Subaru Forester Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Subaru Forester fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 25,722 MOT tests across 24 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
79%
Subaru Forester pass rate
83%
Subaru average
82%
All-model average
The Subaru Forester has an average MOT pass rate of 79%, which is 4 points below the Subaru average and 3 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Subaru Foresters pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 7 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Subaru Forester Fails Its MOT On
Of the 4,188 MOT tests on the Subaru Forester that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Suspension
49%Cars and vans the same age: 36% (the Forester fails on this more often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
41%Cars and vans the same age: 42% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
19%Cars and vans the same age: 25% (the Forester fails on this less often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
18%Cars and vans the same age: 13% (the Forester fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
15%Cars and vans the same age: 16% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (12% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (11% of failed tests, suspension)
- Stop lamp: not working (8.3% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Subaru Forester Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Forester year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
Passed more often than cars their age
- 2004: 75% passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars (3 points higher, 1,456 tests)
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Subaru Forester Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 2.0L | 88% | 10% | - |
| 2020 | Petrol | 2.0L | 89% | 11% | - |
| 2019 | Petrol | 2.0L | 92% | 8% | - |
| 2018 | Petrol | 2.0L | 90% | 10% | 89% (+1) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 2.0L | 88% | 11% | 87% (+1) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 2.0L | 84% | 16% | 86% (-2) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 2.0L | 83% | 17% | 84% (-1) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 2.0L | 81% | 19% | 82% (-1) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 2.0L | 78% | 21% | 80% (-2) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 2.0L | 75% | 24% | - |
| 2011 | Petrol | 2.0L | 78% | 22% | 77% (+1) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.0L | 73% | 26% | 75% (-2) |
| 2009 | Diesel | 2.0L | 72% | 26% | - |
| 2008 | Petrol | 2.5L | 80% | 20% | - |
| 2007 | Petrol | 2.5L | 75% | 24% | 73% (+2) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 2.0L | 75% | 24% | 73% (+2) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 2.0L | 74% | 25% | 73% (+1) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 2.0L | 75% | 24% | 72% (+3) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 2.0L | 71% | 26% | 72% (-1) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 2.0L | 76% | 23% | - |
| 2001 | Petrol | 2.0L | 72% | 27% | - |
| 2000 | Petrol | 2.0L | 72% | 27% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 2.0L | 77% | 21% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 2.0L | 74% | 23% | - |
Subaru Forester Running Costs
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Subaru Forester FAQ
What are the most common Subaru Forester problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Subaru Forester that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (49% of the 4,188 failed tests), lights and electrics (41%) and brakes (19%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (12%). Across 25,722 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 79% ended in a pass.
Is the Subaru Forester reliable?
The Subaru Forester has an average MOT pass rate of 79%, from 25,722 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed about as often as other cars of the same age.
Which Subaru Forester years should I avoid?
No Subaru Forester year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2004 (75% of 1,456 tests passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Subaru Forester faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Subaru Forester typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Subaru Models
Common problems pages for other Subaru models