Diesel Subaru Forester: MOT pass rate

71.8% of diesel Subaru Foresters pass the MOT first time, measured across 4,026 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 96,632.

Diesel against the other Subaru Forester versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Subaru Forester specifically, petrol is the strongest at 75.1%, and this diesel version sits 2.4 points below the 74.2% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Subaru Forester fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Subaru Forester had covered 96,632 miles at test, against 95,664 for the petrol. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Subaru Forester page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Subaru Forester

1. ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction, 1.4% of tests (6.97x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 18.8% of tests (3.73x the national rate for this defect)
3. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.7% of tests (2.13x the national rate for this defect)
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 4.7% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this defect)
5. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.5% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.4% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this defect)
7. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.9% of tests (1.79x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.7% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect)
9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.2% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this defect)
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.7% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this defect)

From 4,045 DVSA-tracked diesel Subaru Forester tests, 2024, split out from the Subaru Forester's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 3.33% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Subaru Forester

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A wheel bearing excessively rough, 1.8% of tests (4.78x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 54.9% of tests (4.11x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 1.9% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 7.4% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 15.8% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 11.1% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 22.8% of tests
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 13.5% of tests
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 6.8% of tests
10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 3.9% of tests

From 4,045 DVSA-tracked diesel Subaru Forester tests, 2024.

Other Subaru Forester fuel types

• Petrol Subaru Forester - 75.1%

All Subaru Forester MOT data · Every model