Which Subaru models fail their MOT less for their age?
In 2024, 78.7% of MOTs on the 9 Subaru models published here passed (74.0% first time, 4.7% after a fix at the test centre), from 57,887 first tests. Allowing for age (not mileage), these Subaru models fail 21% less often than normal: brand MOT Risk Index 78.6 (95% CI 77.5–79.6; 100 = normal).
Among Subaru models with at least 10,000 first tests, the Subaru Impreza (almost all tested at 15 years or older) has the lowest index (63.3) and the Subaru Forester the highest (92.8, still better than normal).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 25 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
Which Subaru models fail least and most for their age?
Of the 9 Subaru models, 8 fail less often than normal for their age, 0 more often, and 1 cannot be told apart from normal because their 95% intervals include 100.
| Model | MOT pass rate, % | Passed first time, % | MOT Risk Index | 95% interval | First tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru WRX | 91.1 | 89.0 | 39.7 | 34.8–45.2 | 1,832 |
| Subaru BRZ | 88.8 | 85.8 | 58.1 | 49.4–68.0 | 909 |
| Subaru Impreza | 79.2 | 74.6 | 63.3 | 61.7–64.9 | 17,962 |
| Subaru Levorg | 88.8 | 86.7 | 67.5 | 56.4–80.6 | 784 |
| Subaru XV | 85.3 | 81.5 | 83.5 | 79.4–87.8 | 6,682 |
| Subaru Outback | 79.8 | 75.0 | 87.6 | 84.2–91.0 | 7,550 |
| Subaru Forester | 76.0 | 70.7 | 92.8 | 90.6–95.0 | 16,244 |
| Subaru Justy | 67.4 | 61.5 | 93.3 | 84.5–102.4 | 659 |
| Subaru Legacy | 69.4 | 63.1 | 93.9 | 90.7–97.3 | 5,265 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2024 · n = 57,887 (initial tests) · Method: MOT Risk Index = observed first-time failures ÷ failures expected for the same age profile × 100; brand index sums both over the 9 models · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Where are Subaru models worse than other cars of the same age?
Allowing for age, Subaru models fail on noise, emissions and leaks more than other cars of the same age: 9.1 failures per 100 tests against 5.8 expected (3.3 more; 95% interval 3.19 to 3.39).
| Failure group | Subaru, per 100 tests | Expected for the same age | Difference | 95% interval | Most common failure on (models) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.1 | 5.8 | +3.3 | 3.19 to 3.39 | 0 of 9 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.6 | 0.5 | +0.0 | 0.02 to 0.07 | 0 of 9 |
| Road Wheels | 0.4 | 0.5 | -0.1 | -0.14 to -0.10 | 0 of 9 |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 1.4 | 2.0 | -0.6 | -0.60 to -0.52 | 0 of 9 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 8.3 | 9.1 | -0.8 | -0.87 to -0.68 | 0 of 9 |
| Suspension | 20.2 | 21.5 | -1.3 | -1.44 to -1.15 | 2 of 9 |
| Visibility | 7.9 | 9.7 | -1.9 | -1.94 to -1.76 | 0 of 9 |
| Steering | 1.7 | 4.2 | -2.5 | -2.53 to -2.45 | 0 of 9 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 22.5 | 25.5 | -3.0 | -3.16 to -2.86 | 5 of 9 |
| Tyres | 5.4 | 9.3 | -3.8 | -3.92 to -3.77 | 2 of 9 |
| Brakes | 10.4 | 16.3 | -5.9 | -5.98 to -5.77 | 0 of 9 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 372,881 (initial tests of the 9 models) · Method: failure items per 100 tests against the rate expected for the same age and kind of vehicle; interval from the count of failures (Poisson); a group is named only when its interval is wholly above zero and it is at least 5% above the expected rate · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Subaru MOT statistics by model 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 25 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/brand/subaru/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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