2003 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Subaru Impreza passed 79.2% of its 10,765 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.3 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.2%) and suspension (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 931 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 0-30k band and 23.9% in the 150k+ band, a 12.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.8% in 2021 to 19.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 1,308 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 1,099 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 879 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.8% | 628 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 585 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 346 |
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 | 931 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 905 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 861 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 446 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 353 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 303 |
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 | 23.6% | 2,540 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.7% | 2,446 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.5% | 1,666 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 1,566 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 1,166 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.2% | 666 |
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 | 159 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 665 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,491 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,472 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,818 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,135 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,540 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 2,378 | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 2,148 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 1,940 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 1,759 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Impreza
On a 2003 Impreza, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 (8.2% 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 2003 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 10,765 2003 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2003 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,765 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.