2019 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Subaru Forester passed 92.3% of its 2,639 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (9.4% fail rate), the 2019 Forester comes out 1.6pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.2%) and lighting & signalling (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, pins and bushes and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 69 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.9% in the 0-30k band and 20.0% in the 120-150k band, a 15.1-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.2% | 84 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 70 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.4% | 64 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 57 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 49 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 69 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 58 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 45 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 5 | Washers | 29 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 15 |
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 | 16.0% | 423 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 299 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 232 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 114 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 82 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 46 |
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 | 1,292 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 929 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 277 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 94 | 13.8% |
| 120-150k | 35 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 649 | 5.5% |
| 2023 | 656 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 625 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 630 | 8.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Forester
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 3.2% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (3.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.4% 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 2019 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 2,639 2019 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Subaru Forester?
Visibility, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.6%).
Does the 2019 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,639 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.