2012 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
319 MOT tests on the 2012 Subaru Impreza are in this dataset, and 90.9% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.6% of the time, so this is 12.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.3%) and visibility (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, catalyst emissions and washers — position lamp alone was recorded 10 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 0.0% in the 0-30k band and 13.0% in the 60-90k band, a 13.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 9.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.5% in 2021 to 4.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 17 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.5% | 11 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 10 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.9% | 6 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 6 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.6% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 10 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 10 |
| 3 | Washers | 7 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 5 | Wipers | 6 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 9.4% | 30 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.8% | 28 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 25 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 14 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 13 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 9 |
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 | 41 | 0.0% |
| 30-60k | 124 | 7.3% |
| 60-90k | 100 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 57 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 60 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 76 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 74 | 4.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Impreza
On a 2012 Impreza, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.1% 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 2012 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
90.9% of the 319 2012 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by visibility (3.5%).
Does the 2012 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 0.0% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 319 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.