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Subaru Justy Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru Justy car check

Is the Subaru Justy reliable? We analysed 47,648 real MOT tests across 5,599 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 47,648 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.5%
Typical Mileage
54,598mi
Annual Mileage
3,647mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Subaru Justy is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Justy.

Subaru Justy Number Plates

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

Subaru Justy MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

78%
2010
79%
2009
78.8%
2008
77.8%
2007
76%
2002
70.9%
2001
68.5%
2000
68.4%
1999
68.7%
1998
68.1%
1997
68.9%
1996
64.3%
1995
62.9%
1994
64.2%
1993
63.2%
1992
65.2%
1991
65.5%
1990
66.4%
1989
59.6%
1988
65.8%
1987

Subaru Justy Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 4,448
Brake pipe excessively corroded 2,850
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,604
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 1,745
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 1,523
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,258
position lamp(s) not working 820
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 742
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 662
Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 643

Subaru Justy Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
1,814 mi/yr
Typical
3,647 mi/yr
Average
4,689 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,388 mi/yr

Subaru Justy MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 919 78.0% 28,162 42,730 62,212
2009 5,081 79.0% 27,851 47,138 70,320
2008 5,978 78.8% 29,155 49,024 71,378
2007 1,234 77.8% 30,044 51,412 73,913
2002 50 76.0% 35,500 50,623 65,948
2001 1,745 70.9% 29,604 46,709 66,710
2000 3,508 68.5% 33,980 52,721 71,245
1999 3,583 68.4% 36,788 54,796 71,605
1998 5,327 68.7% 40,542 57,922 74,835
1997 5,648 68.1% 38,540 57,990 76,322
1996 4,463 68.9% 39,144 56,562 75,770
1995 1,924 64.3% 43,537 60,408 77,315
1994 1,975 62.9% 37,520 61,234 78,877
1993 1,594 64.2% 38,503 59,562 77,198
1992 1,370 63.2% 40,660 60,322 78,412
1991 1,124 65.2% 37,353 56,574 74,666
1990 843 65.5% 39,322 56,497 79,995
1989 482 66.4% 35,340 49,383 77,397
1988 418 59.6% 35,379 55,067 78,891
1987 199 65.8% 38,912 50,131 75,355

How Long Does a Subaru Justy Last?

Based on 5,599 Subaru Justy vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.2 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Subaru Justy Mileage Distribution

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

Median
54,598 mi
75th Percentile
74,212 mi
95th Percentile
95,387 mi
Max Recorded
989,653 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Justy

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

Best year
2009

79.0% MOT pass rate from 5,081 tests

Year to avoid
1988

59.6% MOT pass rate from 418 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru Justy is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.0% across 5,081 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Subaru Justy Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Subaru Justy THIS CAR 70.5% 47,648 54,598 mi 38 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
Honda NT650V 85% 55,724 27,561 mi 28 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Subaru Justy?

The Subaru Justy has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.5% across 47,648 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Subaru Justy are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (4,448 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (2,850), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,604). 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 Justy owner drives around 3,647 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 Justy models stay on UK roads for around 38 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 Justy — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru Justy reliable?
Based on 47,648 MOT tests, the Subaru Justy has a 70.5% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Subaru Justy?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Subaru Justy do per year?
The typical Subaru Justy does around 3,647 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru Justy last?
Most Subaru Justy models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 5,599 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru Justy?
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 Justy?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru Justy is 2009 with a 79.0% pass rate across 5,081 tests.