2018 · 6 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2018 Subaru Forester MOT pass rate and common faults

935 MOT tests in 2024. 86.1% passed first time, compared with 82.5% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time86.1%
Failed or needed repairs13.9%
Typical mileage at test43,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 935 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.6%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
    23 marked dangerous
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.0%
  5. Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.6%
  6. Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn0.5%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn0.4%
  8. Headlamp aim: too high0.3%
  9. Coil spring: fractured or broken0.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension6.2%
  2. Brakes3.6%
  3. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.6%
  4. Lights & electrics2.5%
  5. Tyres2.4%
  6. Body & chassis0.5%
  7. Emissions & leaks0.3%
  8. Wheels0.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.7%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.4%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.4%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm8.4%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5.7%

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 2018 Subaru Forester?

In 2024, 86.1% of 2018 Subaru Forester cars passed their MOT first time, across 935 tests. The average for all 6-year-old cars was 82.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2018 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; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2018 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).