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. On a Subaru Outback bought as a 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 what damaged Subaru Outbacks actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Subaru Outback

1. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.1% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)
2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.4% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this defect)
3. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.5% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect)
4. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.2% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
5. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.4% of tests (1.47x the national rate for this defect)
6. 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, 1.1% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this defect)
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2% of tests
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.9% of tests
9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.5% of tests
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.4% of tests

From 10,948 DVSA-tracked Subaru Outback tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.77% of these flagged Subaru Outback defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Subaru Outback pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. 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

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

• 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

Embed this data

Run a site about the Subaru Outback? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/subaru-outback"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/subaru-outback.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Subaru Outback MOT Pass Rate: 79.2% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate