2008 Subaru Impreza MOT pass rate: 76.3% (3,055 tests)
Is the 2008 Impreza getting worse?
Pass rate of 2008-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75.8% +10.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 76.3% +11.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 77.0% +11.9 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2008 Impreza
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 536 | 23.5% |
| 2 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 495 | 21.7% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 443 | 19.4% |
| 4 | Brakes | 276 | 12.1% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 151 | 6.6% |
| 6 | Tyres | 142 | 6.2% |
All Impreza years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,630 | 76.0% | +9.4 pts | 111,252 |
| 2002 | 3,135 | 77.7% | +12.0 pts | 107,510 |
| 2003 | 5,061 | 77.2% | +12.1 pts | 106,575 |
| 2004 | 5,205 | 79.7% | +15.3 pts | 102,537 |
| 2005 | 6,560 | 78.0% | +13.4 pts | 102,692 |
| 2006 | 5,021 | 77.3% | +12.8 pts | 96,995 |
| 2007 | 5,342 | 76.1% | +11.0 pts | 90,290 |
| 2008 (this page) | 3,055 | 76.3% | +11.2 pts | 93,836 |
| 2009 | 2,236 | 78.0% | +11.6 pts | 86,369 |
| 2010 | 2,340 | 78.2% | +10.9 pts | 86,672 |
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FAQs
Is a 2008 Subaru Impreza reliable?
2008-registered examples passed 76.3% of their MOT tests (3,055 tests, 2023–2025), +11.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 18 years old with a median 93,836 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2008 Impreza?
The median tested example shows 93,836 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.