1999 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
4,625 MOT tests on the 1999 Subaru Impreza are in this dataset, and 82.0% of them passed. That is 9.3 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.7%) and suspension (8.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 474 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.7% versus 10.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.6% in 2021 to 17.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 448 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.3% | 386 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 349 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 222 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.8% | 220 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 175 |
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 | 474 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 414 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 174 |
| 4 | Washers | 115 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 107 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 104 |
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 | 22.4% | 1,037 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.7% | 957 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 596 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.7% | 587 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 391 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 381 |
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 | 97 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 384 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 864 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,370 | 18.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,152 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 733 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,049 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 985 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 885 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 849 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 857 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Impreza
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (7.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1999 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 4,625 1999 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by suspension (8.3%).
Does the 1999 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,625 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.