2015 Subaru Forestr — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 962 MOT tests, the 2015 Subaru Forestr recorded an 82.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (16.4% fail rate), the 2015 Forestr comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 11.1% of all tests — 6.4 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 ball joint — pins and bushes alone was recorded 86 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.0% in the 0-30k band and 23.5% in the 120-150k band, a 10.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.1% | 107 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 45 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.0% | 29 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 12 |
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 | 86 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 48 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 30 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 16 |
| 5 | Wipers | 13 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
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 | 21.0% | 202 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.7% | 199 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.1% | 164 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.9% | 66 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 18 |
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 | 54 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 326 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 363 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 173 | 22.0% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 195 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 197 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 196 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 199 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 175 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Forestr
On a 2015 Forestr, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.1% 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 (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.0% 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 2015 Subaru Forestrs pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 962 2015 Subaru Forestr MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Subaru Forestr?
Suspension, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.7%).
Does the 2015 Forestr get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 23.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 962 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.