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MOT statistics · 2023 tests

Subaru Outback MOT pass rate, common failures and mileage

In 2023, 78.9% of 7,486 MOT tests on the Subaru Outback ended in a pass, 2.4 points above the 76.5% average for all cars. Comparing like for like at ages 3 to 10, it passed 86.3% against 82.0%.

Pass rate
78.9%
All cars 76.5%
Tests
7,486
Initial MOTs in 2023
Ages 3 to 10
86.3%
All cars 82.0%
Mileage at 10
99k
Median; middle half 79k to 119k

Pass rate and mileage by age

Each row covers the Subaru Outback MOT tests at that age. Mileage shows the median and the middle half of odometer readings, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.

AgePass rateMileage
3510 tests
92.7%
29,000 · 19k to 37k
4625 tests
91.7%
39,000 · 27k to 51k
5481 tests
89.0%
47,000 · 35k to 61k
6608 tests
88.3%
59,000 · 45k to 75k
7778 tests
86.6%
71,000 · 53k to 91k
8473 tests
82.2%
83,000 · 65k to 107k
9274 tests
77.7%
93,000 · 73k to 115k
10232 tests
81.0%
99,000 · 79k to 119k
11435 tests
76.6%
105,000 · 85k to 125k
12532 tests
72.9%
115,000 · 93k to 139k
13487 tests
68.8%
115,000 · 91k to 139k
14238 tests
68.1%
109,000 · 85k to 135k
15353 tests
64.6%
121,000 · 95k to 151k
16497 tests
64.0%
125,000 · 97k to 147k
17379 tests
63.1%
127,000 · 105k to 155k
18262 tests
61.1%
131,000 · 101k to 157k
Outback pass rateAll cars at that ageMiddle half of mileages

Most common MOT failures and advisories

How often each item came up, per 100 MOT tests on the Subaru Outback. Advisories are things the tester noted that did not fail the car, often wear that will need attention soon. Follow an item to see what it means and how serious it is.

Failures

Side and tail lights
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
3.9in 100 tests
Brake pads
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
2.3in 100 tests
Brake lights
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
2.1in 100 tests
Suspension and drive joints
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
1.6in 100 tests
Wiper blades
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
1.6in 100 tests
Number plate lights
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
1.5in 100 tests
Warning lights
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
1.4in 100 tests
Tyres
A tyre seriously damaged
1.3in 100 tests

Advisories and minor defects

Brake pads
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
11.3in 100 tests
Brake discs
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
7.6in 100 tests
Number plate lights
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (minor defect)
4.5in 100 tests
Brake pipes
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
4.4in 100 tests
Sub-frame
A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded
3.6in 100 tests
Engine oil leaks
Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
3.4in 100 tests
Exhaust
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
3.1in 100 tests
Windscreen
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view (minor defect)
3.1in 100 tests

What to check on a used Outback

The parts that come up most often in Subaru Outback MOTs, and how to look at them on a viewing.

  1. Brake discs and pads
    Ask when the discs and pads were last replaced, and look through the wheel for a raised lip on the edge of the disc.
  2. Lights
    Walk round with every light on, and ask someone to press the brake pedal so you can see both brake lights.
  3. Brake pipes and hoses
    Look underneath at the metal brake pipes for heavy rust, and at the rubber hoses for cracks or bulges.
  4. Rust underneath
    Look underneath at the sills, sub-frames and suspension mountings for heavy rust, not just surface marks.
  5. Oil leaks
    Look under the engine and gearbox, and at the ground where the car was parked, for fresh oil.

Check a specific Outback

Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.

UK

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate of the Subaru Outback?
In 2023, 78.9% of 7,486 initial MOT tests on the Subaru Outback ended in a pass, against 76.5% for all cars and light vans. At ages 3 to 10, with the same age mix as all cars, it was 86.3% against 82.0%.
What fails most often on a Subaru Outback MOT?
The most common failures were side and tail lights (3.9 in 100 tests), brake pads (2.3 in 100 tests), brake lights (2.1 in 100 tests).
What is a normal mileage for a 10-year-old Subaru Outback?
At 10 years old, the median Subaru Outback at its MOT had covered 99,000 miles, and the middle half had between 79,000 and 119,000 miles.
What do MOT testers most often advise on a Subaru Outback?
The most common advisories were brake pads (11.3 in 100 tests), brake discs (7.6 in 100 tests), number plate lights (4.5 in 100 tests).

Other Subaru models

Overall MOT pass rate in 2023. Compare all Subaru models or see every make.

Impreza76.9%Forester74.9%Outback78.9%Legacy68.9%XV85.2%

How these figures are made. We counted every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 from the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Pass rate is the share of initial tests that ended in a pass, counting faults fixed during the test. Age is whole years from first registration to the test, so a car having its first MOT a few weeks early counts as 2.

Like-for-like pass rates average each model's pass rate at ages 3 to 10 with the same age mix for every model, so a model is not flattered by a young fleet or penalised by an old one. Models are grouped by the first word of the DVSA model name, and names that cover several models are left out.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.