Subaru Outback MOT pass rate: 79.1% (6,801 tests, 2025)

The Subaru Outback passed 79.1% of its 6,801 MOT tests in 2025 — 1.6 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 10 years old with 86,713 miles on the clock.

79.1%Pass rate (2025)

6,801MOT tests analysed

86,713 miMedian mileage at test

10 yrsMedian age at test

How the Outback compares

Subaru Outback

79.1%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

Subaru average (all models)

79.1%

What fails most on the Subaru Outback

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Outback:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	1,120	28.9%
2	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	874	22.6%
3	Brakes	631	16.3%
4	Tyres	414	10.7%
5	Noise, emissions and leaks	311	8.0%
6	Body, chassis, structure	287	7.4%

Pre-MOT checklist for Outback owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
A blowing exhaust or visible smoke will fail; warm the engine fully before the test

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

Outback pass rate by registration year

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2015	2,287	82.0%	+3.2 pts	84,996
2016	2,236	86.6%	+5.3 pts	72,389
2018	1,918	90.4%	+4.1 pts	49,314
2019	1,752	90.7%	+2.3 pts	37,334

Check a specific Outback before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other Subaru models

Impreza79.6% pass rate · 16,626 tests Forester73.9% pass rate · 13,221 tests Xv82.1% pass rate · 5,717 tests Legacy71.3% pass rate · 4,546 tests Wrx91.2% pass rate · 1,643 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Subaru Outback?

In 2025, 79.1% of 6,801 first MOT tests on the Subaru Outback were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Outback fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (28.9% of its recorded defects), followed by lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment.

Is the Subaru Outback reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 79.1% it performs above the national average at a median age of 10 years and 86,713 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.