2010 Subaru Wrx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 364 MOT tests, the 2010 Subaru Wrx recorded an 86.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 10.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.4%) and emissions & environmental (6.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and stop lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 28 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Wrx fails 13.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 16.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.3 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 27 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 24 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 11 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 9 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 28 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 9 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 8 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 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 | 13.7% | 50 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.5% | 42 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.5% | 42 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 29 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 27 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.9% | 14 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 103 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 142 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 16.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 82 | 13.4% |
| 2023 | 71 | 15.5% |
| 2024 | 68 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 71 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Wrx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (3.0% 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 2010 Subaru Wrxs pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 364 2010 Subaru Wrx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Subaru Wrx?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (6.6%).
Does the 2010 Wrx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 30-60k band to 16.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 364 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.