Subaru Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems by model

Free Subaru vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 78% MOT pass rate (UK 77%)
  • 850 Subarus checked

Subaru reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Subaru history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Subaru car check:

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a Subaru by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Subaru car check by model

MOT pass rate of each Subaru model, all its versions included; the line marks the UK average (77%). Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

  • Subaru Impreza 438 vehicles checked 77% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • Subaru Forester 152 vehicles checked
  • Subaru Legacy 82 vehicles checked
  • Subaru Outback 57 vehicles checked
  • Subaru WRX 35 vehicles checked
  • Subaru XV 32 vehicles checked
  • Subaru BRZ 20 vehicles checked

Free Subaru MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 850 Subaru vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 78%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 5,400typical miles a year
  • 10.6%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 12,848MOT tests analysed
  • 2003–2011built (middle half)
  • 90%petrol; 9% diesel; 1% hybrid electric (clean)

Subaru common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on Subaru vehicles, as a share of all their MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once).

Top 20 Subaru MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Position lamp not working2.7%
  2. Registration plate lamp not working2.5%
  3. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.7%
  4. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%
  5. Headlamp aim too low1.4%
  6. Stop lamp not working1.3%
  7. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.3%
  8. Headlamp aim too high1.0%
  9. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid0.9%
  10. Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive0.9%
Show all 20
  1. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.8%
  2. Fog lamp not working0.8%
  3. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.8%
  4. Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits0.8%
  5. Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits0.7%
  6. Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.7%
  7. Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases0.6%
  8. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.6%
  9. Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive0.5%
  10. Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.5%

Top 20 Subaru MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Brake pad wearing thin6.5%
  2. Tyre worn close to the legal limit5.9%
  3. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.6%
  4. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge3.7%
  5. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases2.6%
  6. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.9%
  7. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material1.7%
  8. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.4%
  9. Oil leak, but not excessive1.4%
  10. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.4%
Show all 20
  1. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.3%
  2. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.3%
  3. Brake pipe slightly corroded1.1%
  4. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play1.1%
  5. Shock absorber has a light misting of oil1.1%
  6. Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint1.0%
  7. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.0%
  8. Exhaust noisy1.0%
  9. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'0.9%
  10. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A'0.8%

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 850 Subaru vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp (12,848 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Before buying a used Subaru

The MOT record shows condition on the day of the test. Run these checks on the Subaru you're looking at too:

Subaru MOT questions

Is a Subaru car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Subaru are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Subaru?

Position lamp not working: found at 2.7% of the Subaru MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 52% of failed tests.

What is the Subaru MOT pass rate?

78% of 12,848 MOT tests on 850 Subaru vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Subaru?

Going by its MOT records, the Subaru's most common failures are position lamp not working (2.7% of tests); registration plate lamp not working (2.5% of tests); tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1.7% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Subaru?

Brake pad wearing thin: noted at 6.5% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Subaru typically driven?

About 5,400 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 10.6% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

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