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Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo car check

Is the Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo reliable? We analysed 1,540 real MOT tests across 291 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,540 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.9%
Typical Mileage
87,285mi
Annual Mileage
4,723mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo.

Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo Number Plates

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

Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

79.1%
2008
72%
2006
79%
2005
80.8%
2004
82.2%
2003
72.2%
1995

Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 63
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 30
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 29
Registration plate lamp not working 24
Steering rack gaiter split 22
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 22
fog lamp not working 20
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 20
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 18
position lamp(s) not working 17

Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,126 mi/yr
Typical
4,723 mi/yr
Average
5,761 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,045 mi/yr

Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 67 79.1% 85,642 119,684 141,491
2006 93 72.0% 81,549 99,931 114,091
2005 167 79.0% 47,257 80,478 107,270
2004 224 80.8% 47,251 73,954 113,139
2003 259 82.2% 38,763 54,741 73,025
1995 54 72.2% 90,086 116,938 142,203

How Long Does a Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo Last?

Based on 291 Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo vehicles on UK roads.

Average
8.6 years
Median
5.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo Mileage Distribution

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

Median
87,285 mi
75th Percentile
118,868 mi
95th Percentile
156,474 mi
Max Recorded
951,173 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo

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

Best year
2003

82.2% MOT pass rate from 259 tests

Year to avoid
2006

72.0% MOT pass rate from 93 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.2% across 259 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.0% — 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 Wrx Turbo Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo THIS CAR 76.9% 1,540 87,285 mi 31 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
Austin Morris Mini Special 70.5% 1,388 54,031 mi 47 yrs

Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Forester (76.1% pass rate), the Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo?

The Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.9% across 1,540 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 Impreza Wrx Turbo are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (63 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (30), and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (29). 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 Wrx Turbo owner drives around 4,723 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 Wrx Turbo models stay on UK roads for around 31 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 Wrx Turbo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo reliable?
Based on 1,540 MOT tests, the Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo has a 76.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo do per year?
The typical Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo does around 4,723 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo last?
Most Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 291 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo?
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 Wrx Turbo?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru Impreza Wrx Turbo is 2003 with a 82.2% pass rate across 259 tests.