2002 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Subaru Forester passed 72.5% of its 2,102 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (28.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.2%) and lighting & signalling (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 253 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.0% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.3% in 2021 to 25.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.2% | 319 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 305 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 234 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 203 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.9% | 167 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.6% | 159 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 253 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 159 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 123 |
| 4 | Joints | 109 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 107 |
| 6 | Wipers | 107 |
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 | 39.9% | 839 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.1% | 632 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.2% | 425 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.6% | 411 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 380 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.3% | 258 |
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 | 144 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 306 | 23.2% |
| 90-120k | 512 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 562 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 565 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 614 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 483 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 402 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 339 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 264 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Forester
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2002 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 2,102 2002 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Subaru Forester?
Suspension, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.5%).
Does the 2002 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 30-60k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,102 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.