2020 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 840 MOT tests, the 2020 Subaru Outback recorded a 92.6% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 10.8% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.5%) and lighting & signalling (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 25 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.7% once past 60-90k — 4.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.5% | 29 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 29 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 19 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 16 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 2 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 2 | Wipers | 22 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 20 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 4 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 4 |
| 6 | Front fog lamps | 3 |
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 | 20.0% | 168 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 109 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 55 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 32 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.6% | 22 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 9 |
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 | 389 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 356 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 83 | 15.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 262 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 267 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 280 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Outback
On a 2020 Outback, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.5% 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 (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.3% 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 2020 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 840 2020 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Subaru Outback?
Tyres, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.5%).
Does the 2020 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 15.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 840 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.