Know Your MOT
39.3%fail rate

Subaru Pickup common MOT failures and failure rate

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

Based on 107 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 39.3% of MOT tests recorded on the Subaru Pickup in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is suspension, which makes up 54.8% of the Subaru Pickup's failures, followed by suspension, brakes, other, exhaust & emissions. 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

Suspension54.8% 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.

Brakes42.9% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Other38.1% of failures

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

Exhaust & emissions35.7% 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.

Body & structure33.3% of failures

Structural failures are corrosion in load-bearing areas, sharp edges, or insecure panels. These are inspection-and-welding jobs rather than a simple bolt-on part, so weigh them against the value of the car.

Lamps & electrical31.0% 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.

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 suspension failure: Subaru Pickup suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Subaru Pickup suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Subaru Pickup suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Subaru Pickup brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Subaru Pickup brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Subaru Pickup brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Subaru Pickup exhaustSearch Amazon for Subaru Pickup exhaustaffiliate searchFind Subaru Pickup exhaust on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Subaru Pickup headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Subaru Pickup headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Subaru Pickup headlight and indicator bulbs 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