SubaruUsed-car reliability
At 7 years old, the average Subaru fails its MOT less often than the average UK car.
MOT fail rate · 7-year-old cars
Fails less often than the average 7-year-old car (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)
Where to start
The Subaru models whose MOT tests at 7 years old most and least often ended in a fail.
Lowest fail rates
Subaru Impreza11.5%fail rate
Subaru Outback11.8%fail rate
Subaru Forester14.7%fail rateWhat actually goes wrong
The most common MOT faults across the Subaru range, in plain English. Models with more MOT tests count for more. The percentage is the share of MOT tests on Subaru cars that recorded that defect.
A suspension ball joint, pin, or rubber bush is worn or has excessive play. These are the pivot points and flexible mountings that let the suspension move — wear causes knocking sounds and vague steering.
MOT wording: Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much
A suspension arm, wishbone, strut, sub-frame, or anti-roll bar is worn, cracked, bent, or has excessive play. These structural parts hold the wheels in position and control body lean in corners.
MOT wording: Suspension part corroded, but not seriously weakened
A rigid metal brake pipe is corroded, damaged, kinked, or leaking. These permanently fixed pipes carry pressurised brake fluid — any weakness is a serious safety concern.
MOT wording: Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease
A tyre is worn, cut, damaged or otherwise not fit for the road. Tyres are the only thing connecting the car to the road, so this is always worth taking seriously.
MOT wording: Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge
Across all Subaru models; models with more MOT tests count for more.
The whole range
For each model, one number: the share of its MOT tests at 7 years old that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. Lower is better. Every model here fails less often than the UK average (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%). Only models with enough MOT data at 7 years old are ranked. The rest sit just below, unranked.
The lowest 7-year fail rate of any Subaru here.
Among the lower fail rates in the Subaru range at 7 years old.
Among the lower fail rates in the Subaru range at 7 years old.
Among the lower fail rates in the Subaru range at 7 years old.
Above the Subaru average, but below the UK average.
Fail rates are the share of MOT tests on 7-year-old cars ending in a fail, retests included (DVSA MOT results, 2025). UK average across all makes at the same age: 16.6%. How we count fail rates
Shown unranked. These models don’t have enough MOT data at 7 years old yet. They’re either too new (few cars old enough) or too old (few still on the road). Each is shown at the age with the most tests, so the percentages aren’t directly comparable to the list above.
Averages tell you the odds across the range. Enter a number plate to see that car’s own MOT history, its risk rating, and what’s likely to need attention.
