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Subaru reliability and car history check

Subaru models checked on CarCheckUp, most checked first. See the Subaru MOT pass rate and common problems.

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57 models, most checked first.

Subaru reliability: MOT pass rate and history data

What the MOT records of 850 Subaru vehicles checked on CarCheckUp show.

  • 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
  • 2003–2011built (middle half)

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 vehicle 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%
Show all 20
  1. Stop lamp not working1.3%
  2. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.3%
  3. Headlamp aim too high1.0%
  4. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid0.9%
  5. Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive0.9%
  6. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.8%
  7. Fog lamp not working0.8%
  8. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.8%
  9. Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits0.8%
  10. Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits0.7%
  11. Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.7%
  12. Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases0.6%
  13. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.6%
  14. Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive0.5%
  15. 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%
Show all 20
  1. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.9%
  2. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material1.7%
  3. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.4%
  4. Oil leak, but not excessive1.4%
  5. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.4%
  6. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.3%
  7. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.3%
  8. Brake pipe slightly corroded1.1%
  9. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play1.1%
  10. Shock absorber has a light misting of oil1.1%
  11. Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint1.0%
  12. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.0%
  13. Exhaust noisy1.0%
  14. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'0.9%
  15. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A'0.8%

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of 850 Subaru vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp (12,848 tests, retests included). Updated . Vehicles people check before buying are not a random sample of the UK fleet. Every MOT test for one vehicle is in the free MOT history check; market-wide figures are in the 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.