Subaru Forester Xen MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 89 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 19.1%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Subaru Forester Xen MOT Reliability Overview
The Subaru Forester Xen is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 89 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.9% and a failure rate of 19.1%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Subaru Forester Xen earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Subaru Forester Xen presents for MOT with approximately 68,574 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2007 models achieve the highest pass rate at 82.2%, while 2008 models have the lowest at 75.0%. This 7.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Subaru Forester Xen is Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, affecting 20.2% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Tyres at 9.0%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 4.5%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* 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
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 23.6% | 21 |
| 2 | Tyres | 9.0% | 8 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 4 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 4 |
| 5 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 2.2% | 2 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.2% | 2 |
| 7 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.1% | 1 |
| 8 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.1% | 1 |
| 9 | Driver's View Of The Road | 1.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 68,574 miFor 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.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.44 | 23.6% | 21 |
| Tyres | 1.31 | 9.0% | 8 |
| Visibility | 0.82 | 5.6% | 5 |
| Suspension | 0.66 | 4.5% | 4 |
| Body & Structure | 0.33 | 2.2% | 2 |
| Brakes | 0.33 | 2.2% | 2 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.16 | 1.1% | 1 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.16 | 1.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Subaru Forester Xen has 68,574 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.
The Subaru Forester Xen has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.79% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Subaru Forester Xen MOT Data
The Subaru Forester Xen is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 89 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.9% and a failure rate of 19.1%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Subaru Forester Xen owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and tyres 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 Forester Xen is likely to perform.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 20.2% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 20.2% of MOT failures on the Subaru Forester Xen. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Tyres — 9.0% of failures
Tyres issues account for 9.0% of MOT failures on the Subaru Forester Xen. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Suspension — 4.5% of failures
Suspension issues account for 4.5% of MOT failures on the Subaru Forester Xen. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Subaru Forester Xen?
Based on 89 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Subaru Forester Xen has an overall pass rate of 80.9% (19.1% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Subaru Forester Xen?
The top 3 reasons a Subaru Forester Xen fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (20.2%), 2. Tyres (9.0%), 3. Suspension (4.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Subaru Forester Xen reliable?
With a 19.1% MOT failure rate, the Forester Xen is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Subaru Forester Xen?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (20.2%); Tyres (9.0%); Suspension (4.5%). 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.