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Pass Your MOT

Subaru 1.8 Gl MOT Pass Rate

Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 32 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 31.3%.

68.8%
Pass Rate
31.3%
Fail Rate
32
Total Tests
Suspension
Top Failure

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Subaru 1.8 Gl MOT Reliability Overview

The Subaru 1.8 Gl is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 32 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.8% and a failure rate of 31.3%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.

Based on this data, the Subaru 1.8 Gl earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Subaru 1.8 Gl presents for MOT with approximately 99,493 miles on the clock.

The most common MOT failure for the Subaru 1.8 Gl is Suspension, affecting 46.9% of all tests. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. The second most common issue is Steering at 18.8%. Brakes rounds out the top three at 15.6%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.

⚠ Based on limited data (32 tests)

Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.

What Fails Most

Suspension 46.9%
Steering 18.8%
Brakes 15.6%
⚖️ Compare

* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Suspension62.5%20
2Brakes21.9%7
3Steering21.9%7
4Body, Chassis, Structure6.3%2
5Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems6.3%2
6Driver's View Of The Road6.3%2
7Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions6.3%2
8Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment6.3%2
9Items Not Tested3.1%1
10Towbars3.1%1
11Non-component Advisories3.1%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 99,493 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Suspension6.28% per 10K miBrakes2.20% per 10K miSteering2.20% per 10K miBody & Structure0.63% per 10K miSeat Belts0.63% per 10K miVisibility0.63% per 10K miEmissions & Exhaust0.63% per 10K miLamps & Electrical0.63% per 10K miItems Not Tested0.31% per 10K miTowbars0.31% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.31% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Suspension6.2862.5%20
Brakes2.2021.9%7
Steering2.2021.9%7
Body & Structure0.636.3%2
Seat Belts0.636.3%2
Visibility0.636.3%2
Emissions & Exhaust0.636.3%2
Lamps & Electrical0.636.3%2
Items Not Tested0.313.1%1
Towbars0.313.1%1
Non-component advisories0.313.1%1

🚗 Similar Cars to Consider

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No comparable models

Mileage at MOT

99,493
Mean
57,171
Median
34,549
25th Percentile
113,107
75th Percentile

The average Subaru 1.8 Gl has 99,493 miles when tested for MOT.

📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate

How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.

3.15%
Fail Rate per 10K Miles
Average across all makes: 5.38%
31.3%
Overall Fail Rate
99,493 avg miles
✅ Good — below average failure rate

The Subaru 1.8 Gl has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.15% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.

About Subaru 1.8 Gl MOT Data

The Subaru 1.8 Gl is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 32 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.8% and a failure rate of 31.3%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.

For Subaru 1.8 Gl owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and steering for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 1.8 Gl is likely to perform.

Suspension — 46.9% of failures

Suspension issues account for 46.9% of MOT failures on the Subaru 1.8 Gl. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.

Steering — 18.8% of failures

Steering issues account for 18.8% of MOT failures on the Subaru 1.8 Gl. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.

Brakes — 15.6% of failures

Brakes issues account for 15.6% of MOT failures on the Subaru 1.8 Gl. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Subaru 1.8 Gl?

Based on 32 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Subaru 1.8 Gl has an overall pass rate of 68.8% (31.3% fail rate).

What are the most common MOT failures on a Subaru 1.8 Gl?

The top 3 reasons a Subaru 1.8 Gl fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (46.9%), 2. Steering (18.8%), 3. Brakes (15.6%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.

Is the Subaru 1.8 Gl reliable?

With a 31.3% MOT failure rate, the 1.8 Gl is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.

What should I check before an MOT on my Subaru 1.8 Gl?

Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (46.9%); Steering (18.8%); Brakes (15.6%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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