Touchtronic II Transmission Faults / Hesitation
high- Typically appears
- 60–90k mi
- Estimated repair
- $1,500 – $4,500
2010 Aston
Martin DB9
5.9L V12
The 2010 Aston Martin DB9 is a hand-built British grand tourer built around a 5.9L naturally aspirated V12, producing 470 horsepower. It sits on an aluminum VH platform shared with the Vantage and DBS, keeping curb weight surprisingly manageable for a car of its presence. In 2010 it came in both coupe (DB9) and convertible (Volante) body styles, with the Touchtronic II 6-speed automatic gearbox mounted at the rear transaxle for near-perfect weight distribution. This is unambiguously a GT car first — comfortable enough for long European runs, dramatic enough to be the centerpiece of any parking lot. The 6.0L (actually 5.935L) V12 is one of the finest-sounding engines ever fitted to a road car, and at highway speeds the DB9 is genuinely relaxing to drive. It is not a track toy, and it doesn't pretend to be. Owning a DB9 in 2025 means owning a 15-year-old specialist vehicle with specialist costs to match. Parts availability has improved with third-party suppliers, but service labor is expensive and some components — particularly transmission controllers and adaptive dampers — remain genuinely costly to repair. This is a second-car or collector piece, not a daily driver.
Reliability
2/5
Engine
[object Object]
Drivetrain
RWD
Fuel
Gasoline
MPG
12 city / 19 hwy / 15 combined
Seats
4
Doors
2
Body
Coupe
MSRP
$183,000
Overview
AI-curatedThe 2010 Aston Martin DB9 is a hand-built British grand tourer built around a 5.9L naturally aspirated V12, producing 470 horsepower. It sits on an aluminum VH platform shared with the Vantage and DBS, keeping curb weight surprisingly manageable for a car of its presence. In 2010 it came in both coupe (DB9) and convertible (Volante) body styles, with the Touchtronic II 6-speed automatic gearbox mounted at the rear transaxle for near-perfect weight distribution. This is unambiguously a GT car first — comfortable enough for long European runs, dramatic enough to be the centerpiece of any parking lot. The 6.0L (actually 5.935L) V12 is one of the finest-sounding engines ever fitted to a road car, and at highway speeds the DB9 is genuinely relaxing to drive. It is not a track toy, and it doesn't pretend to be. Owning a DB9 in 2025 means owning a 15-year-old specialist vehicle with specialist costs to match. Parts availability has improved with third-party suppliers, but service labor is expensive and some components — particularly transmission controllers and adaptive dampers — remain genuinely costly to repair. This is a second-car or collector piece, not a daily driver.
Known for
- Naturally aspirated 5.9L V12 with a genuinely spectacular exhaust note
- Hand-built aluminum body and VH architecture
- Rear-mounted Touchtronic II transaxle for balanced weight distribution
- Timeless styling that has aged exceptionally well
- Low production numbers and strong collector appeal
Best for
- Enthusiasts who want a usable, comfortable grand tourer with real drama
- Collectors looking for a peak-era Aston Martin at a relative value price
- Drivers who already have a reliable daily car and can absorb specialist service costs
- Weekend and fair-weather driving — not a commuter
Watch for
- High ownership costs even when nothing is broken — oil changes alone run $250+
- Touchtronic II transmission can be expensive to rebuild or replace
- Adaptive damper failures are common past 70k miles and costly
- Carbon buildup on intake valves is a known V12 characteristic requiring periodic walnut blasting
- Cooling system components (water pump, radiator hoses) are age-sensitive and should be inspected on any used purchase
Common issues by mileage
6 knownCarbon Buildup on Intake Valves
high- Typically appears
- 40–70k mi
- Estimated repair
- $1,000 – $2,000
Coolant Leaks — Water Pump / Radiator
medium- Typically appears
- 50–80k mi
- Estimated repair
- $600 – $1,200
Lean Fuel Trim / O2 Sensor Codes (Both Banks)
medium- Typically appears
- 60–90k mi
- Estimated repair
- $350 – $700
Catalytic Converter Efficiency Codes (Both Banks)
medium- Typically appears
- 80–100k mi
- Estimated repair
- $1,800 – $3,500
Adaptive Damper System Failure
medium- Typically appears
- 70–100k mi
- Estimated repair
- $800 – $2,000
Maintenance schedule
- 1 Every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first Engine Oil & Filter Change
The V12 requires a specific full-synthetic oil to spec. Using the correct viscosity is critical — cheap oil accelerates wear in the variable valve timing system. At $250 per service, this is non-negotiable maintenance.
- 2 Every 5,000 miles or 6 months Tire Rotation
The DB9's rear-biased weight and RWD setup cause uneven tire wear, especially if you use any throttle. Performance tires on this car are expensive — rotating consistently is cheap insurance.
- 3 Every 20,000 miles or 24 months Brake Fluid Flush
Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, lowering its boiling point. The DB9's large Brembo brakes generate real heat; degraded fluid can cause fade or soft pedal.
- 4 Every 30,000 miles or 36 months Coolant System Inspection & Flush
Water pump and radiator hose failures are a known issue. Flush on schedule and visually inspect hoses and the water pump weep hole at every oil change.
- 5 Every 60,000 miles or 72 months Transmission Fluid Change (Touchtronic II)
The rear transaxle unit is expensive to rebuild. Fresh fluid is the cheapest way to extend its life. If the car has no service history, do this immediately regardless of mileage.
- 6 Every 40,000–50,000 miles Intake Valve Carbon Cleaning (Walnut Blasting)
The V12's direct-injection characteristics allow carbon to accumulate on intake valves. Left unchecked this causes misfires, rough idle, and lean codes. Walnut blasting is the accepted fix.
- 7 Every 30,000 miles Spark Plug Replacement
Twelve plugs means twelve chances for misfires. Worn plugs on this engine will trigger P0300 codes and rough running. Labor is significant — replace all 12 at once.
- 8 Every fall before winter storage Battery Condition Check
The DB9's electronics are sensitive to low voltage. A weak battery causes a cascade of spurious fault codes and can strand the car. Wisconsin winters accelerate battery degradation — test it every October.
Always defer to the manufacturer's service manual for warranty-mandated intervals.
Cost of ownership
Annual maintenance
$2,000 – $5,000
Fuel
Premium 91+ octane required. At 15 MPG combined and average Wisconsin driving, expect $3,000–$4,500/year in fuel costs depending on mileage.
Insurance
Expect $2,000–$4,500/year for agreed-value collector car or standard comprehensive coverage depending on your driving history, storage situation, and annual mileage. Agreed-value policies are strongly recommended for a car of this value.
A DB9 in good condition with no deferred maintenance will cost $4,000–$8,000 per year to own responsibly between insurance, fuel, and routine service — before any unplanned repairs. A year with a transmission service or suspension work can push that to $10,000+. This is emphatically not a cheap car to run. Budget a $3,000–$5,000 annual repair reserve on top of routine maintenance costs.
Seasonal care
Lake Geneva, WI Winter
- Do not drive this car on salted Wisconsin roads. The aluminum structure resists corrosion but brake lines, suspension components, and underbody hardware do not. Store it from November through April.
- Use a quality battery tender (not a trickle charger) during storage. The DB9's electronics draw a parasitic load and will drain a battery in weeks. A dead battery in storage causes fault codes and potential module damage.
- Store with a full tank of fresh premium fuel and a fuel stabilizer additive to prevent ethanol-blend degradation over winter.
- Over-inflate tires slightly (per the storage spec in the owner's manual) to prevent flat-spotting on a cold garage floor.
- If the car must be driven in winter, use only a door seal conditioner to prevent rubber seals from freezing shut — do not force frozen doors.
- Before spring return to service: inspect brake calipers for seizure, check all fluid levels, and verify the battery is fully charged before attempting a cold start.
Summer
- Check tire pressures weekly in summer — the DB9's low-profile performance tires are sensitive to heat expansion and under-inflation causes handling changes and accelerated wear.
- Inspect the cooling system before any extended summer drive. The V12 runs warm, and a marginal water pump or hose that survives spring can fail under sustained heat load.
- Verify A/C function early in the season. The refrigerant charge on a 15-year-old car may be low; a weak A/C system can also indicate a condenser leak.
- After summer track days or spirited driving, allow the brakes to cool before parking — heat-soaked calipers can cause brake fluid to vaporize and pads to glaze.
Comparable vehicles
2010 Ferrari
California
Similar price point in the used market, front-mid V8 GT with a folding hard-top, comparable ownership costs, and the same 'usable exotic' positioning. Higher parts costs but slightly more dealer network presence.
2010 Bentley
Continental GT
Overlapping GT mission with 2+2 seating, AWD instead of RWD, and a twin-turbo W12. More practical in Wisconsin weather, but maintenance costs are similarly stratospheric and reliability is comparable.
2010 Maserati
GranTurismo
Ferrari-derived V8 GT coupe in the same segment and used-market price band. More dealer locations in the Midwest but a similar profile of Italian-exotic ownership costs.
2010 Porsche
911 Turbo
More expensive new but similar used-market pricing. Significantly more reliable, far better dealer and independent shop support, and more practical as a near-daily driver — a meaningful alternative if reliability is a priority.