2017 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,089 MOT tests, the 2017 Subaru Forester recorded an 89.0% pass rate. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.7%) and lighting & signalling (2.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and brake pads — pins and bushes alone was recorded 264 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.9% once past 120-150k — 4.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.8% fail against 13.3% for diesel, a 3.4-point gap across 5,089 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.7% | 292 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 140 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.6% | 131 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 115 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 114 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 41 |
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 | 264 |
| 2 | Wipers | 103 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 77 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 72 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 41 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 41 |
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 | 18.0% | 917 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.9% | 709 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 689 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 251 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 179 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 100 |
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 | 1,116 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,388 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,101 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 380 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 83 | 16.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,294 | 9.8% |
| Diesel | 1,795 | 13.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 996 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 1,005 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 1,029 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 1,012 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 1,047 | 15.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Forester
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.7% 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 (2.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.6% 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 2017 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 5,089 2017 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Subaru Forester?
Suspension, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.8%).
Does the 2017 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 16.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,089 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.