Does the Subaru Forester fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Subaru Forester records 7.67 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 5.19 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+2.48, 95% interval +2.31 to +2.65). It ranks 79 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Subaru Forester by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Subaru Forester is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 3,018 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 3,018 | 2.90 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 1,683 | 1.62 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 1,078 | 1.04 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 865 | 0.83 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 559 | 0.54 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 104,014 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Subaru Forester gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
12.2% of Subaru Forester MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,099 miles later (2,052 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,052 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Subaru Forester 1999 · Subaru Forester 2000 · Subaru Forester 2001 · Subaru Forester 2002 · Subaru Forester 2003 · Subaru Forester 2004 · Subaru Forester 2005 · Subaru Forester 2006 · Subaru Forester 2007 · Subaru Forester 2008 · Subaru Forester 2009 · Subaru Forester 2010 · Subaru Forester 2011 · Subaru Forester 2012 · Subaru Forester 2013 · Subaru Forester 2014 · Subaru Forester 2015 · Subaru Forester 2016 · Subaru Forester 2017 · Subaru Forester 2018 · Subaru Forester 2019 · Subaru Forester 2020 · Subaru Forester in Norway · Subaru Forester in Finland · Subaru Forester in the Netherlands · Subaru Forester by postcode area · Subaru Forester body, chassis and structure failures · Subaru Forester brakes failures · Subaru Forester vehicle identification failures · Subaru Forester lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Subaru Forester road wheels failures · Subaru Forester seat belts and airbags failures · Subaru Forester steering failures · Subaru Forester suspension failures · Subaru Forester tyres failures · Subaru Forester visibility failures