2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Subaru Forester MOT pass rate and common faults

449 MOT tests in 2024. 58.4% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

100About average
Passed first time58.4%
Failed or needed repairs41.6%
Typical mileage at test110,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 449 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working4.9%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.2%
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction4.2%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.0%
  5. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases4.0%
  6. Anti-roll bars - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  7. Stop lamp: not working3.8%
  8. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.3%
  9. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.1%
  10. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension33.0%
  2. Lights & electrics30.7%
  3. Brakes14.3%
  4. Emissions & leaks9.4%
  5. Body & chassis8.5%
  6. Tyres5.3%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.1%
  8. Steering1.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn18.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.9%
  3. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened13.1%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.7%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Subaru Forester?

In 2024, 58.4% of 2009 Subaru Forester cars passed their MOT first time, across 449 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Subaru Forester?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2009 Subaru Forester reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 100, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).