1994 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Subaru Impreza passed 78.8% of its 335 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (22.8% fail rate), the 1994 Impreza comes out 1.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.7% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 35 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 34.8% versus 10.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 19.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.0% in 2021 to 16.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 46 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.7% | 29 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 29 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 24 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.0% | 20 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.3% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 35 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 31 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 15 |
| 5 | Joints | 14 |
| 6 | Position 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 | Brakes | 19.7% | 66 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.2% | 61 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.9% | 50 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 46 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.8% | 43 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.8% | 33 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 50 | 10.0% |
| 90-120k | 108 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 83 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 69 | 34.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 30.0% |
| 2022 | 56 | 21.4% |
| 2023 | 48 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 78 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 83 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Impreza
On a 1994 Impreza, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1994 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 335 1994 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by suspension (8.7%).
Does the 1994 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 60-90k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 335 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.