2010 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
2,930 MOT tests on the 2010 Subaru Outback are in this dataset, and 77.4% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (24.0% fail rate), the 2010 Outback comes out 1.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests against 8.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 313 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.6% versus 16.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.3% fail against 24.5% for diesel, a 4.1-point gap across 2,930 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 490 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.8% | 259 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.8% | 227 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 145 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 110 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.5% | 103 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 313 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 151 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 131 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 126 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 106 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 81 |
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 | 40.8% | 1,197 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.8% | 813 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.8% | 698 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.2% | 444 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 398 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.6% | 281 |
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 | 119 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 450 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 948 | 22.3% |
| 120-150k | 817 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 575 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,578 | 24.5% |
| Petrol | 1,352 | 20.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 663 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 643 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 589 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 550 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 485 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 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 (8.8% 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.
- Brakes (7.8% 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 2010 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 2,930 2010 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Subaru Outback?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by suspension (8.8%).
Does the 2010 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 30-60k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,930 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.