2014 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
773 MOT tests on the 2014 Subaru Impreza are in this dataset, and 86.6% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 17.5% of the time, so this is 4.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.3% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and brake pads — stop lamp alone was recorded 31 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.3% in the 0-30k band and 21.1% in the 90-120k band, a 10.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 18.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 72 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.5% | 35 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.3% | 33 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 31 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 22 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 17 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 5 | Wipers | 17 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.5% | 143 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.4% | 119 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.6% | 97 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 52 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 34 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 27 |
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 | 116 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 345 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 209 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 71 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 153 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 159 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 156 | 14.7% |
| 2024 | 148 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 157 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Impreza
On a 2014 Impreza, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (4.3% 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.
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 2014 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 773 2014 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by brakes (4.5%).
Does the 2014 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 773 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.