Subaru Sumo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Subaru Sumo car check
Is the Subaru Sumo reliable? We analysed 1,880 real MOT tests across 411 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Subaru Sumo? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Subaru Sumo is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings, exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Sumo.
Subaru Sumo Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Subaru Sumo. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Subaru Sumo MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Subaru Sumo to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Subaru Sumo Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Subaru Sumo fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Subaru Sumo Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Subaru Sumo owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Subaru Sumo MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Subaru Sumo year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 431 | 66.6% | 37,898 | 61,854 | 77,453 |
| 1992 | 374 | 64.4% | 40,113 | 57,635 | 78,430 |
| 1991 | 495 | 63.8% | 34,578 | 60,786 | 78,488 |
| 1990 | 213 | 63.8% | 34,166 | 58,340 | 72,464 |
| 1989 | 198 | 70.2% | 48,073 | 62,825 | 81,271 |
| 1988 | 62 | 79.0% | 73,342 | 82,547 | 92,363 |
How Long Does a Subaru Sumo Last?
Based on 411 Subaru Sumo vehicles on UK roads.
Subaru Sumo Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Subaru Sumo 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 Sumo
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
79.0% MOT pass rate from 62 tests
63.8% MOT pass rate from 213 tests
The best year to buy a used Subaru Sumo is 1988, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.0% across 62 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Subaru Sumo Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Sumo THIS CAR | 66.0% | 1,880 | 62,582 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 |
| Ktm 1190 RC8 R 12 | 89.5% | 836 | 9,333 mi | 14 yrs |
Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Forester (76.1% pass rate), the Subaru Sumo trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Subaru Sumo 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 SumoShould you buy a used Subaru Sumo?
The Subaru Sumo has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.0% across 1,880 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Subaru Sumo are body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (133 recorded failures), exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (89), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (88). 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 Sumo owner drives around 1,627 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 Sumo 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.