2017 Subaru Xv — MOT failures & pass rate
3,371 MOT tests on the 2017 Subaru Xv are in this dataset, and 89.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.0%) and brakes (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 115 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.4% versus 6.1%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.9% fail against 14.0% for diesel, a 4.1-point gap across 3,371 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 17.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 202 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.1% | 105 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.9% | 98 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.4% | 81 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.1% | 71 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 115 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 88 |
| 3 | Wipers | 85 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 72 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 47 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 36 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.2% | 580 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.0% | 574 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 462 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 154 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 103 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 98 |
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 | 1,040 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,551 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 560 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 167 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,502 | 9.9% |
| Diesel | 869 | 14.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 655 | 7.2% |
| 2022 | 660 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 675 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 697 | 13.8% |
| 2025 | 684 | 13.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Xv
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.1% 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.
- Visibility (2.9% 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 2017 Subaru Xvs pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 3,371 2017 Subaru Xv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Subaru Xv?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by brakes (3.1%).
Does the 2017 Xv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,371 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.