1995 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 508 MOT tests, the 1995 Subaru Impreza recorded an 84.8% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 23.7% of the time, so this is 8.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests against 9.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 68 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 Impreza fails 16.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 19.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.8 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 19.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.6% 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 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 67 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 47 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 27 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 22 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 68 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 28 |
| 4 | Joints | 17 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
| 6 | Washers | 14 |
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 | 19.7% | 100 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 12.8% | 65 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.8% | 65 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.4% | 63 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 59 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.3% | 47 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 36 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 75 | 5.3% |
| 90-120k | 162 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 114 | 16.7% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 19.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 86 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 78 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 115 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 140 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Impreza
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (5.3% 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 1995 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 508 1995 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.3%).
Does the 1995 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 30-60k band to 19.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 508 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.