Subaru Impreza: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Subaru Impreza passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 1.3 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 17,976 individual Subaru Impreza tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 78% first-time pass rate means roughly 22 in every 100 Subaru Imprezas presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Subaru Impreza tested had covered 98,449 miles and was built around 2005.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Subaru Impreza sits 1.3 points above the national average, ranked 1,519 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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 Impreza 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 Imprezas at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Subaru Impreza

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.4% of tests (9.51x the national rate for this defect)
2. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 2.6% of tests (9.38x the national rate for this defect)
3. 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, 6.2% of tests (6.6x the national rate for this defect)
4. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 3% of tests (5.8x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 1.7% of tests (4.8x the national rate for this defect)
6. Emissions test unable to be completed, 1.3% of tests (3.24x the national rate for this defect)
7. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 1.3% of tests (3.15x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.6% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
9. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.5% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.9% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect)

From 17,959 DVSA-tracked Subaru Impreza tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.94% of these flagged Subaru Impreza defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Subaru Impreza

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 Impreza before it actually fails on it.

1. 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, 5.9% of tests (3.9x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.8% of tests (3.86x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 12.5% of tests (2.42x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5% of tests (1.75x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 2.2% of tests (1.74x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 9% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this advisory)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 19.3% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 15.6% of tests
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 10.2% of tests
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.1% of tests

From 17,959 DVSA-tracked Subaru Impreza tests, 2024.

Subaru Impreza pass rate by model year

From its 1998 to its 2010 model year, the Subaru Impreza's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.6 points, from 82.4% to 79.8%, an unusual pattern where even its newest years fail more than its oldest. First-time pass rate for each Subaru Impreza year:

• 1997 Subaru Impreza - 79.8% first-time pass, 247 tests
• 1998 Subaru Impreza - 82.4% first-time pass, 421 tests
• 1999 Subaru Impreza - 82.5% first-time pass, 758 tests
• 2000 Subaru Impreza - 81% first-time pass, 898 tests
• 2001 Subaru Impreza - 77.2% first-time pass, 904 tests
• 2002 Subaru Impreza - 78.9% first-time pass, 1,053 tests
• 2003 Subaru Impreza - 77.1% first-time pass, 1,682 tests
• 2004 Subaru Impreza - 79.6% first-time pass, 1,748 tests
• 2005 Subaru Impreza - 78.3% first-time pass, 2,175 tests
• 2006 Subaru Impreza - 77.5% first-time pass, 1,684 tests
• 2007 Subaru Impreza - 75.5% first-time pass, 1,789 tests
• 2008 Subaru Impreza - 76.1% first-time pass, 1,023 tests
• 2009 Subaru Impreza - 78.5% first-time pass, 767 tests
• 2010 Subaru Impreza - 79.8% first-time pass, 788 tests
• 2015 Subaru Impreza - 84.2% first-time pass, 215 tests
• 2018 Subaru Impreza - 90.1% first-time pass, 202 tests

Other Subaru models

• Subaru Forester - 73.5%
• 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

• Audi A3 - 78.1%
• Honda Insight - 78.1%
• MINI First - 78.1%
• Jaguar Xf - 77.9%
• Skoda Rapid - 77.9%
• BMW 528 - 77.9%

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