2016 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
6,983 MOT tests on the 2016 Subaru Forester are in this dataset, and 85.4% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 13.8%, so the 2016 Forester sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 8.9% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and wipers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 388 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.2% once past 150k — 3.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (16.6% vs 12.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 17.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.9% | 619 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 267 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.2% | 221 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 188 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 164 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 76 |
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 | 388 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 299 |
| 3 | Wipers | 168 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 142 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 115 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 92 |
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 | 17.8% | 1,246 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.5% | 1,222 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.4% | 1,079 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 399 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 247 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 173 |
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 | 882 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,068 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,968 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 746 | 22.0% |
| 120-150k | 229 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 90 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,549 | 12.7% |
| Diesel | 3,427 | 16.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,349 | 9.2% |
| 2022 | 1,379 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 1,417 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 1,415 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 1,423 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Forester
On a 2016 Forester, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.9% 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 (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2016 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 6,983 2016 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Subaru Forester?
Suspension, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.8%).
Does the 2016 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,983 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.