2020 Subaru Forester — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Subaru Forester passed 87.2% of its 281 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (7.1% fail rate), the 2020 Forester comes out 5.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests against 2.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, wipers and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 8 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Forester fails 10.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.0% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.9% in 2021 to 4.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 27 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.9% | 8 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.8% | 5 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 4 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 4 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.4% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 8 |
| 2 | Wipers | 8 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 5 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 5 |
| 5 | Washers | 4 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
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 | 14.9% | 42 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 32 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 23 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 14 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 9 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 7 |
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 | 55 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 60 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 97 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 46 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 49 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 67 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 57 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 43 | 4.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Forester
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.9% 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.
- Suspension (1.8% 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.
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 2020 Subaru Foresters pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 281 2020 Subaru Forester MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Subaru Forester?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by visibility (2.9%).
Does the 2020 Forester get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 281 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.