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Subaru Forester MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Subaru Forester. Check any Forester by registration number below.

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73.4%

Avg Pass Rate

-12.3%

vs Subaru Avg

26

Year Ranges

Average

Reliability

Subaru Forester — MOT Reliability Overview

The Subaru Forester has an average MOT pass rate of 73.4%, which is 12.3 percentage points below the Subaru brand average of 85.7%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your Forester on the road.

The most common reasons a Subaru Forester fails its MOT are a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 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, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. If you are preparing your Forester for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Typical mileage for the Forester is around 42,000 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used Forester, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.

Before buying a used Subaru Forester, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Subaru Forester performs at MOT across different model years.

2021

Based on 90 vehicles

85.6%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

1.5%

Retest Rate

10.6%

Mileage at 3yr

86k mi

2020

Based on 158 vehicles

84.8%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

1.0%

Retest Rate

17.0%

Mileage at 3yr

87k mi

Mileage at 5yr

102k mi

2019

Based on 1,494 vehicles

91.3%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

8.9%

Mileage at 3yr

66k mi

Mileage at 5yr

64k mi

2018

Based on 2,397 vehicles

89.5%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.1%

Retest Rate

10.3%

Mileage at 5yr

64k mi

2017

Based on 2,256 vehicles

87.4%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

12.3%

Mileage at 5yr

97k mi

2016

Based on 2,907 vehicles

81.5%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

19.2%

2015

Based on 2,430 vehicles

79.0%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

21.1%

Mileage at 10yr

134k mi

2014

Based on 2,794 vehicles

76.7%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

25.1%

Mileage at 10yr

134k mi

2013

Based on 1,694 vehicles

73.5%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

28.0%

Mileage at 10yr

143k mi

2012

Based on 679 vehicles

72.3%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.1%

Retest Rate

26.3%

Mileage at 10yr

127k mi

2011

Based on 1,951 vehicles

73.8%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.1%

Retest Rate

23.2%

2010

Based on 1,911 vehicles

67.9%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.7%

Retest Rate

28.7%

2009

Based on 1,128 vehicles

65.9%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.7%

Retest Rate

29.4%

2008

Based on 1,336 vehicles

72.4%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.0%

Retest Rate

23.3%

2007

Based on 2,145 vehicles

70.0%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.8%

Retest Rate

23.7%

2006

Based on 2,332 vehicles

68.7%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.2%

Retest Rate

22.0%

2005

Based on 2,515 vehicles

68.3%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

24.4%

2004

Based on 2,082 vehicles

69.1%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.8%

Retest Rate

21.4%

2003

Based on 1,614 vehicles

67.2%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.3%

Retest Rate

24.4%

2002

Based on 10,000 vehicles

0.8%Poor
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

0.1%

Mileage at 3yr

24k mi

Mileage at 5yr

42k mi

Mileage at 10yr

82k mi

2001

Based on 556 vehicles

64.2%Below Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

26.5%

2000

Based on 428 vehicles

65.7%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.6%

Retest Rate

25.0%

1999

Based on 454 vehicles

72.0%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

13.9%

1998

Based on 1,649 vehicles

92.0%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

26.0%

Mileage at 10yr

170k mi

1997

Based on 439 vehicles

90.2%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

15.8%

0

Based on 18,786 vehicles

78.4%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Mileage at 5yr

94k mi

Top MOT Failures — Subaru Forester

The most common reasons a Subaru Forester fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud

4.7%
2

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

4.5%
3

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

4.4%
4

Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen

3.8%
5

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

3.7%
Subaru Forester Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Nearside

4.4%

Offside

3.3%

Rear Offside

2.2%

Typical Mileage — Subaru Forester

Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 2002 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used Forester.

At 3 Years

24,000

miles

At 5 Years

42,000

miles

At 10 Years

82,000

miles

Other Subaru Models

Compare MOT reliability across Subaru models.

Subaru Impreza

91.7% pass rate

Subaru Forester 2.0d-l Cvt

94.1% pass rate

Subaru Xv ( G4 )

98.1% pass rate

Subaru Outback 2.0d (bm/br)

92.4% pass rate

Subaru WRX

94.5% pass rate

Subaru Impreza Gl

100.0% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Subaru Forester

Subaru Forester — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Subaru Forester MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Subaru Forester?
The average MOT pass rate for the Subaru Forester is 73.4% compared to the Subaru average of 85.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Subaru Forester?
The most common MOT failures on the Subaru Forester are: A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud (4.7%), 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 (4.5%), Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (4.4%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Subaru Forester reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 73.4%, the Subaru Forester is rated as "Average" for reliability. This is around average — regular maintenance is recommended to avoid common failure points.
How do I check the MOT history of a Subaru Forester?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Subaru Forester?
Typical mileage for the Subaru Forester: 85,921 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Forester to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Subaru Forester's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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