2017 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,553 MOT tests, the 2017 Subaru Outback recorded a 91.2% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 4.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.6%) and brakes (3.1%) 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 76 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.6% versus 3.6%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.3% of the time against 9.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 92 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.1% | 80 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 61 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 61 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 35 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 12 |
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 | 76 |
| 2 | Wipers | 59 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 46 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 26 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 14 |
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 | 19.8% | 506 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 398 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 116 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 111 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 100 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 52 |
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 | 417 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,215 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 677 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 205 | 14.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,632 | 8.3% |
| Diesel | 921 | 9.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 496 | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 506 | 8.9% |
| 2023 | 518 | 10.2% |
| 2024 | 511 | 9.2% |
| 2025 | 522 | 10.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Outback
On a 2017 Outback, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.6% 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.
- 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.
- Visibility (2.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2017 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 2,553 2017 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Subaru Outback?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.1%).
Does the 2017 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 14.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,553 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.