2020 Subaru Forester I Xe Prm Ebxr — MOT failures & pass rate
540 MOT tests on the 2020 Subaru Forester I Xe Prm Ebxr are in this dataset, and 92.6% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 9.3% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and visibility (3.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 19 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.7% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 21 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.7% | 20 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 9 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 7 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 3 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.2% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 19 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 5 | Washers | 6 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 6 |
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 | 20.4% | 110 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 60 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 30 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.5% | 19 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 16 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 4 |
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 | 290 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 217 | 7.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 176 | 5.7% |
| 2024 | 177 | 6.2% |
| 2025 | 181 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Forester I Xe Prm Ebxr
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Visibility (3.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
How many 2020 Subaru Forester I Xe Prm Ebxrs pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 540 2020 Subaru Forester I Xe Prm Ebxr MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Subaru Forester I Xe Prm Ebxr?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by visibility (3.7%).
Does the 2020 Forester I Xe Prm Ebxr get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 7.8% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 540 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.