2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Subaru Forester MOT pass rate and common faults

511 MOT tests in 2024. 64.0% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

112Well above average
Passed first time64.0%
Failed or needed repairs36.0%
Typical mileage at test107,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 511 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working6.5%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.1%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.3%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
    13 marked dangerous
  5. Stop lamp: not working2.0%
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.0%
  7. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn2.0%
  8. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength2.0%
  9. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.8%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics22.5%
  2. Suspension20.2%
  3. Brakes10.2%
  4. Emissions & leaks8.8%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.8%
  6. Body & chassis4.3%
  7. Tyres2.9%
  8. Steering0.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm11.7%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.6%
  4. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn10.0%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened7.8%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Subaru Forester?

In 2024, 64.0% of 2008 Subaru Forester cars passed their MOT first time, across 511 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Subaru Forester?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 Subaru Forester reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 112, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).