Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesel MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 4 model years and 668 tests, the Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesel passes its MOT 78.4% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail at 21.7%, so the Forester Xc Boxer Diesel sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests against 11.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and pins and bushes — stop lamp alone was recorded 53 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 24.6% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Forester Xc Boxer Diesel model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 38 | 79.0% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 163 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 316 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 151 | 82.1% | 17.9% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 117 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.2% | 75 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 64 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 24 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 22 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.4% | 16 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 13 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 53 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 53 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 49 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 31 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 21 |
| 7 | Washers | 20 |
| 8 | Ball joint | 19 |
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 | 43.4% | 290 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.1% | 201 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.5% | 150 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 66 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.8% | 52 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 38 |
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 | 33 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 193 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 218 | 19.7% |
| 120-150k | 159 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 65 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 142 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 141 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 141 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 128 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 116 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesel
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.2% 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 (9.6% 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 Forester Xc Boxer Diesel?
78.4% of the 668 Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesel MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.6% fail rate, across model years 2010–2013.
What does the Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesel most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, then suspension (11.2%).
How much does mileage affect Forester Xc Boxer Diesel MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.2% for cars in the 30-60k band and 24.6% for 150k+, a 9.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 668 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.