2000 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
5,518 MOT tests on the 2000 Subaru Impreza are in this dataset, and 81.2% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 8.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.1%) and suspension (8.4%) 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 567 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.8% versus 9.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.1% 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 | 9.1% | 500 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.4% | 464 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 429 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 294 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.3% | 291 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 201 |
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 | 567 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 483 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 200 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 135 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 133 |
| 6 | Washers | 130 |
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 | 21.9% | 1,208 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 1,104 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 688 |
| 4 | Tyres | 11.6% | 642 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 412 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.6% | 364 |
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 | 135 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 499 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,188 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,529 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,282 | 22.1% |
| 150k+ | 859 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,335 | 20.1% |
| 2022 | 1,181 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 1,051 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 1,005 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 946 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Impreza
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.4% 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 (7.8% 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 2000 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 5,518 2000 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by suspension (8.4%).
Does the 2000 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,518 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.