2011 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,904 MOT tests, the 2011 Subaru Forester recorded a 79.3% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 23.9% of the time, so this is 3.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests against 10.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 352 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.2% once past 150k — 5.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.0% fail against 22.3% for diesel, a 5.2-point gap across 4,904 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 804 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.1% | 494 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 354 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 207 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 194 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.6% | 130 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 352 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 317 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 254 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 215 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 209 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 151 |
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 | 40.1% | 1,967 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.7% | 1,309 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.2% | 1,039 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.6% | 518 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 409 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 398 |
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 | 40 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 482 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,315 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,536 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 996 | 24.4% |
| 150k+ | 535 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,488 | 22.3% |
| Petrol | 1,416 | 17.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,036 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 996 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 1,002 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 976 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 894 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Forester
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.1% 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 (7.2% 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 2011 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 4,904 2011 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Subaru Forester?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by suspension (10.1%).
Does the 2011 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,904 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.