CarVerify

Free Car Check

EF03 DHV

2003 Subaru Forester

Silver Petrol 1994cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires18 Feb 2026
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

157,061 mi
Last recorded157,061 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 2026
Typical for 2003 Subaru Forester90,591 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Subaru
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationEF03 DHV
MakeSubaru
ModelForester
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,994cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

18 pass 10 fail
Fail 8 Apr 2026 157,061 miles

Emissions unable to be completed due to exhaust leak (8.2.1.2 (d))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Front Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 19 Feb 2025 148,809 miles
Fail 13 Jan 2025 148,751 miles

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Oct 2023 140,448 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2023 140,391 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Nail in tyre ()

engine light on

Pass 10 Oct 2022 128,675 miles

Front head light covers crazing x2

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement transverse mount (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement forward bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement transverse bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement forward bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 4 Oct 2022 128,417 miles

Offside Front Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction dashboard (8.2.1.2 (h))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill / floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Front head light covers crazing x2

Nearside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement transverse mount (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement forward bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement transverse bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement forward bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Oct 2021 116,295 miles
Fail 9 Oct 2021 116,291 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Brake fluid close to minimum mark (1.1.10 (d) (ii))

Pass 31 Jul 2020 100,567 miles

Front headlamps faded x2

Nearside Front Outer Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases rusty (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 13 Feb 2019 78,605 miles
Pass 30 Jan 2018 78,569 miles

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fail 29 Jan 2018 78,569 miles

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 31 Jan 2017 78,397 miles
Fail 31 Jan 2017 78,397 miles

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 28 Jan 2016 78,381 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2014 77,490 miles
Fail 19 Aug 2014 77,479 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 27 Aug 2013 75,226 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 24 Aug 2012 70,187 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 26 Aug 2011 65,015 miles
Fail 17 Aug 2011 65,015 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 19 Aug 2010 60,245 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 26 Jun 2009 55,437 miles
Pass 11 Jun 2008 46,126 miles

nearside rear door damaged

Fail 10 Jun 2008 46,126 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

nearside rear door damaged

Pass 6 Jun 2007 38,472 miles
Pass 17 Jun 2006 30,319 miles

How Reliable is the Subaru Forester?

Based on 456,470 MOT tests across 33,044 vehicles.

76.1%
Pass Rate
6,679
Miles/Year
29
Year Lifespan
33,044
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,106
Registration plate lamp not working 6,977
position lamp(s) not working 6,967
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 5,820
Brake pipe excessively corroded 5,429
Full Subaru Forester reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

EF03 DHV is a 2003 Subaru Forester in Silver with a 1,994cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 2003 Subaru Forester models, the average MOT pass rate is 76.0% with a typical mileage of 90,591 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Subaru Forester fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 8,106 recorded failures. If you're considering buying EF03 DHV, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Subaru Forester typically stays on UK roads for around 29 years. At 23 years old, this Subaru Forester is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of EF03 DHV?

You can check the full history of EF03 DHV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was EF03 DHV registered?

EF03 DHV is a 2003 Subaru Forester, first registered on 7 June 2003.

Is EF03 DHV safe to buy?

The MOT history for EF03 DHV shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does EF03 DHV have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on EF03 DHV. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.