Subaru Forester Xc D MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Subaru Forester Xc D MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Subaru Forester Xc D passed on its first attempt in 64.2%, and its overall record sits −8.9 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Subaru Forester Xc D in the 2023–2025 data: 68 tests across 1 model years (2011–2011). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Subaru Forester Xc D MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Subaru Forester Xc D, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Subaru Forester Xc D's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Subaru Forester Xc D DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Subaru Forester Xc D, each with how many of the model's 68 tests it was noted on.

• "Ball joint excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 6 Subaru Forester Xc D tests, 8.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 6 Subaru Forester Xc D tests, 8.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Position lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 6 Subaru Forester Xc D tests, 8.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 4 Subaru Forester Xc D tests, 5.9% of the model's MOT record.
• "Service brake performance excessively binding" (Major) — noted on about 3 Subaru Forester Xc D tests, 4.4% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 2 Subaru Forester Xc D tests, 2.9% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Subaru Forester Xc D Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Subaru Forester Xc D model year on record is 2011 (72.1% across 68 tests), and the weakest is 2011 (72.1%). Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Subaru Forester Xc D Owners

These checks follow this Subaru Forester Xc D's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Subaru Forester Xc D.

• the suspension joints — “ball joint excessively worn”

  With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

• the lights — “position lamp not working”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the exhaust and emissions — “exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases”

  Listen for a blow at idle and have someone rev it gently. Then look at the tailpipe smoke: blue is oil, white when warm is coolant, black is over-fuelling. Any of those and the emissions test is the least of it.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Subaru Forester Xc D. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Subaru Forester Xc D MOT & Reliability