2016 · 8 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2016 Subaru Forester MOT pass rate and common faults

1,183 MOT tests in 2024. 77.3% passed first time, compared with 76.6% for all cars the same age.

101About average
Passed first time77.3%
Failed or needed repairs22.7%
Typical mileage at test63,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,183 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.4%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.1%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.8%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.4%
    21 marked dangerous
  5. Wheel bearings: rough when rotated1.4%
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.3%
  7. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.3%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.1%
  9. Position lamp: not working0.8%
  10. Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension16.1%
  2. Lights & electrics4.9%
  3. Brakes4.4%
  4. Tyres4.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.6%
  6. Emissions & leaks2.1%
  7. Body & chassis1.4%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn15.4%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm10.7%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.8%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure7.7%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.3%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. 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 2016 Subaru Forester?

In 2024, 77.3% of 2016 Subaru Forester cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,183 tests. The average for all 8-year-old cars was 76.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2016 Subaru Forester?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2016 Subaru Forester reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 101, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).