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Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT car check

Is the Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT reliable? We analysed 732 real MOT tests across 307 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 732 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
91.4%
Typical Mileage
31,336mi
Annual Mileage
7,869mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT.

Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.3%
2022
90.7%
2021
90.7%
2020
98.5%
2019

Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 11
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 2

Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,287 mi/yr
Typical
7,869 mi/yr
Average
8,549 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,163 mi/yr

Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 93 90.3% 32,246 42,034 51,139
2021 463 90.7% 22,086 30,821 44,094
2020 75 90.7% 19,934 27,156 37,143
2019 67 98.5% 17,069 24,627 36,687

How Long Does a Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT Last?

Based on 307 Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT vehicles on UK roads.

Average
3.4 years
Median
3.0 years

Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
31,336 mi
75th Percentile
44,227 mi
95th Percentile
67,049 mi
Max Recorded
128,820 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2019

98.5% MOT pass rate from 67 tests

Year to avoid
2022

90.3% MOT pass rate from 93 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.5% across 67 tests. The 2022 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.3% — 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 I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT THIS CAR 91.4% 732 31,336 mi — yrs
Subaru Impreza 75.7% 915,729 83,083 mi 33 yrs
Subaru Forester 76.1% 456,470 85,220 mi 29 yrs
Subaru Legacy 72.5% 349,986 96,000 mi 35 yrs
Fiat Punto Elx 16V 67.8% 708 64,755 mi 26 yrs

Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Forester (76.1% pass rate), the Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT?

The Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.4% across 732 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT owner drives around 7,869 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.

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.

Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT reliable?
Based on 732 MOT tests, the Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT has a 91.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT do per year?
The typical Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT does around 7,869 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru Forester I Xe E Boxer AWD CVT is 2019 with a 98.5% pass rate across 67 tests.