1997 Subaru Forester — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

52.6%

Latest Pass Rate

4,116

Total Tests (All Years)

137,144 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Subaru Forester as it ages.

12 yrs54.0%

→ ↑0.7%

13 yrs54.7%

→ ↓5.4%

14 yrs49.3%

→ ↓1.1%

15 yrs48.2%

→ ↑0.8%

16 yrs49.0%

→ ↑0.4%

17 yrs49.4%

→ ↑6.7%

18 yrs56.1%

→ ↓0.0%

19 yrs56.1%

→ ↑3.2%

20 yrs59.3%

→ ↑3.3%

21 yrs62.6%

→ ↓5.8%

22 yrs56.8%

→ ↓3.2%

23 yrs53.6%

→ ↓2.0%

24 yrs51.6%

→ ↑1.0%

27 yrs52.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	54.0%	707
13 yrs	54.7%	671
14 yrs	49.3%	594
15 yrs	48.2%	504
16 yrs	49.0%	408
17 yrs	49.4%	326
18 yrs	56.1%	253
19 yrs	56.1%	196
20 yrs	59.3%	145
21 yrs	62.6%	99
22 yrs	56.8%	88
23 yrs	53.6%	56
24 yrs	51.6%	31
27 yrs	52.6%	38

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Subaru Forester pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	52.6%	38
2021 (24 yrs)	51.6%	31
2020 (23 yrs)	53.6%	56
2019 (22 yrs)	56.8%	88
2018 (21 yrs)	62.6%	99
2017 (20 yrs)	59.3%	145
2016 (19 yrs)	56.1%	196
2015 (18 yrs)	56.1%	253
2014 (17 yrs)	49.4%	326
2013 (16 yrs)	49%	408
2012 (15 yrs)	48.2%	504
2011 (14 yrs)	49.3%	594
2010 (13 yrs)	54.7%	671
2009 (12 yrs)	54%	707

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.0%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 707Avg Mileage 110,606Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.4%

2010High Fail Rate

54.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 671Avg Mileage 118,118Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.6%

2011High Fail Rate

49.3%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 594Avg Mileage 121,006Top Failure Suspension — 31.6%

2012High Fail Rate

48.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 504Avg Mileage 125,438Top Failure Suspension — 34.7%

2013High Fail Rate

49.0%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 408Avg Mileage 128,141Top Failure Suspension — 77.7%

2014High Fail Rate

49.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 326Avg Mileage 132,476Top Failure Suspension — 76.1%

2015High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 253Avg Mileage 134,961Top Failure Suspension — 75.9%

2016High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 196Avg Mileage 135,782Top Failure Suspension — 80.6%

2017High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 145Avg Mileage 130,613Top Failure Suspension — 80.7%

2018High Fail Rate

62.6%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 99Avg Mileage 127,646Top Failure Suspension — 63.6%

2019High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 88Avg Mileage 132,352Top Failure Suspension — 65.9%

2020High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 56Avg Mileage 144,282Top Failure Suspension — 83.9%

2021High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 31Avg Mileage 156,597Top Failure Suspension — 119.4%

2024High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 38Avg Mileage 137,144Top Failure Suspension — 115.8%

MOT results for 1997 Subaru Forester by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	54.0%	707	110,606	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.4%
2010	13	54.7%	671	118,118	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.6%
2011	14	49.3%	594	121,006	Suspension — 31.6%
2012	15	48.2%	504	125,438	Suspension — 34.7%
2013	16	49.0%	408	128,141	Suspension — 77.7%
2014	17	49.4%	326	132,476	Suspension — 76.1%
2015	18	56.1%	253	134,961	Suspension — 75.9%
2016	19	56.1%	196	135,782	Suspension — 80.6%
2017	20	59.3%	145	130,613	Suspension — 80.7%
2018	21	62.6%	99	127,646	Suspension — 63.6%
2019	22	56.8%	88	132,352	Suspension — 65.9%
2020	23	53.6%	56	144,282	Suspension — 83.9%
2021	24	51.6%	31	156,597	Suspension — 119.4%
2024	27	52.6%	38	137,144	Suspension — 115.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Subaru Forester, with age trends.

Suspension

68.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

40.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

39.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

35.8%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

28.7%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	23.1% (12 yrs)	115.8% (27 yrs)	+92.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	20.8% (12 yrs)	26.3% (27 yrs)	+5.5%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Subaru Forester page →

About This Data

This page shows how Subaru Forester cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 4,116 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

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