CarVerify

Free Car Check

OV53 VEW

2003 Subaru Forester

Silver Petrol 1994cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Mar 2027
Tests31 (19 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate61.3%

Mileage

133,542 mi
Last recorded133,542 miles
Recorded on28 Mar 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

RegistrationOV53 VEW
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

19 pass 12 fail
Pass 28 Mar 2026 133,542 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Fail 23 Mar 2026 133,506 miles

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

Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 27 Feb 2025 125,540 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 28 Jan 2025 125,525 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Vehicle emits large quantities of white smoke on acceleration

Pass 2 Feb 2024 121,906 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Headlamp lens slightly defective cloudy (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement trailing arm bushes split and perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 2 Feb 2024 121,906 miles

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Headlamp lens slightly defective cloudy (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement trailing arm bushes split and perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Jan 2023 118,093 miles

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

Nearside Front Outer Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 215/60/16 (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Pipe that link to O/S and N/S rear. (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 24 Jan 2022 115,493 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective Slightly cloudy. (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective Slightly cloudy. (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (Brake pipes that feed rear brakes) (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Pass 28 Jan 2021 113,179 miles

Front Headlamp lens slightly defective cloudy (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Fail 28 Jan 2021 113,179 miles

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

Front Headlamp lens slightly defective cloudy (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Pass 25 Jan 2020 110,166 miles
Pass 5 Jan 2019 104,015 miles
Fail 19 Dec 2018 103,954 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 22 Nov 2017 99,873 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Fail 14 Nov 2017 99,867 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 8 Dec 2016 98,828 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 18 Nov 2015 94,143 miles
Fail 18 Nov 2015 94,143 miles

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

Pass 17 Dec 2014 82,106 miles
Fail 9 Dec 2014 82,088 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Pass 2 Nov 2013 81,891 miles
Fail 12 Jul 2013 81,880 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 11 Oct 2011 74,607 miles
Fail 11 Oct 2011 74,607 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 20 Oct 2010 64,310 miles

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

Pass 20 Oct 2010 64,310 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2009 52,784 miles

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

front brake pads wearing

Pass 14 Oct 2008 42,663 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 26 Oct 2007 33,324 miles
Pass 17 Oct 2006 30,569 miles
Fail 16 Oct 2006 30,569 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Front registration plate character(s) not correctly formed (6.3.4b)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Rear registration plate character(s) not correctly formed (6.3.4b)

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

OV53 VEW is a 2003 Subaru Forester in Silver with a 1,994cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.3%.

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 OV53 VEW, 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 OV53 VEW?

You can check the full history of OV53 VEW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was OV53 VEW registered?

OV53 VEW is a 2003 Subaru Forester, first registered on 31 October 2003.

Is OV53 VEW safe to buy?

The MOT history for OV53 VEW shows 31 tests with a 61.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does OV53 VEW 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 OV53 VEW. 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.