
- Owners relying on tread depth alone instead of tyre age and wear pattern
Likely root causes
- Vehicle weight and performance
- Alignment drift
- Hard or repeated heavy braking
Typical cost context
- Tyres alone are a serious spend on this car.
- Brakes plus tyres turn into a significant annual running-cost event if left until everything is due together.
Prevention
- Inspect tyres and brake condition more often than you would on a normal GT.
- Keep alignment verified.
- Replace tyres in matched sets of the correct specification.
03Emissions and induction-related warning lights
Check engine warning, reduced performance message, or subtle hesitation under boost.
Twin-turbo V12 cars with low use or overdue service items.
Emissions and induction-related warning lights
Check engine warning, reduced performance message, or subtle hesitation under boost.
Twin-turbo V12 cars with low use or overdue service items.
- Driveability
- Drive gently only if the car runs cleanly. Stop if it enters reduced power mode or runs roughly.
- DIY or specialist
- Basic scan only. Specialist diagnosis recommended.
Early warning signs
- Cold-start quality is inconsistent
- The warning appears after several short urban journeys
- Throttle response feels a little soft before the light becomes consistent
Likely root causes
- Sensor drift
- Ignition or induction leaks
- Service items aged out despite low mileage
Typical cost context
- A targeted fix can be moderate.
- Layered faults and repeated warning resets raise labour and diagnostic cost quickly.
Prevention
- Do not skip annual service because mileage is low.
- Address first-warning behaviour quickly.
- Keep the car exercised so cold-start and short-trip issues do not dominate.
04Front-end alignment and suspension sensitivity
Steering pull, nervousness on poor surfaces, or tyre wear patterns that do not match mileage.
All cars, especially on rough roads or with large wheel packages.
Front-end alignment and suspension sensitivity
Steering pull, nervousness on poor surfaces, or tyre wear patterns that do not match mileage.
All cars, especially on rough roads or with large wheel packages.
- Driveability
- Usually driveable, but stability and tyre life will suffer.
- DIY or specialist
- DIY-safe to inspect tyres and pressures. Alignment requires specialist equipment.
Early warning signs
- The car follows cambers more than expected
- Tyre wear differs left to right
- A pothole impact is followed by subtle steering changes
Likely root causes
- Geometry drift
- Tyre wear mismatch
- Suspension component wear or impact damage
Typical cost context
- Geometry checks are modest compared with tyres.
- If wear has already accelerated tyre replacement, the overall cost climbs quickly.
Prevention
- Check alignment after tyre changes and impacts.
- Use the same tyre specification across an axle.
- Do not let a small steering pull become normal.
05Front seat airbag fasteners
Recall RA-01-1418 covers certain 2017 DB11, 2019 DB11 V8 Volante and DBS Superleggera, 2019–2020 Vantage and 2020 Superleggera Volante vehicles. The front seat airbag fasteners may not have been tightened correctly. The DVSA page for the matching model year lists R/2020/280, launched 12 October 2020, for front seat airbag fixings, with 20 affected vehicles. This card does not treat those two numbers as proven to be the same document.
The cars named in the RA-01-1418 summary. Confirm the VIN. The UK count of 20 vehicles is the figure printed on the DVSA model-year page.
Front seat airbag fasteners
Recall RA-01-1418 covers certain 2017 DB11, 2019 DB11 V8 Volante and DBS Superleggera, 2019–2020 Vantage and 2020 Superleggera Volante vehicles. The front seat airbag fasteners may not have been tightened correctly. The DVSA page for the matching model year lists R/2020/280, launched 12 October 2020, for front seat airbag fixings, with 20 affected vehicles. This card does not treat those two numbers as proven to be the same document.
The cars named in the RA-01-1418 summary. Confirm the VIN. The UK count of 20 vehicles is the figure printed on the DVSA model-year page.
- Driveability
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- DIY or specialist
- Authorised dealer or specialist campaign repair. This is not an owner procedure.
Early warning signs
- An airbag or SRS warning
- A seat airbag repair already recorded, or missing, in the history
Likely root causes
- Front seat airbag fasteners that may not have been tightened correctly.
Typical cost context
- Where the published campaign applies, the remedy is described as free of charge. That does not cover a vehicle outside the VIN list, or other work found at the same visit.
Prevention
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- Keep any campaign paperwork with the service history.
Sources
- RA-01-1418: Incorrect Installation of the Front Seat Airbags — Aston Martin; checked 2026-10-27.
- ASTON MARTIN DBS 2019 recalls — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency; checked 2026-10-27.
06Passenger airbag locking nuts
Recall RA-01-1327 covers certain 2018–2019 DB11 Coupé and Volante cars and 2019 Vantage and DBS Superleggera Coupé cars. The locking-nut fasteners on the passenger airbag may not be tightened properly.
The variants and model years named in the RA-01-1327 summary. This is a different record from DVSA R/2019/396.
Passenger airbag locking nuts
Recall RA-01-1327 covers certain 2018–2019 DB11 Coupé and Volante cars and 2019 Vantage and DBS Superleggera Coupé cars. The locking-nut fasteners on the passenger airbag may not be tightened properly.
The variants and model years named in the RA-01-1327 summary. This is a different record from DVSA R/2019/396.
- Driveability
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- DIY or specialist
- Authorised dealer or specialist campaign repair. This is not an owner procedure.
Early warning signs
- An airbag or SRS warning
- No owner-visible clue is guaranteed by the recall text
Likely root causes
- Passenger airbag locking nuts that may not have been tightened properly.
Typical cost context
- Where the published campaign applies, the remedy is described as free of charge. That does not cover a vehicle outside the VIN list, or other work found at the same visit.
Prevention
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- Keep any campaign paperwork with the service history.
Sources
- RA-01-1327: Incorrect Installation of the Passenger Airbag — Aston Martin; checked 2026-10-27.
07Passenger airbag fastener torque
DVSA safety recall R/2019/396, launched on 19 November 2019, says the passenger airbag fixings may not have been tightened to the correct torque. The DVSA pages for DB11 2018, DBS 2019 and Vantage 2019 each show 15 affected vehicles; that is the campaign total repeated on each model-year page, not three separate populations. A recall index gives the manufacturer reference as RA-01-1377. The DVSA pages themselves print R/2019/396 and do not print RA-01-1377. This record is not in the on-site bulletin archive, so there is no archived PDF to cross-link.
DVSA lists the recall against DB11 2018, DBS 2019 and Vantage 2019. The 2019 DBS page is the later DBS, not the 2007–2012 DBS. A secondary index gives build dates of 6 November 2017 to 18 February 2019 and repeats one count of 15 vehicles across DB11, DBS and Vantage.
Passenger airbag fastener torque
DVSA safety recall R/2019/396, launched on 19 November 2019, says the passenger airbag fixings may not have been tightened to the correct torque. The DVSA pages for DB11 2018, DBS 2019 and Vantage 2019 each show 15 affected vehicles; that is the campaign total repeated on each model-year page, not three separate populations. A recall index gives the manufacturer reference as RA-01-1377. The DVSA pages themselves print R/2019/396 and do not print RA-01-1377. This record is not in the on-site bulletin archive, so there is no archived PDF to cross-link.
DVSA lists the recall against DB11 2018, DBS 2019 and Vantage 2019. The 2019 DBS page is the later DBS, not the 2007–2012 DBS. A secondary index gives build dates of 6 November 2017 to 18 February 2019 and repeats one count of 15 vehicles across DB11, DBS and Vantage.
- Driveability
- Contact an Aston Martin dealer with the VIN and quote DVSA R/2019/396. The DVSA page says the owner should not have to pay for the recall repair.
- DIY or specialist
- Authorised dealer or specialist campaign repair. This is not an owner procedure.
Early warning signs
- An airbag or SRS warning, if one is present
- No obvious warning is promised by the recall text
Likely root causes
- Passenger airbag fixings that may not have been tightened to the correct torque.
Typical cost context
- Where the published campaign applies, the remedy is described as free of charge. That does not cover a vehicle outside the VIN list, or other work found at the same visit.
Prevention
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- Keep any campaign paperwork with the service history.
Sources
- ASTON MARTIN DBS 2019 recalls — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency; checked 2026-10-27.
- Aston Martin recall R/2019/396 — Vehicle Recall; checked 2026-10-27.
- Used Aston Martin DB11 (2016-2023) buyer's guide — Auto Express; checked 2026-10-27.
08Rotary master light switch can loosen
Service bulletin SB-18-1713, issued on 10 January 2023, documents a reinforcing-bracket repair for a loose, damaged or detached rotary master light switch on DB11, DBS and Vantage vehicles. The DBS in that bulletin is the DBS Superleggera on this site. The detailed article for the same bulletin is published on the DB11 page.
DBS Superleggera cars using the rotary master light switch described in SB-18-1713. The bulletin does not, in this record, prove a VIN range.
Rotary master light switch can loosen
Service bulletin SB-18-1713, issued on 10 January 2023, documents a reinforcing-bracket repair for a loose, damaged or detached rotary master light switch on DB11, DBS and Vantage vehicles. The DBS in that bulletin is the DBS Superleggera on this site. The detailed article for the same bulletin is published on the DB11 page.
DBS Superleggera cars using the rotary master light switch described in SB-18-1713. The bulletin does not, in this record, prove a VIN range.
- Driveability
- Do not continue if the exterior lights cannot be operated or the switch is separating.
- DIY or specialist
- Authorised dealer or specialist campaign repair. This is not an owner procedure.
Early warning signs
- A loose rotary headlight selector
- A fog-light button or centre section that moves or detaches
Likely root causes
- Damage to the rotary switch or its plastic mounting points. The bulletin does not identify one underlying cause.
Typical cost context
- The DB11 record of this bulletin states about 0.25 hours of factory labour for the bracket repair. The bulletin does not state a retail total.
Prevention
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- Keep any campaign paperwork with the service history.
Sources
- SB-18-1713: Rotary Light Switch Repair Process — Aston Martin; checked 2026-10-27.
09Differential breather pipe extension
Service action SA-07-1201 is the installation of a differential breather pipe extension on the DBS Superleggera. The archived summary does not describe a symptom or a failure rate.
DBS Superleggera cars on the separately published VIN list.
Differential breather pipe extension
Service action SA-07-1201 is the installation of a differential breather pipe extension on the DBS Superleggera. The archived summary does not describe a symptom or a failure rate.
DBS Superleggera cars on the separately published VIN list.
- Driveability
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- DIY or specialist
- Authorised dealer or specialist campaign repair. This is not an owner procedure.
Early warning signs
- The archived public summary does not list a separate owner symptom beyond the document title and applicability note.
Likely root causes
- This card does not add a cause that the archived summary does not state.
Typical cost context
- No retail price is stated.
Prevention
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- Keep any campaign paperwork with the service history.
Sources
- SA-07-1201: Differential Breather Pipe Extension — Aston Martin; checked 2026-10-27.
10Alternator splash shield
Service action SA-03-1238 is an alternator splash-shield installation on the DBS Superleggera. The archived summary does not describe the symptom.
DBS Superleggera cars on the separately published VIN list.
Alternator splash shield
Service action SA-03-1238 is an alternator splash-shield installation on the DBS Superleggera. The archived summary does not describe the symptom.
DBS Superleggera cars on the separately published VIN list.
- Driveability
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- DIY or specialist
- Authorised dealer or specialist campaign repair. This is not an owner procedure.
Early warning signs
- The archived public summary does not list a separate owner symptom beyond the document title and applicability note.
Likely root causes
- This card does not add a cause that the archived summary does not state.
Typical cost context
- No retail price is stated.
Prevention
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- Keep any campaign paperwork with the service history.
Sources
- SA-03-1238: Alternator Splash Shield Installation — Aston Martin; checked 2026-10-27.
11Rear brake check
Service action SA-06-1185 is a DBS Superleggera rear brake check. The archived public summary does not say what the inspection is looking for.
DBS Superleggera cars on the separately published VIN list.
Rear brake check
Service action SA-06-1185 is a DBS Superleggera rear brake check. The archived public summary does not say what the inspection is looking for.
DBS Superleggera cars on the separately published VIN list.
- Driveability
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- DIY or specialist
- Authorised dealer or specialist campaign repair. This is not an owner procedure.
Early warning signs
- The archived public summary does not list a separate owner symptom beyond the document title and applicability note.
Likely root causes
- This card does not add a cause that the archived summary does not state.
Typical cost context
- No retail price is stated. A brake check is not a published price for discs and pads.
Prevention
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- Keep any campaign paperwork with the service history.
Sources
- SA-06-1185: DBS Superleggera Rear Brake Check — Aston Martin; checked 2026-10-27.
12De-gas hose clip
Service action SA-03-1448 covers correct installation of the clip for the de-gas hose on DB11 V12 and DBS Superleggera cars. The archived summary does not describe the symptom.
DBS Superleggera cars on the separately published VIN list.
De-gas hose clip
Service action SA-03-1448 covers correct installation of the clip for the de-gas hose on DB11 V12 and DBS Superleggera cars. The archived summary does not describe the symptom.
DBS Superleggera cars on the separately published VIN list.
- Driveability
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- DIY or specialist
- Authorised dealer or specialist campaign repair. This is not an owner procedure.
Early warning signs
- The archived public summary does not list a separate owner symptom beyond the document title and applicability note.
Likely root causes
- This card does not add a cause that the archived summary does not state.
Typical cost context
- No retail price is stated.
Prevention
- Check the VIN with Aston Martin or an authorised dealer. A model link does not mean every car is included.
- Keep any campaign paperwork with the service history.
Sources
- SA-03-1448: Correct Installation of the Clip for the De-gas Hose — Aston Martin; checked 2026-10-27.
No matching issues
Try a different symptom or severity.
Severity reflects potential impact, not fault frequency. Diagnosis and regional labour rates affect the final repair cost.
Sources and research
The sources below were checked on the dates shown. They support what this page says about the car. They do not show how often a fault occurs, or the condition of one particular vehicle. Where a build year, production total or service figure is still uncertain, confirm it against the factory record and the VIN.
- Aston Martin V8 and V12 servicing — McGurk Performance Cars. Checked .
- Aston Martin fixed-price servicing — Sytner Aston Martin. Checked .
- Independent Aston Martin servicing — Aston Workshop. Checked .
- ASTON MARTIN DBS 2019 recalls — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Checked .
Frequently asked questions
Should owners worry about the twin-turbo V12?
They should respect service quality and heat management, but regular use and proper maintenance go a long way with these cars.
What catches buyers out most often?
Tyres, brakes, and low-voltage faults. They do not always look dramatic during a short viewing, but they shape running costs quickly.
Are the prices on this page a quote?
No. They are menu figures from the named specialist or dealer page, retrieved on 27 October 2026, with VAT labelled only as that page states it. A workshop can change a figure, and any extra diagnosis or parts are extra.