2014 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,338 MOT tests, the 2014 Subaru Outback recorded an 84.4% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 18.6% of the time, so this is 3.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests against 6.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 88 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 24.6% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 154 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 82 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 48 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.3% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 27 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.8% | 24 |
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 | 88 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 42 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 39 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 26 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 26 |
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 | 25.1% | 336 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.2% | 284 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.1% | 282 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 100 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 83 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 77 |
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 | 201 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 435 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 412 | 19.7% |
| 120-150k | 211 | 18.0% |
| 150k+ | 61 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,305 | 15.4% |
| Petrol | 33 | 24.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 285 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 279 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 270 | 15.2% |
| 2024 | 260 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 244 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Outback
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.1% 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 (3.6% 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 2014 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 1,338 2014 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Subaru Outback?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by suspension (6.1%).
Does the 2014 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 30-60k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,338 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.