2012 Subaru Wrx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Subaru Wrx passed 84.5% of its 291 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.8% of the time, so this is 6.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: emissions & environmental, recorded in 9.6% of tests against 6.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 47 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.8% in the 30-60k band and 20.0% in the 90-120k band, a 4.2-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 9.6% | 28 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 18 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 10 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.8% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 5 |
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 | 47 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 11 |
| 3 | Wipers | 8 |
| 4 | Catalytic converter | 6 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 6 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 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 | 17.2% | 50 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 36 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.7% | 34 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 26 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 13 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.1% | 12 |
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 | 82 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 121 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 50 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 59 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 61 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 56 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 59 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Wrx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 9.6% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (9.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.4% 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 2012 Subaru Wrxs pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 291 2012 Subaru Wrx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Subaru Wrx?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.2%).
Does the 2012 Wrx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 30-60k band to 20.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 291 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.