Does the Subaru Impreza fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Subaru Impreza records 13.94 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 8.24 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+5.70, 95% interval +5.49 to +5.90). It ranks 26 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 Impreza by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Subaru Impreza is “Emissions levels exceed default limits”, recorded 4,845 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 4,845 | 3.78 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 3,888 | 3.04 |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 2,664 | 2.08 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 2,400 | 1.87 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 1,715 | 1.34 |
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 noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
13.8% of Subaru Impreza MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 2,792 miles later (4,168 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,168 (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 body, chassis and structure failures · Subaru Impreza brakes failures · Subaru Impreza vehicle identification failures · Subaru Impreza lamps, reflectors and electrics 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