2015 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
5,919 MOT tests on the 2015 Subaru Forester are in this dataset, and 83.3% of them passed. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (15.8% 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 10.1% of tests against 5.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and wipers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 356 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.6% versus 7.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.0% fail against 17.6% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 5,919 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.1% | 598 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 318 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 213 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.0% | 180 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 149 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 59 |
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 | 356 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 329 |
| 3 | Wipers | 141 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 138 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 117 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 104 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.1% | 1,189 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.9% | 1,176 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.9% | 1,059 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.4% | 380 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 239 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 138 |
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 | 470 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,124 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,002 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 966 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 282 | 19.5% |
| 150k+ | 74 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,219 | 16.0% |
| Diesel | 2,700 | 17.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,158 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 1,158 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 1,215 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 1,196 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 1,192 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Forester
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.1% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.6% 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 2015 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 5,919 2015 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Subaru Forester?
Suspension, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.4%).
Does the 2015 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,919 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.