2004 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Subaru Outback passed 70.9% of its 1,443 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.0%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.8%) and lighting & signalling (17.2%) 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, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 126 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 50.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.8% | 257 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 248 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 149 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.4% | 136 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 95 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 85 |
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 | 126 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 92 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 83 |
| 4 | Joints | 79 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 77 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 74 |
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 | 50.6% | 730 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.3% | 423 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.1% | 348 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 249 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 215 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.6% | 167 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 44 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 140 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 353 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 487 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 410 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 381 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 334 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 274 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 249 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 205 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Outback
On a 2004 Outback, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2004 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
70.9% of the 1,443 2004 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Subaru Outback?
Suspension, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.2%).
Does the 2004 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 30-60k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,443 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.