2018 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
1,139 MOT tests on the 2018 Subaru Impreza are in this dataset, and 92.6% of them passed. That is 3.0 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.7%) and lighting & signalling (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.0% once past 90-120k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 42 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 35 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 23 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 22 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 9 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 2 | Wipers | 22 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 19 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 8 |
| 5 | Washers | 5 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 5 |
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 | 18.7% | 213 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 138 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.8% | 43 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.8% | 32 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 26 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 13 |
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 | 556 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 351 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 142 | 8.5% |
| 90-120k | 54 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 240 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 230 | 6.5% |
| 2023 | 233 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 220 | 9.1% |
| 2025 | 216 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Impreza
On a 2018 Impreza, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.0% 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.
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 2018 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 1,139 2018 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Subaru Impreza?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.1%).
Does the 2018 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,139 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.