CarVerify

Subaru Impreza Sport AWD Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru Impreza Sport AWD car check

Is the Subaru Impreza Sport AWD reliable? We analysed 6,646 real MOT tests across 875 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Subaru Impreza Sport AWD? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 6,646 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.3%
Typical Mileage
103,014mi
Annual Mileage
6,848mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Subaru Impreza Sport AWD is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Impreza Sport AWD.

Subaru Impreza Sport AWD Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Subaru Impreza Sport AWD. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Subaru Impreza Sport AWD MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Subaru Impreza Sport AWD to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

74.6%
2001
73.7%
2000
70.4%
1999
68.4%
1998
66.2%
1997
65.7%
1996

Subaru Impreza Sport AWD Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Subaru Impreza Sport AWD fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pipe excessively corroded 390
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 343
Registration plate lamp not working 268
Registration plate lamp not working 235
position lamp(s) not working 212
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 193
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 191
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 174
constant velocity joint gaiter split 174
Headlamp aim too high 173

Subaru Impreza Sport AWD Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Subaru Impreza Sport AWD owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,355 mi/yr
Typical
6,848 mi/yr
Average
7,782 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,922 mi/yr

Subaru Impreza Sport AWD MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Subaru Impreza Sport AWD year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2001 394 74.6% 67,118 91,988 121,643
2000 1,116 73.7% 70,164 89,650 112,916
1999 1,444 70.4% 78,738 102,556 127,128
1998 1,337 68.4% 83,431 103,065 127,838
1997 1,291 66.2% 90,960 110,536 134,032
1996 975 65.7% 87,482 110,626 130,856

How Long Does a Subaru Impreza Sport AWD Last?

Based on 875 Subaru Impreza Sport AWD vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.1 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Subaru Impreza Sport AWD Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Subaru Impreza Sport AWD MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
103,014 mi
75th Percentile
127,071 mi
95th Percentile
165,042 mi
Max Recorded
903,583 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Impreza Sport AWD

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

Best year
2001

74.6% MOT pass rate from 394 tests

Year to avoid
1996

65.7% MOT pass rate from 975 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru Impreza Sport AWD is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.6% across 394 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Subaru Impreza Sport AWD Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Subaru Impreza Sport AWD THIS CAR 69.3% 6,646 103,014 mi 30 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
Great Wall Steed S Td 4X4 70.3% 4,727 58,653 mi 14 yrs

Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Forester (76.1% pass rate), the Subaru Impreza Sport AWD trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Subaru Impreza Sport AWD 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 Impreza Sport AWD

Should you buy a used Subaru Impreza Sport AWD?

The Subaru Impreza Sport AWD has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.3% across 6,646 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Subaru Impreza Sport AWD are brake pipe excessively corroded (390 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (343), and registration plate lamp not working (268). 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 Impreza Sport AWD owner drives around 6,848 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 Impreza Sport AWD models stay on UK roads for around 30 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.

Subaru Impreza Sport AWD — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru Impreza Sport AWD reliable?
Based on 6,646 MOT tests, the Subaru Impreza Sport AWD has a 69.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Subaru Impreza Sport AWD?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and registration plate lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Subaru Impreza Sport AWD do per year?
The typical Subaru Impreza Sport AWD does around 6,848 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru Impreza Sport AWD last?
Most Subaru Impreza Sport AWD models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 875 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru Impreza Sport AWD?
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 Impreza Sport AWD?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru Impreza Sport AWD is 2001 with a 74.6% pass rate across 394 tests.