Subaru Forester Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Subaru Forester car check
Is the Subaru Forester reliable? We analysed 456,470 real MOT tests across 33,044 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Subaru Forester? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Subaru Forester is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate lamp not working and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Forester.
Subaru Forester Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Subaru Forester. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Subaru Forester MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Subaru Forester to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Subaru Forester Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Subaru Forester fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Subaru Forester Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Subaru Forester owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Subaru Forester MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Subaru Forester year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 150 | 80.7% | 46,000 | 68,256 | 93,726 |
| 2020 | 301 | 86.4% | 39,396 | 75,328 | 109,429 |
| 2019 | 3,050 | 89.6% | 20,782 | 31,842 | 50,460 |
| 2018 | 5,609 | 89.4% | 23,379 | 36,449 | 54,871 |
| 2017 | 6,840 | 87.8% | 28,836 | 43,584 | 64,551 |
| 2016 | 10,419 | 85.0% | 32,157 | 48,708 | 71,751 |
| 2015 | 10,009 | 83.4% | 35,088 | 53,754 | 78,046 |
| 2014 | 13,231 | 83.3% | 39,940 | 60,694 | 86,120 |
| 2013 | 9,300 | 82.1% | 43,624 | 67,736 | 96,380 |
| 2012 | 4,194 | 79.4% | 46,750 | 72,443 | 101,752 |
| 2011 | 13,247 | 79.2% | 49,591 | 75,983 | 106,578 |
| 2010 | 16,532 | 77.6% | 49,973 | 77,277 | 106,819 |
| 2009 | 12,508 | 76.1% | 49,816 | 77,113 | 106,230 |
| 2008 | 14,975 | 76.9% | 49,379 | 76,799 | 106,567 |
| 2007 | 24,058 | 76.6% | 49,045 | 77,495 | 107,189 |
| 2006 | 30,857 | 76.0% | 52,963 | 82,251 | 112,205 |
| 2005 | 43,133 | 76.7% | 55,953 | 85,563 | 116,729 |
| 2004 | 42,442 | 76.6% | 58,172 | 88,952 | 120,907 |
| 2003 | 48,650 | 76.0% | 59,976 | 90,591 | 123,232 |
| 2002 | 34,515 | 73.7% | 61,718 | 90,215 | 120,426 |
How Long Does a Subaru Forester Last?
Based on 33,044 Subaru Forester vehicles on UK roads.
Subaru Forester Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Subaru Forester MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Forester
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.6% MOT pass rate from 3,050 tests
68.9% MOT pass rate from 7,313 tests
The best year to buy a used Subaru Forester is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.6% across 3,050 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Subaru Forester Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Forester THIS CAR | 76.1% | 456,470 | 85,220 mi | 29 yrs |
| Subaru Impreza | 75.7% | 915,729 | 83,083 mi | 33 yrs |
| Subaru Legacy | 72.5% | 349,986 | 96,000 mi | 35 yrs |
| Subaru Outback | 78.2% | 130,193 | 78,217 mi | 23 yrs |
| Suzuki Carry | 71.4% | 253,987 | 62,322 mi | 27 yrs |
Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Legacy (72.5% pass rate), the Subaru Forester outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Subaru Forester you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Subaru ForesterShould you buy a used Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.1% across 456,470 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Subaru Forester are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (8,106 recorded failures), registration plate lamp not working (6,977), and position lamp(s) not working (6,967). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Subaru Forester owner drives around 6,679 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Subaru Forester models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.