Are Subaru vehicles reliable?

Subaru vehicles pass their MOT first time 78.6% of the time across 59,050 DVSA tests, 1.6 points above the 77% national average. That ranks Subaru 23 of 51 major UK brands.

What does a Subaru most commonly fail its MOT on?

Pooled across every Subaru model, the most common MOT failure is "Emissions levels exceed default limits", flagged on 1.3% of 95,775 first-time tests in the DVSA's 2024 data.

Subaru: MOT pass rate and reliability

Subaru vehicles pass the MOT first time 78.6% of the time, measured across 59,050 DVSA tests. That is 1.6 points better than the 77% national average, ranking Subaru 23 of 51 major brands sold in the UK.

Every brand ranked

Ferrari - 95.9%
LEVC - 95.4%
Aston Martin - 93.2%
Bentley - 92.5%
Porsche - 88.7%
Lexus - 87.7%
Tesla - 84.8%
Maserati - 84.3%
MG - 83.9%
BMW - 82.5%
Jaguar - 81.9%
Abarth - 81.8%
Audi - 81.6%
MINI - 81.6%
Toyota - 81.3%
Land Rover - 80.6%
Skoda - 80.6%
Mercedes-Benz - 79.9%
Suzuki - 79.5%
Kia - 78.9%
Hyundai - 78.8%
SEAT - 78.7%
Subaru - 78.6%
Honda - 78.3%
Dacia - 78.3%
Volvo - 78.2%
Jeep - 78%
Smart (Mcc) - 77.7%
Smart - 77.2%
Volkswagen - 77.1%
Mazda - 77%
Mitsubishi - 76.9%
DS - 76.2%
London Taxis International - 75.5%
Ford - 74.8%
Isuzu - 73.7%
Nissan - 73.4%
Peugeot - 73.2%
Fiat - 73%
Ssangyong - 73%
Vauxhall - 72.4%
Alfa Romeo - 72.4%
Citroen - 70.8%
Iveco - 70.2%
Rover - 70.2%
Saab - 69.1%
Renault - 68.1%
Chrysler - 67.2%
Daihatsu - 67.1%
Chrysler-Jeep - 67%
Chevrolet - 62.8%

Subaru models

Subaru Impreza - 78%, 17,976 tests
Subaru Forester - 73.5%, 14,434 tests
Subaru Outback - 79.2%, 7,237 tests
Subaru Xv - 83.6%, 5,853 tests
Subaru Legacy - 68.8%, 5,181 tests
Subaru Wrx - 90.8%, 1,690 tests
Subaru Forester I Xe Prm Ebxr Awd Cvt - 93.8%, 1,215 tests
Subaru Brz - 88.9%, 882 tests
Subaru Levorg - 88.4%, 790 tests
Subaru Xv I Se Prem E Boxer Awd Cvt - 96.7%, 663 tests
Subaru Justy - 67.4%, 653 tests

Most common MOT failures across every Subaru

Pooled across all Subaru models, not just one: what actually fails on a Subaru more than the UK average.

Emissions levels exceed default limits, 1.3% of tests (4.33x the national rate for this defect)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.9% of tests (3.5x the national rate for this defect)
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 1.4% of tests (3.45x the national rate for this defect)
Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.1% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5.5% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this defect)
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.4% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this defect)
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.1% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.1% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.5% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged, 1.3% of tests

From 95,775 DVSA-tracked Subaru tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.27% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 4.97% nationally.

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