2009 · 15 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2009 Subaru Outback MOT pass rate and common faults

291 MOT tests in 2024. 59.8% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

102Above average
Passed first time59.8%
Failed or needed repairs40.2%
Typical mileage at test112,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 291 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working7.6%
  2. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn5.5%
  3. Stop lamp: not working5.5%
  4. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.5%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.1%
  6. Headlamp levelling device: inoperative3.1%
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.7%
    12 marked dangerous
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics29.9%
  2. Suspension22.7%
  3. Brakes16.2%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.2%
  5. Body & chassis6.5%
  6. Emissions & leaks5.8%
  7. Tyres5.5%
  8. Number plates & VIN0.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn22.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.5%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded10.3%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened10.3%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.6%

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: 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 Outback?

In 2024, 59.8% of 2009 Subaru Outback cars passed their MOT first time, across 291 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

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

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn; stop lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Subaru Outback reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).