1998 Subaru Forester — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

61.6%

Latest Pass Rate

9,071

Total Tests (All Years)

116,125 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 1998 Subaru Forester as it ages.

11 yrs57.0%

→ ↓2.5%

12 yrs54.5%

→ ↓1.6%

13 yrs52.9%

→ ↓4.7%

14 yrs48.2%

→ ↑0.1%

15 yrs48.3%

→ ↑2.4%

16 yrs50.7%

→ ↑1.5%

17 yrs52.2%

→ ↑0.1%

18 yrs52.3%

→ ↓1.9%

19 yrs50.4%

→ ↓1.8%

20 yrs48.6%

→ ↑2.7%

21 yrs51.3%

→ ↓1.0%

22 yrs50.3%

→ ↑3.2%

23 yrs53.5%

→ ↑13.7%

24 yrs67.2%

→ ↓5.4%

25 yrs61.8%

→ ↓0.2%

26 yrs61.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	57.0%	1,449
12 yrs	54.5%	1,364
13 yrs	52.9%	1,239
14 yrs	48.2%	1,064
15 yrs	48.3%	884
16 yrs	50.7%	726
17 yrs	52.2%	575
18 yrs	52.3%	465
19 yrs	50.4%	351
20 yrs	48.6%	208
21 yrs	51.3%	156
22 yrs	50.3%	143
23 yrs	53.5%	127
24 yrs	67.2%	67
25 yrs	61.8%	76
26 yrs	61.6%	177

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Subaru Forester pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	61.6%	177
2023 (25 yrs)	61.8%	76
2022 (24 yrs)	67.2%	67
2021 (23 yrs)	53.5%	127
2020 (22 yrs)	50.3%	143
2019 (21 yrs)	51.3%	156
2018 (20 yrs)	48.6%	208
2017 (19 yrs)	50.4%	351
2016 (18 yrs)	52.3%	465
2015 (17 yrs)	52.2%	575
2014 (16 yrs)	50.7%	726
2013 (15 yrs)	48.3%	884
2012 (14 yrs)	48.2%	1,064
2011 (13 yrs)	52.9%	1,239
2010 (12 yrs)	54.5%	1,364
2009 (11 yrs)	57%	1,449

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 1,449Avg Mileage 106,110Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%

2010High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,364Avg Mileage 113,029Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.6%

2011High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,239Avg Mileage 117,710Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.1%

2012High Fail Rate

48.2%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,064Avg Mileage 121,116Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2013High Fail Rate

48.3%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 884Avg Mileage 124,513Top Failure Suspension — 85.9%

2014High Fail Rate

50.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 726Avg Mileage 125,064Top Failure Suspension — 77.8%

2015High Fail Rate

52.2%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 575Avg Mileage 125,793Top Failure Suspension — 73.9%

2016High Fail Rate

52.3%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 465Avg Mileage 127,484Top Failure Suspension — 78.3%

2017High Fail Rate

50.4%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 351Avg Mileage 126,490Top Failure Suspension — 79.5%

2018High Fail Rate

48.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 208Avg Mileage 122,817Top Failure Suspension — 87.0%

2019High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 156Avg Mileage 126,108Top Failure Suspension — 96.8%

2020High Fail Rate

50.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 143Avg Mileage 126,354Top Failure Suspension — 109.8%

2021High Fail Rate

53.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 127Avg Mileage 119,111Top Failure Suspension — 94.5%

2022

67.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 67Avg Mileage 123,902Top Failure Suspension — 83.6%

2023High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 76Avg Mileage 118,277Top Failure Suspension — 63.2%

2024High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 177Avg Mileage 116,125Top Failure Suspension — 53.7%

MOT results for 1998 Subaru Forester by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	57.0%	1,449	106,110	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%
2010	12	54.5%	1,364	113,029	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.6%
2011	13	52.9%	1,239	117,710	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.1%
2012	14	48.2%	1,064	121,116	Suspension — 33.3%
2013	15	48.3%	884	124,513	Suspension — 85.9%
2014	16	50.7%	726	125,064	Suspension — 77.8%
2015	17	52.2%	575	125,793	Suspension — 73.9%
2016	18	52.3%	465	127,484	Suspension — 78.3%
2017	19	50.4%	351	126,490	Suspension — 79.5%
2018	20	48.6%	208	122,817	Suspension — 87.0%
2019	21	51.3%	156	126,108	Suspension — 96.8%
2020	22	50.3%	143	126,354	Suspension — 109.8%
2021	23	53.5%	127	119,111	Suspension — 94.5%
2022	24	67.2%	67	123,902	Suspension — 83.6%
2023	25	61.8%	76	118,277	Suspension — 63.2%
2024	26	61.6%	177	116,125	Suspension — 53.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Subaru Forester, with age trends.

Suspension

68.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

41.1%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

39.4%

— Consistent

Brakes

34.7%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

23.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	21.0% (11 yrs)	53.7% (26 yrs)	+32.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	18.8% (11 yrs)	18.1% (26 yrs)	-0.7%	⚪ —

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 9,071 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.