Know Your MOT
23.0%fail rate

Subaru Svx common MOT failures and failure rate

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

Based on 2,558 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 23.0% of MOT tests recorded on the Subaru Svx in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is brakes, which makes up 29.0% of the Subaru Svx's failures, followed by brakes, lamps & electrical, other, visibility/wipers. 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

Brakes29.0% 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.

Lamps & electrical27.5% 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.

Other22.8% of failures

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

Visibility/wipers17.0% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Suspension14.9% 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.

Tyres14.8% 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.

Failure rate by year

How the MOT failure rate varies by the car's year of first registration (older examples generally fail more as wear sets in).

199225.4% fail · 744 tests
199323.3% fail · 287 tests
199421.1% fail · 350 tests
199525.0% fail · 244 tests
199619.7% fail · 218 tests
199719.9% fail · 376 tests

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 brakes failure: Subaru Svx brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Subaru Svx brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Subaru Svx brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Subaru Svx headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Subaru Svx headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Subaru Svx headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Subaru Svx wiper bladesSearch Amazon for Subaru Svx wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind Subaru Svx wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Subaru Svx suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Subaru Svx suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Subaru Svx suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Subaru Svx tyresSearch Amazon for Subaru Svx tyresaffiliate searchFind Subaru Svx tyres 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 · DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain