2013 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Subaru Forester passed 80.3% of its 4,444 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (20.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests against 6.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, ball joint and coil spring — pins and bushes alone was recorded 315 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.6% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.3% fail against 21.0% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 4,444 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.7% | 607 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 307 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 198 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.1% | 137 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 105 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 56 |
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 | 315 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 217 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 172 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 107 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 94 |
| 6 | Wipers | 93 |
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 | 27.9% | 1,241 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.4% | 997 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.4% | 995 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 358 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 212 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 208 |
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 | 81 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 844 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,508 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,222 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 546 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 243 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,235 | 21.0% |
| Petrol | 2,209 | 18.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 860 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 896 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 902 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 914 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 872 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Forester
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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 2013 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 4,444 2013 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Subaru Forester?
Suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.9%).
Does the 2013 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,444 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.