2015 Subaru Outback MOT pass rate: 82.0% (2,287 tests)
Is the 2015 Outback getting worse?
Pass rate of 2015-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 84.5% +3.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 81.1% +2.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 80.2% +3.2 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 2015 Outback
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 298 | 36.3% |
| 2 | Brakes | 172 | 21.0% |
| 3 | Tyres | 138 | 16.8% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 93 | 11.3% |
| 5 | Visibility | 47 | 5.7% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 25 | 3.0% |
All Outback years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 (this page) | 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 |
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
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FAQs
Is a 2015 Subaru Outback reliable?
2015-registered examples passed 82.0% of their MOT tests (2,287 tests, 2023–2025), +3.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 11 years old with a median 84,996 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2015 Outback?
The median tested example shows 84,996 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.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2015 Outback?
In this cohort petrols pass 86.5% of tests against 79.4% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
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.