2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Subaru Outback MOT pass rate and common faults

263 MOT tests in 2024. 59.3% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time59.3%
Failed or needed repairs40.7%
Typical mileage at test128,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 263 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn4.9%
  2. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength4.9%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.6%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.6%
    20 marked dangerous
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.2%
  7. Stop lamp: not working4.2%
  8. Position lamp: not working3.8%
  9. Wheel bearings: has excessive play3.8%
  10. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension39.2%
  2. Lights & electrics28.5%
  3. Brakes17.5%
  4. Body & chassis10.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks9.9%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.2%
  7. Tyres6.8%
  8. Number plates & VIN1.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn19.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.3%
  3. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn14.8%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened14.8%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11.0%

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: linkage ball joints: ball joint 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 2005 Subaru Outback?

In 2024, 59.3% of 2005 Subaru Outback cars passed their MOT first time, across 263 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Subaru Outback?

The most common failure reasons were linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn; component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2005 Subaru Outback reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).