2009 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,724 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Subaru Impreza, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 81.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (75.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.1% in the 150k+ group versus 12.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 417 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.8% | 370 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 357 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 213 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 175 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 154 |
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 | 394 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 210 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 171 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 162 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 123 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 108 |
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 | 31.5% | 1,486 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 893 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.1% | 856 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 479 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 300 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.6% | 263 |
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 | 118 | 12.7% |
| 30-60k | 840 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,768 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,362 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 469 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 163 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,465 | 18.4% |
| Diesel | 259 | 20.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,020 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 1,058 | 19.2% |
| 2023 | 951 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 892 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 803 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Impreza
Before buying a 2009 Subaru Impreza, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 8.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.8% 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 (7.6% 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 2009 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 4,724 2009 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by suspension (7.8%).
Does the 2009 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,724 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.