Subaru Forester: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Subaru Forester fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 3.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 14,434 individual Subaru Forester tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 73.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 27 in every 100 Subaru Foresters presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Subaru Forester tested had covered 94,051 miles and was built around 2011.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Subaru Forester sits 3.2 points below the national average, ranked 1,665 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Subaru Forester rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Subaru Foresters at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Subaru Forester

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 1.4% of tests (4.05x the national rate for this defect)
2. 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, 3.8% of tests (3.99x the national rate for this defect)
3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 12.4% of tests (2.46x the national rate for this defect)
4. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.7% of tests (2.12x the national rate for this defect)
5. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.8% of tests (1.82x the national rate for this defect)
6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.4% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
7. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.1% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
8. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.9% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.5% of tests (1.36x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.2% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)

From 14,426 DVSA-tracked Subaru Forester tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.09% of these flagged Subaru Forester defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Subaru Forester

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Subaru Forester before it actually fails on it.

1. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 37.4% of tests (2.8x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. 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, 3.9% of tests (2.58x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3% of tests (2.37x the national rate for this advisory)
4. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 2.9% of tests (2.28x the national rate for this advisory)
5. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 11.5% of tests (2.23x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 6.1% of tests (2.15x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 2.2% of tests (1.97x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.7% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 7.9% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this advisory)
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 11.3% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this advisory)

From 14,426 DVSA-tracked Subaru Forester tests, 2024.

Subaru Forester pass rate by model year

From its 2003 to its 2019 model year, the Subaru Forester's first-time pass rate has risen 23.4 points, from 66.9% to 90.3%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Subaru Forester year:

• 2001 Subaru Forester - 67% first-time pass, 215 tests
• 2002 Subaru Forester - 67.4% first-time pass, 273 tests
• 2003 Subaru Forester - 66.9% first-time pass, 611 tests
• 2004 Subaru Forester - 71.4% first-time pass, 796 tests
• 2005 Subaru Forester - 69% first-time pass, 962 tests
• 2006 Subaru Forester - 68.2% first-time pass, 893 tests
• 2007 Subaru Forester - 67.2% first-time pass, 830 tests
• 2008 Subaru Forester - 74.6% first-time pass, 539 tests
• 2009 Subaru Forester - 63.9% first-time pass, 443 tests
• 2010 Subaru Forester - 65.6% first-time pass, 749 tests
• 2011 Subaru Forester - 71.7% first-time pass, 785 tests
• 2012 Subaru Forester - 70.9% first-time pass, 278 tests
• 2013 Subaru Forester - 70.9% first-time pass, 718 tests
• 2014 Subaru Forester - 74.9% first-time pass, 1,139 tests
• 2015 Subaru Forester - 77.1% first-time pass, 984 tests
• 2016 Subaru Forester - 79.8% first-time pass, 1,196 tests
• 2017 Subaru Forester - 86% first-time pass, 904 tests
• 2018 Subaru Forester - 88.4% first-time pass, 936 tests
• 2019 Subaru Forester - 90.3% first-time pass, 589 tests

Subaru Forester by fuel type

The Subaru Forester's two most-tested fuel types split by 3.3 points: petrol passes first time 75.1% of the time (10,245 tests) against 71.8% for diesel (4,026 tests).

• Petrol Subaru Forester - 75.1% first-time pass, 10,245 tests
• Diesel Subaru Forester - 71.8% first-time pass, 4,026 tests

Other Subaru models

• Subaru Impreza - 78%
• Subaru Outback - 79.2%
• Subaru Xv - 83.6%
• Subaru Legacy - 68.8%
• Subaru Wrx - 90.8%
• Subaru Forester I Xe Prm Ebxr Awd Cvt - 93.8%
• Subaru Brz - 88.9%
• Subaru Levorg - 88.4%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Vauxhall Insignia - 73.5%
• Volkswagen Caddy - 73.5%
• Nissan X-Trail - 73.5%
• Volkswagen Unclassified - 73.5%
• Honda Civic - 73.4%
• Mazda 2 - 73.4%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate