2013 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
1,495 MOT tests on the 2013 Subaru Outback are in this dataset, and 82.1% of them passed. That is 2.3 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.2% of all tests — 6.7 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 stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 124 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 30-60k band and 16.1% in the 150k+ band, a 4.8-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (19.1% vs 15.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 197 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.5% | 97 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 74 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.4% | 51 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 36 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 33 |
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 | 124 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 63 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 48 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 45 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 43 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
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 | 31.7% | 474 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.3% | 348 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.7% | 309 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 149 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.4% | 141 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 80 |
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 | 213 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 509 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 497 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 215 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 16.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 984 | 19.1% |
| Petrol | 511 | 15.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 319 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 308 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 300 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 293 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 275 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Outback
On a 2013 Outback, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% 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 (5.0% 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 2013 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 1,495 2013 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Subaru Outback?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by suspension (6.5%).
Does the 2013 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 30-60k band to 16.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,495 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.