Know Your MOT
32.5%fail rate

Subaru Imperza common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Subaru Imperza fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 80 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 32.5% of MOT tests recorded on the Subaru Imperza in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is lamps & electrical, which makes up 46.2% of the Subaru Imperza's failures, followed by lamps & electrical, tyres, other, registration plate. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Lamps & electrical46.2% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Tyres19.2% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Other15.4% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Registration plate15.4% of failures

A missing, damaged, dirty or incorrectly-spaced number plate, or one using the wrong font, will fail. A replacement plate is inexpensive.

Exhaust & emissions11.5% of failures

Exhaust failures cover leaks, insecure mountings and emissions over the limit. A blowing exhaust, a failed lambda reading or a diesel that smokes beyond the limit will fail.

Suspension3.8% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the lamps & electrical failure: Subaru Imperza headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Subaru Imperza headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Subaru Imperza headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Subaru Imperza tyresSearch Amazon for Subaru Imperza tyresaffiliate searchFind Subaru Imperza tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the registration plate failure: Subaru Imperza number plateSearch Amazon for Subaru Imperza number plateaffiliate searchFind Subaru Imperza number plate on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Subaru Imperza exhaustSearch Amazon for Subaru Imperza exhaustaffiliate searchFind Subaru Imperza exhaust on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Subaru Imperza suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Subaru Imperza suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Subaru Imperza suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Subaru Impreza MOT failures24.4% failure rateSubaru Forester MOT failures23.6% failure rateSubaru Legacy MOT failures27.5% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain