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Subaru Outback MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Subaru Outback. Check any Outback by registration number below.

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75.8%

Avg Pass Rate

-9.9%

vs Subaru Avg

21

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Subaru Outback — MOT Reliability Overview

The Subaru Outback has an average MOT pass rate of 75.8%, which is 9.9 percentage points below the Subaru brand average of 85.7%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your Outback on the road.

The most common reasons a Subaru Outback fails its MOT are a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction. If you are preparing your Outback for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Typical mileage for the Outback is around 44,000 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used Outback, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.

Before buying a used Subaru Outback, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Subaru Outback performs at MOT across different model years.

2022

Based on 272 vehicles

99.6%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Mileage at 3yr

70k mi

2021

Based on 742 vehicles

94.1%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

6.4%

Mileage at 3yr

44k mi

2020

Based on 614 vehicles

91.7%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

1.9%

Retest Rate

10.6%

Mileage at 3yr

43k mi

2019

Based on 1,553 vehicles

92.1%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

7.7%

Mileage at 3yr

31k mi

Mileage at 5yr

65k mi

2018

Based on 1,640 vehicles

90.7%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

9.7%

Mileage at 5yr

69k mi

2017

Based on 1,148 vehicles

90.0%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.4%

Retest Rate

8.9%

Mileage at 5yr

79k mi

2016

Based on 1,882 vehicles

88.7%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

11.6%

2015

Based on 1,977 vehicles

83.8%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.6%

Retest Rate

16.6%

Mileage at 10yr

162k mi

2014

Based on 573 vehicles

83.8%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

14.2%

Mileage at 10yr

162k mi

2013

Based on 600 vehicles

79.3%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

20.3%

Mileage at 10yr

152k mi

2012

Based on 593 vehicles

72.8%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.7%

Retest Rate

27.7%

Mileage at 10yr

168k mi

2011

Based on 1,232 vehicles

76.1%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.9%

Retest Rate

22.8%

2010

Based on 1,149 vehicles

73.9%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.1%

Retest Rate

24.5%

2009

Based on 755 vehicles

69.9%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.8%

Retest Rate

21.9%

2008

Based on 522 vehicles

65.3%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

9.8%

Retest Rate

27.3%

2007

Based on 885 vehicles

65.1%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.8%

Retest Rate

28.8%

2006

Based on 1,016 vehicles

64.5%Below Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.1%

Retest Rate

26.6%

2005

Based on 674 vehicles

61.9%Below Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.7%

Retest Rate

32.5%

2004

Based on 551 vehicles

64.8%Below Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.4%

Retest Rate

27.2%

2003

Based on 12,000 vehicles

0.8%Poor
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

0.1%

Mileage at 3yr

26k mi

Mileage at 5yr

44k mi

Mileage at 10yr

85k mi

0

Based on 8,608 vehicles

82.1%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Mileage at 5yr

89k mi

Top MOT Failures — Subaru Outback

The most common reasons a Subaru Outback fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

4.7%
2

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

3.9%
3

Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction

3.0%
4

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

2.8%
5

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

2.7%

Typical Mileage — Subaru Outback

Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 2003 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used Outback.

At 3 Years

26,000

miles

At 5 Years

44,000

miles

At 10 Years

85,000

miles

Subaru Outback — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Subaru Outback MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Subaru Outback?
The average MOT pass rate for the Subaru Outback is 75.8% compared to the Subaru average of 85.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Subaru Outback?
The most common MOT failures on the Subaru Outback are: A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.7%), The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired (3.9%), Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction (3.0%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Subaru Outback reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 75.8%, the Subaru Outback is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.
How do I check the MOT history of a Subaru Outback?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Subaru Outback?
Typical mileage for the Subaru Outback: 70,052 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Outback to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Subaru Outback's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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