2017 Subaru Wrx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Subaru Wrx passed 95.1% of its 1,620 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (12.7% fail rate), the 2017 Wrx comes out 7.7pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (1.7%) and tyres (1.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 28 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.0% once past 60-90k — 2.9× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 12.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 1.7% | 28 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.7% | 27 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 20 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 18 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 13 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 28 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 11 |
| 5 | Washers | 8 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 8 |
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 | 12.2% | 198 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 130 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.1% | 66 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 34 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.8% | 29 |
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 | 902 | 3.8% |
| 30-60k | 609 | 5.4% |
| 60-90k | 91 | 11.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 329 | 4.9% |
| 2022 | 324 | 4.3% |
| 2023 | 324 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | 327 | 7.0% |
| 2025 | 316 | 3.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Wrx
On a 2017 Wrx, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 1.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (1.7% 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.
- Tyres (1.7% 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 (1.2% 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 2017 Subaru Wrxs pass their MOT?
95.1% of the 1,620 2017 Subaru Wrx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Subaru Wrx?
Visibility, recorded in 1.7% of tests, followed by tyres (1.7%).
Does the 2017 Wrx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.8% in the 0-30k band to 11.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,620 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.