2017 · 7 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2017 Subaru Forester MOT pass rate and common faults

901 MOT tests in 2024. 82.8% passed first time, compared with 79.8% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time82.8%
Failed or needed repairs17.2%
Typical mileage at test53,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 901 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.1%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
    17 marked dangerous
  3. Headlamp aim: too high0.9%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn0.9%
  5. Coil spring: fractured or broken0.9%
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.9%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively0.8%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed0.7%
    8 marked dangerous
  9. Position lamp: not working0.7%
  10. Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension10.0%
  2. Lights & electrics4.2%
  3. Brakes3.7%
  4. Tyres3.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.1%
  6. Body & chassis1.0%
  7. Seat belts & airbags0.8%
  8. Steering0.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm10.4%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.2%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.1%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure7.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. 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 2017 Subaru Forester?

In 2024, 82.8% of 2017 Subaru Forester cars passed their MOT first time, across 901 tests. The average for all 7-year-old cars was 79.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2017 Subaru Forester?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; headlamp aim: too high. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2017 Subaru Forester reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).