Subaru Brz MOT pass rate & common failures
4,660 MOT tests on the Subaru Brz (2012–2023) give it a 91.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 15.6% of the time, so this is 6.6pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.6%) and lighting & signalling (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, catalyst emissions and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 114 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.1% in the 0-30k band and 12.5% in the 120-150k band, a 7.4-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Brz model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 328 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Tyres |
| 2013 | 712 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 615 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 669 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 664 | 90.4% | 9.6% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 794 | 92.6% | 7.4% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 483 | 93.6% | 6.4% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 288 | 93.1% | 6.9% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 55 | 89.1% | 10.9% | Steering |
| 2021 | 47 | 97.9% | 2.1% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 168 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 110 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.3% | 107 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 104 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 72 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 47 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.4% | 18 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.3% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 114 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 89 |
| 3 | Wipers | 83 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 68 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 44 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 39 |
| 7 | Washers | 38 |
| 8 | Side repeaters | 26 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 17.4% | 813 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 674 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 218 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 148 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.9% | 133 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 128 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,431 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,035 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 902 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 224 | 10.3% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 865 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 916 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 933 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 953 | 10.1% |
| 2025 | 993 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a Subaru Brz
- Tyres (3.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Brz?
91.0% of the 4,660 Subaru Brz MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.0% fail rate, across model years 2012–2023.
What does the Subaru Brz most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, then lighting & signalling (2.4%).
How much does mileage affect Brz MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 12.5% for 120-150k, a 7.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,660 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.