Subaru Sambar MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 541 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 42.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Subaru Sambar MOT Reliability Overview
The Subaru Sambar is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 541 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 57.1% and a failure rate of 42.9%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Subaru Sambar earns a "Below Average" reliability rating. The average Subaru Sambar presents for MOT with approximately 78,158 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1996 models achieve the highest pass rate at 58.3%, while 1995 models have the lowest at 47.5%. This 10.8 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Subaru Sambar is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 39.4% 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 Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 18.9%. Brakes rounds out the top three at 18.3%. 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 | 65.9% | 356 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.0% | 103 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.3% | 99 |
| 4 | Suspension | 17.9% | 97 |
| 5 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 16.1% | 87 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 14.4% | 78 |
| 7 | Steering | 10.9% | 59 |
| 8 | Driver's View Of The Road | 10.4% | 56 |
| 9 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 7.4% | 40 |
| 10 | Visibility | 6.3% | 34 |
| 11 | Body, Structure And General Items | 5.4% | 29 |
| 12 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 3.9% | 21 |
| 13 | Non-component Advisories | 1.8% | 10 |
| 14 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.7% | 9 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 78,158 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 | 8.42 | 65.9% | 356 |
| Tyres | 2.44 | 19.0% | 103 |
| Brakes | 2.34 | 18.3% | 99 |
| Suspension | 2.29 | 17.9% | 97 |
| Visibility | 2.12 | 16.7% | 90 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.06 | 16.1% | 87 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.84 | 14.4% | 78 |
| Body & Structure | 1.64 | 12.8% | 69 |
| Steering | 1.40 | 10.9% | 59 |
| Seat Belts | 0.50 | 3.9% | 21 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.24 | 1.8% | 10 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.21 | 1.7% | 9 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Subaru Sambar has 78,158 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 Sambar has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.49% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Subaru Sambar MOT Data
The Subaru Sambar is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 541 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 57.1% and a failure rate of 42.9%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Subaru Sambar owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 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 Sambar is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.4% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 39.4% of MOT failures on the Subaru Sambar. 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.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 18.9% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 18.9% of MOT failures on the Subaru Sambar. 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.
Brakes — 18.3% of failures
Brakes issues account for 18.3% of MOT failures on the Subaru Sambar. 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 Sambar?
Based on 541 MOT tests in our database, the Subaru Sambar has an overall pass rate of 57.1% (42.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Subaru Sambar?
The top 3 reasons a Subaru Sambar fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (39.4%), 2. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (18.9%), 3. Brakes (18.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Subaru Sambar reliable?
With a 42.9% MOT failure rate, the Sambar is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Subaru Sambar?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (39.4%); Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (18.9%); Brakes (18.3%). 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.