Subaru reliability: MOT results 2024
Figures updated
Ranked 12 of 52 makes
50,498 Subaru cars aged 3 to 20 had an MOT in 2024, and 26.1% failed first time (UK average 28.5%). Allowing for age and mileage, a Subaru is 21% less likely to fail than the average car of the same age and mileage. At their first MOT, 8.8% failed (UK 12.7%).
Subaru models ranked
| Model | Score | Fail rate | First MOT | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Impreza | 159 | 25.7% | – | 12,523 |
| Subaru Outback | 121 | 25.6% | 9.8% | 7,326 |
| Subaru XV | 116 | 19.0% | 6.3% | 6,480 |
| Subaru Forester | 113 | 28.8% | 7.6% | 14,796 |
| Subaru Legacy | 112 | 37.2% | – | 4,614 |
Subaru MOT failure rate by age
What Subaru cars fail on
| Area | Tests failing | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 10.9% | ▼ 23% less often |
| Suspension | 10.1% | ▼ 12% less often |
| Brakes | 5.9% | ▼ 31% less often |
| Exhaust and emissions | 5.5% | ▲ 1.3× as often |
| Visibility | 3.9% | ▼ 28% less often |
| Tyres | 3.7% | ▼ 45% less often |
| Body and structure | 3.7% | ▼ 25% less often |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.7% | ▼ 52% less often |
| Steering | 0.6% | ▼ 76% less often |
| Wheels | 0.3% | ▼ 42% less often |
Most common Subaru MOT faults
- Position lamp: not working3.5% of tests
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.5% of tests
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.5% of tests
- Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.2% of tests
- Stop lamp: not working2.1% of tests
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0% of tests
Frequently asked questions
›Are Subaru cars reliable?
By MOT results, Subaru ranks 12 of 52 makes in 2024, with a reliability score of 127 (100 is average for the same age and mileage). 26.1% of Subaru cars failed their MOT first time.
›What is the most reliable Subaru?
The Subaru Impreza, with a score of 159. The lowest-scoring is the Legacy (112).
›What do Subaru cars fail their MOT on?
Exhaust and emissions: 5.5% of Subaru MOTs failed on it, 1.3 times the rate for similar cars. The single most common fault was “Position lamp: not working”.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024, Open Government Licence v3.0. How we calculate the league.