2012 Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesel — MOT failures & pass rate
316 MOT tests on the 2012 Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesel are in this dataset, and 76.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the 2012 Forester Xc Boxer Diesel comes out 1.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.7% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, pins and bushes and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Forester Xc Boxer Diesel fails 24.5% of the time in the 60-90k band and 27.2% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 46.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 59 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.9% | 44 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 29 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 12 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.5% | 8 |
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 | 35 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 34 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 29 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 14 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 14 |
| 6 | Washers | 10 |
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 | 46.8% | 148 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.7% | 97 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.6% | 84 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 42 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.8% | 31 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 22 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 94 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 92 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 92 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 71 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 67 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 61 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 53 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Forester Xc Boxer Diesel
On a 2012 Forester Xc Boxer Diesel, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.9% 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 (9.2% 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 2012 Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesels pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 316 2012 Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesel MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Subaru Forester Xc Boxer Diesel?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by suspension (13.9%).
Does the 2012 Forester Xc Boxer Diesel get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.5% in the 60-90k band to 27.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 316 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.