2016 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Subaru Outback passed 88.8% of its 4,250 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.7%) and suspension (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 123 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.4% once past 150k — 3.7× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.0% fail against 12.0% for diesel, a 2.0-point gap across 4,250 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 156 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.3% | 138 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 131 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 115 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 107 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 123 |
| 2 | Wipers | 98 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 69 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 62 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 52 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 45 |
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 | 20.6% | 874 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 837 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 332 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 217 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 161 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 140 |
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 | 342 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,558 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,438 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 665 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 193 | 18.1% |
| 150k+ | 54 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,651 | 12.0% |
| Petrol | 1,599 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 851 | 9.3% |
| 2022 | 852 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 843 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 832 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 872 | 14.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Outback
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.7% 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.
- Suspension (3.3% 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 (3.1% 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 2016 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 4,250 2016 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Subaru Outback?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by suspension (3.3%).
Does the 2016 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,250 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.