2009 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
2,175 MOT tests on the 2009 Subaru Outback are in this dataset, and 74.8% of them passed. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (25.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests against 12.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 147 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.1% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.8% fail against 27.4% for diesel, a 4.6-point gap across 2,175 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 44.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.8% in 2021 to 23.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 350 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.5% | 272 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 176 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 136 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 104 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 103 |
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 | 147 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 143 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 135 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 119 |
| 5 | Joints | 97 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 91 |
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 | 44.6% | 971 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.3% | 615 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.6% | 492 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.6% | 231 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 228 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 212 |
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 | 137 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 488 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 699 | 24.8% |
| 120-150k | 559 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 281 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,137 | 27.4% |
| Petrol | 1,038 | 22.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 555 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 487 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 445 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 362 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 326 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Outback
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.5% 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 (8.1% 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 2009 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 2,175 2009 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Subaru Outback?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (12.5%).
Does the 2009 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 30-60k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,175 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.