2010 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
5,111 MOT tests on the 2010 Subaru Forester are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 25.2% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.0%) and suspension (13.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, position lamp and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 411 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.9% once past 150k — 3.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (24.4% vs 22.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 45.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 820 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.4% | 685 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.4% | 430 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 279 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 251 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 207 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 411 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 347 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 335 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 273 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 252 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 197 |
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 | 45.7% | 2,334 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.7% | 1,365 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.2% | 1,135 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.4% | 531 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 468 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 414 |
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 | 45 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 436 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,112 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,770 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,296 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 452 | 29.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,825 | 24.4% |
| Petrol | 1,286 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,146 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 1,103 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 1,060 | 24.3% |
| 2024 | 957 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 845 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Forester
On a 2010 Forester, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.4% 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 (8.4% 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 2010 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 5,111 2010 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Subaru Forester?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by suspension (13.4%).
Does the 2010 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,111 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.