2011 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Subaru Outback passed 79.3% of its 3,046 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (22.8% fail rate), the 2011 Outback comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.6% of all tests — 7.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 317 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.6% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (22.0% vs 19.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 475 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.1% | 248 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 229 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 155 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 109 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.1% | 94 |
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 | 317 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 165 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 128 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 119 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 116 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 101 |
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 | 37.6% | 1,145 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.9% | 788 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.8% | 756 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.0% | 457 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 377 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 203 |
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 | 200 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 618 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,102 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 700 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 413 | 26.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,734 | 22.0% |
| Petrol | 1,308 | 19.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 674 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 661 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 634 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 562 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 515 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Outback
On a 2011 Outback, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.1% 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 (7.5% 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 2011 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 3,046 2011 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Subaru Outback?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (8.1%).
Does the 2011 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 30-60k band to 26.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,046 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.