2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca — MOT failures & pass rate
488 MOT tests on the 2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca are in this dataset, and 76.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), the 2008 B9 Tribeca comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests against 12.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 40 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.2% versus 17.7%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 81 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.1% | 59 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 40 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 15 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 13 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 34 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 33 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 30 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
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 | 30.1% | 147 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.8% | 116 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.6% | 86 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 68 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 63 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.9% | 53 |
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 | 62 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 142 | 23.2% |
| 90-120k | 164 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 95 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 121 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 109 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 105 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 85 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 68 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 B9 Tribeca
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.1% 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 (8.2% 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
How many 2008 Subaru B9 Tribecas pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 488 2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by suspension (12.1%).
Does the 2008 B9 Tribeca get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.7% in the 30-60k band to 24.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 488 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.