2019 Subaru Xv — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Subaru Xv passed 93.3% of its 3,729 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 8.8% of the time, so this is 2.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (2.9%) and tyres (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 121 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.8% once past 60-90k — 2.6× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.4% of tests failed in 2022 against 7.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 2.9% | 110 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.6% | 96 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 75 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 45 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 22 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 121 |
| 2 | Wipers | 76 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 58 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 23 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 19 |
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 | 19.0% | 708 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 578 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 208 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.5% | 130 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 78 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 16 |
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 | 2,060 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,422 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 228 | 11.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 910 | 4.4% |
| 2023 | 936 | 6.8% |
| 2024 | 935 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 927 | 7.5% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Xv
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 2.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (2.9% 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.
- Tyres (2.6% 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.
- Visibility (2.0% 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 2019 Subaru Xvs pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 3,729 2019 Subaru Xv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Subaru Xv?
Brakes, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by tyres (2.6%).
Does the 2019 Xv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 11.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,729 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.