2005 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,050 MOT tests, the 2005 Subaru Outback recorded a 71.2% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.8% fail rate), the 2005 Outback comes out 1.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.7%) and suspension (15.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 127 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.9% versus 15.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 50.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.5% in 2021 to 25.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 342 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.6% | 320 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 205 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 163 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 138 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 123 |
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 | 127 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 121 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 121 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 111 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 99 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 95 |
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 | 50.3% | 1,032 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.5% | 626 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 518 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 355 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 310 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.3% | 252 |
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 | 72 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 248 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 521 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 577 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 630 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 549 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 491 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 396 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 350 | 29.7% |
| 2025 | 264 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Outback
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.6% 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.
- Brakes (10.0% 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.
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 2005 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 2,050 2005 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Subaru Outback?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by suspension (15.6%).
Does the 2005 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 30-60k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,050 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.