Subaru Outback: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Subaru Outback passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 2.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 7,237 individual Subaru Outback tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 79.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 21 in every 100 Subaru Outbacks 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 Outback tested had covered 85,999 miles and was built around 2014.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Subaru Outback sits 2.5 points above the national average, ranked 1,474 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 Outback 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 Outbacks at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Subaru Outback

1. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 7.9% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.3% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this defect)
3. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.5% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this defect)
4. 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, 1.4% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this defect)
5. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.8% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this defect)
6. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.2% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.6% of tests
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.5% of tests
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.9% of tests
10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.9% of tests

From 7,231 DVSA-tracked Subaru Outback tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.8% of these flagged Subaru Outback defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Subaru Outback

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 Outback before it actually fails on it.

1. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 31.1% of tests (2.33x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 2.2% of tests (1.74x the national rate for this advisory)
3. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 8.4% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this advisory)
4. 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, 2.4% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 14.3% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.9% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 7.8% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.1% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24.8% of tests, also fails
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.6% of tests, also fails

From 7,231 DVSA-tracked Subaru Outback tests, 2024.

Subaru Outback pass rate by model year

From its 2006 to its 2021 model year, the Subaru Outback's first-time pass rate has risen 29.6 points, from 64.2% to 93.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Subaru Outback year:

• 2005 Subaru Outback - 59.9% first-time pass, 257 tests
• 2006 Subaru Outback - 64.2% first-time pass, 372 tests
• 2007 Subaru Outback - 63.3% first-time pass, 346 tests
• 2008 Subaru Outback - 63.7% first-time pass, 201 tests
• 2009 Subaru Outback - 70% first-time pass, 287 tests
• 2010 Subaru Outback - 71.4% first-time pass, 440 tests
• 2011 Subaru Outback - 74.9% first-time pass, 458 tests
• 2012 Subaru Outback - 67.9% first-time pass, 246 tests
• 2013 Subaru Outback - 73.9% first-time pass, 238 tests
• 2014 Subaru Outback - 82.7% first-time pass, 226 tests
• 2015 Subaru Outback - 81.5% first-time pass, 774 tests
• 2016 Subaru Outback - 88.5% first-time pass, 747 tests
• 2017 Subaru Outback - 89.9% first-time pass, 466 tests
• 2018 Subaru Outback - 89.3% first-time pass, 646 tests
• 2019 Subaru Outback - 90.5% first-time pass, 592 tests
• 2020 Subaru Outback - 91.7% first-time pass, 252 tests
• 2021 Subaru Outback - 93.8% first-time pass, 433 tests

Subaru Outback by fuel type

The Subaru Outback's two most-tested fuel types split by 1.8 points: petrol passes first time 80.2% of the time (4,709 tests) against 78.4% for diesel (2,478 tests).

• Petrol Subaru Outback - 80.2% first-time pass, 4,709 tests
• Diesel Subaru Outback - 78.4% first-time pass, 2,478 tests

Other Subaru models

• Subaru Impreza - 78%
• Subaru Forester - 73.5%
• 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

• Mercedes-Benz E - 79.2%
• Fiat 500x - 79.2%
• Citroen C4 Cactus - 79.2%
• Fiat Hymer - 79.2%
• Honda Unclassified - 79.1%
• Nissan Nv250 Tekna Dci - 79.1%

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