2015 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
4,504 MOT tests on the 2015 Subaru Outback are in this dataset, and 86.0% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 17.0% of the time, so this is 3.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.1%) and tyres (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, brake pads and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 173 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.8% versus 5.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.8pp more often than petrol ones (15.7% vs 10.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.1% | 275 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.1% | 184 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 154 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.3% | 149 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 117 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 46 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 173 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 128 |
| 3 | Wipers | 102 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 96 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 81 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 58 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.7% | 934 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 816 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 501 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 260 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 200 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 196 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 191 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,138 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,644 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,052 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 376 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 101 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,910 | 15.7% |
| Petrol | 1,594 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 891 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 901 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 910 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 908 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 894 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Outback
On a 2015 Outback, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Tyres (4.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2015 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 4,504 2015 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Subaru Outback?
Suspension, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.1%).
Does the 2015 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 22.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,504 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.