Subaru Forester Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Subaru Forester passes its MOT first time on 69.2% of tests, 4.9 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (64.2%). That puts it ahead of 71% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2021 Forester does best (beats 95% of cars) and the 1998 worst (beats 45%).

Of its engines, the 2.0 Petrol does best (beats 70%) and the 2.0 Diesel worst (beats 63%).

Better than average on brakes, tyres, seat belts & airbags.

Watch these weak spots

Emissions & leaks1.3×as often as a typical car

Engine warning light1.8×as often as a typical car

Component mounting prescribed areas1.9×as often as a typical car

Exhaust emissions (catalyst)1.7×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Subaru ForesterTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 45%

Beats 51%

Beats 59%

Beats 60%

Beats 65%

Beats 68%

Beats 79%

Beats 78%

Beats 69%

Beats 73%

Beats 72%

Beats 60%

Beats 62%

Beats 68%

Beats 64%

Beats 78%

Beats 78%

Beats 66%

Beats 67%

Beats 79%

Beats 84%

Beats 91%

Beats 95%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	1998–2019	89,024	67.6%	Beats 70%	B
2.0 Diesel	2009–2017	37,149	71.2%	Beats 63%	B
2.5 Petrol	2004–2008	11,812	66.3%	Beats 87%	A
2.0 Hybrid	2019–2021	4,275	92.1%	Beats 97%	A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Exhaust: 6.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

13.8% vs 16.1%

Suspension

12.9% vs 12.7%

Brakes

6.5% vs 9.9%

Emissions & leaks

6.1% vs 4.7%

Visibility

5.1% vs 6.0%

Body & structure

4.5% vs 5.4%

Tyres

3.6% vs 7.2%

Seat belts & airbags

1.1% vs 1.8%

Steering

0.8% vs 2.9%

Wheels

0.2% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Engine warning light 1.8× typical
The engine warning light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts. If it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy.
Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 1.7× typical
Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems.
Anti-roll bar links 1.6× typical
A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix).
Sidelights
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Windscreen wipers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Subaru ForesterTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Sidelights	4.1%	4.1%	1.0×
Headlight aim	3.7%	4.5%	0.8×
Brake lights	2.9%	3.1%	0.9×
Engine warning light	2.9%	1.6%	1.8×
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)	2.4%	1.4%	1.7×
Windscreen wipers	2.4%	2.7%	0.9×
Component mounting prescribed areas	2.3%	1.2%	1.9×
Windscreen washers	2.3%	2.7%	0.8×
Exhaust system	2.2%	1.8%	1.2×
Headlight bulbs & units	2.1%	3.0%	0.7×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	58.6
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	37.4
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	32.8
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction	32.0
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	27.0
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired	23.9
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	23.5
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	22.6

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2021 Subaru Forester1 engine91.5% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Hybrid	1,986	91.5%	Beats 95%	A

2019 Subaru Forester2 engines90.1% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	2,773	88.0%	Beats 76%	B
2.0 Hybrid	2,289	92.7%	Beats 99%	A

2018 Subaru Forester1 engine88.0% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	4,398	88.0%	Beats 84%	A

2017 Subaru Forester2 engines85.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	3,829	86.8%	Beats 85%	A
2.0 Diesel	2,139	83.2%	Beats 68%	B

2016 Subaru Forester2 engines82.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	4,560	85.3%	Beats 84%	A
2.0 Diesel	4,431	78.7%	Beats 50%	C

2015 Subaru Forester2 engines79.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	4,566	81.2%	Beats 68%	B
2.0 Diesel	3,973	78.4%	Beats 65%	B

2014 Subaru Forester2 engines78.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	5,413	76.3%	Beats 72%	B
2.0 Petrol	4,761	80.9%	Beats 84%	A

2013 Subaru Forester2 engines75.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	3,764	73.5%	Beats 74%	B
2.0 Petrol	3,657	77.3%	Beats 81%	A

2012 Subaru Forester2 engines69.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	2,568	66.5%	Beats 56%	C
2.0 Petrol	1,292	75.4%	Beats 82%	A

2011 Subaru Forester2 engines67.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	5,712	66.6%	Beats 66%	B
2.0 Petrol	2,197	71.5%	Beats 77%	B

2010 Subaru Forester2 engines63.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	6,000	62.8%	Beats 61%	B
2.0 Petrol	1,741	66.5%	Beats 65%	B

2009 Subaru Forester2 engines60.8% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	3,149	59.7%	Beats 57%	C
2.0 Petrol	1,174	63.7%	Beats 66%	B

2008 Subaru Forester2 engines63.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	3,637	63.6%	Beats 71%	B
2.5 Petrol	1,174	64.2%	Beats 72%	B

2007 Subaru Forester2 engines63.0% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	5,757	61.4%	Beats 67%	B
2.5 Petrol	2,767	66.2%	Beats 83%	A

2006 Subaru Forester2 engines60.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	6,458	58.5%	Beats 64%	B
2.5 Petrol	3,381	64.1%	Beats 80%	A

2005 Subaru Forester2 engines62.0% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	8,323	60.0%	Beats 71%	B
2.5 Petrol	3,305	67.0%	Beats 91%	A

2004 Subaru Forester2 engines61.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	8,697	59.9%	Beats 74%	B
2.5 Petrol	1,185	72.4%	Beats 98%	A

2003 Subaru Forester1 engine57.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	8,445	57.5%	Beats 68%	B

2002 Subaru Forester1 engine56.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	4,204	56.8%	Beats 65%	B

2001 Subaru Forester1 engine55.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	3,193	55.7%	Beats 60%	B

2000 Subaru Forester1 engine56.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	2,427	56.1%	Beats 59%	C

1999 Subaru Forester1 engine55.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	1,856	55.4%	Beats 51%	C

1998 Subaru Forester1 engine55.7% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	1,079	55.7%	Beats 45%	C

FAQ

What is the Subaru Forester MOT pass rate?

69.2% of MOT tests on the Subaru Forester were passed first time, based on 142,260 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1998–2021. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 64.2% of the time.

Is the Subaru Forester reliable?

On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 71% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Subaru Forester year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2021 Forester does best for its age and mileage: it beats 95% of cars on UK roads. The 1998 does worst: it beats 45%.

Which Subaru Forester engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.0 Petrol does best: it beats 70% of cars on UK roads. The 2.0 Diesel does worst: it beats 63%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Subaru Forester?

The most common failure items are sidelights, headlight aim, brake lights. Compared with similar cars, engine warning light comes up 1.8× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Subaru Forester reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ