MOT performance
Subaru MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 120,127 MOT tests of Subaru cars in 2023–2024, 73.5% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Subarus failed 24% less often than comparable cars. Of the 5 Subaru models with enough tests, the Subaru Impreza failed least often relative to comparable cars.
120,127 MOT tests on 65,051 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 73.5% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 120,127 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.76× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 5.7% | n = 120,127 |
| Average age at test | 13 years | n = 120,127 |
Subaru models
Every Subaru model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Impreza | 37,283 | 74.0% | 0.63× |
| Subaru Forester | 32,848 | 70.1% | 0.89× |
| Subaru Outback | 14,983 | 74.8% | 0.81× |
| Subaru Xv | 12,782 | 82.0% | 0.84× |
| Subaru Legacy | 11,241 | 63.0% | 0.87× |
Where Subarus fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 11.5% | -25% |
| Suspension | 10.0% | -16% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.0% | +9% |
| Brakes | 6.0% | -34% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 4.2% | -22% |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.9% | -33% |
| Tyres | 3.6% | -46% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.9% | -42% |
| Steering | 0.9% | -67% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.5% | +5% |
| Road wheels | 0.3% | -36% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -45% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.56% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.15% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.89% |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | Suspension | 1.89% |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.83% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 1.80% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.69% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 1.56% |
| Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases | Body, chassis and structure | 1.45% |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 1.36% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 9,753 | 89.3% | -20% |
| 5-6 | 11,518 | 86.3% | -27% |
| 7-8 | 13,184 | 80.7% | -23% |
| 9-10 | 9,313 | 73.3% | -16% |
| 11-12 | 8,614 | 68.0% | -16% |
| 13-15 | 15,807 | 65.8% | -20% |
| 16+ | 49,410 | 68.0% | -27% |
MOT failures where Subaru stands out
Individual failure items that Subarus record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Subaru MOT failure patterns.
- Coil spring: fractured or broken · 0.46× comparable cars
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect · 0.53× comparable cars
- Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength · 1.56× comparable cars
Check a specific Subaru
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.