2021 Subaru Outback — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Subaru Outback passed 93.2% of its 930 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 10.4% of the time, so this is 3.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.4%) and visibility (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Outback fails 5.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.4% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.3 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.4% | 32 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 28 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 17 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 5 |
| 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 | Wipers | 29 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 14 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 14 |
| 5 | Washers | 8 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 5 |
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 | 18.0% | 167 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 122 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 51 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 36 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.6% | 24 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 10 |
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 | 449 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 437 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 37 | 5.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 446 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 464 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Outback
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
- Visibility (3.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% 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 2021 Subaru Outbacks pass their MOT?
93.2% of the 930 2021 Subaru Outback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Subaru Outback?
Tyres, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.0%).
Does the 2021 Outback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 5.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 930 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.