2014 Subaru Xv — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Subaru Xv passed 83.4% of its 3,685 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 18.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.9%) and suspension (7.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, pins and bushes and stop lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 193 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.0% once past 150k — 3.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (18.4% vs 14.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 327 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 291 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 192 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.2% | 119 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 116 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 57 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 193 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 140 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 133 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 108 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 103 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 100 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.0% | 993 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.2% | 819 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.4% | 752 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.8% | 287 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 126 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 115 |
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 | 207 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,112 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,382 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 685 | 21.8% |
| 120-150k | 237 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 62 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,911 | 18.4% |
| Petrol | 1,771 | 14.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 708 | 11.7% |
| 2022 | 719 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 741 | 16.5% |
| 2024 | 764 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 753 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Xv
On a 2014 Xv, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (5.2% 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 2014 Subaru Xvs pass their MOT?
83.4% of the 3,685 2014 Subaru Xv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Subaru Xv?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by suspension (7.9%).
Does the 2014 Xv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,685 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.