2018 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,092 MOT tests, the 2018 Subaru Forester recorded a 91.3% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 10.3% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (3.7%) and brakes (2.3%) 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 213 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 3.8% in the 0-30k band and 21.7% in the 120-150k band, a 18.0-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.6% of the time against 9.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 3.7% | 190 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.3% | 118 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.2% | 114 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.2% | 111 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 95 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 20 |
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 | 213 |
| 2 | Wipers | 111 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 102 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 53 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 34 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 33 |
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 | 16.4% | 833 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 644 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.9% | 503 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 248 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 174 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 52 |
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 | 2,049 | 3.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,095 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 693 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 187 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,252 | 8.6% |
| Diesel | 835 | 9.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 993 | 4.0% |
| 2022 | 1,000 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 1,039 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 1,020 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 1,040 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Forester
On a 2018 Forester, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (3.7% 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.
- Brakes (2.3% 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.
- Visibility (2.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2018 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 5,092 2018 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Subaru Forester?
Suspension, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by brakes (2.3%).
Does the 2018 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,092 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.