Does the Subaru Impreza fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Subaru Impreza records 10.57 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 13.29 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.72, 95% interval −2.92 to −2.53). It ranks 473 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Subaru Impreza by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Subaru Impreza is “A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated”, recorded 3,871 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 3,871 | 3.02 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 2,825 | 2.21 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 2,115 | 1.65 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 1,648 | 1.29 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 1,210 | 0.94 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 128,098 (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 Impreza gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
14.5% of Subaru Impreza MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 3,311 miles later (8,507 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 8,507 (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 Impreza 1998 · Subaru Impreza 1999 · Subaru Impreza 2000 · Subaru Impreza 2001 · Subaru Impreza 2002 · Subaru Impreza 2003 · Subaru Impreza 2004 · Subaru Impreza 2005 · Subaru Impreza 2006 · Subaru Impreza 2007 · Subaru Impreza 2008 · Subaru Impreza 2009 · Subaru Impreza 2010 · Subaru Impreza 2011 · Subaru Impreza 2012 · Subaru Impreza 2014 · Subaru Impreza in Norway · Subaru Impreza in Finland · Subaru Impreza in the Netherlands · Subaru Impreza by postcode area · Subaru Impreza brakes failures · Subaru Impreza vehicle identification failures · Subaru Impreza lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Subaru Impreza noise, emissions and leaks failures · Subaru Impreza road wheels failures · Subaru Impreza seat belts and airbags failures · Subaru Impreza steering failures · Subaru Impreza suspension failures · Subaru Impreza tyres failures · Subaru Impreza visibility failures