Subaru B9 Tribeca MOT pass rate & common failures
1,325 MOT tests on the Subaru B9 Tribeca (2005–2020) give it a 75.1% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 26.6% of the time, so this is 1.7pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests against 12.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and position lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 107 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.4% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.3% in 2021 to 20.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every B9 Tribeca model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 352 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 442 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 488 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 33 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 211 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.7% | 168 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 113 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 71 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 67 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 52 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.7% | 49 |
| 8 | Other defects | 1.2% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 107 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 85 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 83 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 80 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 56 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 51 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 47 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 46 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.3% | 467 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.1% | 320 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.4% | 270 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 201 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.5% | 192 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 166 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 131 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 397 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 430 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 275 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 81 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 342 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 311 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 270 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 235 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 167 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a Subaru B9 Tribeca
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (8.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Subaru B9 Tribeca?
75.1% of the 1,325 Subaru B9 Tribeca MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.9% fail rate, across model years 2005–2020.
What does the Subaru B9 Tribeca most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, then suspension (12.7%).
How much does mileage affect B9 Tribeca MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.6% for cars in the 30-60k band and 28.4% for 150k+, a 10.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,325 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.