Subaru MOT pass rates and reliability
We have 57,382 MOT tests on Subaru cars from 2023, covering 6 models with enough tests to compare. Choose a model to see what it fails on most often, how its pass rate changes with age and how far it is typically driven.
Across 57,382 MOT tests on Subaru cars in 2023, 73% passed first time, close to the national average of 71% for all cars. Of the Subaru models with enough tests, the WRX did best at 89% and the Legacy did least well at 63%. Newer models pass more often whatever the make, so compare cars of a similar age.
Subaru models
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Impreza | 19,325 | 73% |
| Forester | 16,641 | 70% |
| Outback | 7,450 | 75% |
| XV | 6,115 | 83% |
| Legacy | 6,005 | 63% |
| WRX | 1,846 | 89% |
What Subaru cars fail on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, across all models, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics12.2% (all cars 11.3%)
- Suspension10.1% (all cars 9.0%)
- Exhaust and emissions6.3% (all cars 3.1%)
- Brakes6.1% (all cars 6.8%)
- Body and structure4.4% (all cars 3.5%)
- Visibility3.9% (all cars 4.8%)
- Tyres3.7% (all cars 6.4%)
- Seat belts and airbags1.1% (all cars 1.0%)
Most common Subaru failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Position lamp: not working 3.8%
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction 2.4%
- Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength 1.9%
- Stop lamp: not working 1.8%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick 1.5%
- Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 1.4%
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt 1.1%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 1.0%
Check a particular Subaru
Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.
Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.