2018 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Subaru Outback passed 92.0% of its 3,522 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (12.3% fail rate), the 2018 Outback comes out 4.3pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.3%) and brakes (2.4%) 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 86 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.1% in the 0-30k band and 15.1% in the 90-120k band, a 10.0-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 7.9% of the time against 8.1% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.3% | 116 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.4% | 85 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.2% | 78 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 73 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 46 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 8 |
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 | 86 |
| 2 | Wipers | 72 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 5 | Washers | 23 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 19 |
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 | 19.3% | 678 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 506 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 265 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.2% | 149 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 96 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 46 |
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 | 1,145 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,622 | 8.2% |
| 60-90k | 599 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 126 | 15.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,668 | 7.9% |
| Diesel | 854 | 8.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 707 | 7.2% |
| 2022 | 697 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 703 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 708 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 707 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Outback
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.3% 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 (2.4% 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 (2.2% 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 2018 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 3,522 2018 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Subaru Outback?
Tyres, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by brakes (2.4%).
Does the 2018 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 15.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,522 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.