2025 MOT results
Subaru Impreza common problems
The most common reason a Subaru Impreza fails its MOT is a sidelight out, on 12.9% of its 4,208 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 3 faults stand out: emissions above the limit at 8.8% of failures against 2.3% expected; structural corrosion at 12.8% of failures against 5.9% expected; a emissions not tested unable to be completed at 5.4% of failures against 2.9% expected.
- Tests in 2025 16,982 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 24.8% 4,208 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 4.7% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 45.5% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Subaru Impreza MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Subaru Impreza tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (11 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.9% |
| Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Suspension | 12.8% |
| Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 12.2% |
| Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.8% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.1% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 6.1% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 5.7% |
| Emissions not tested: unable to be completed Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.4% |
| Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.1% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.0% |
| Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.0% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
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Sidelight out
12.9% of failures 11.9% expected about as expected
A sidelight, also called a position lamp, not working. It marks the width of the car at night.
Walk round the car with the lights on and the hazards going; these are the cheapest failures to avoid.
-
Structural corrosion
12.8% of failures 5.9% expected 2.2 times as often
Corrosion in a structural area near a suspension, steering or seat belt mounting, which is a serious failure.
Look at the inner sills, rear spring seats and subframe mounts on cars over about 12 years old.
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Emissions above the limit
12.2% of failures 4.3% expected 2.8 times as often
The exhaust gases are outside the limits for the car, which can be the catalytic converter, a sensor, or simply a poor state of tune.
A long run before the test helps a catalyst get hot; a persistent failure usually needs a diagnosis.
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Emissions above the limit
8.8% of failures 2.3% expected 3.8 times as often
The exhaust gases are outside the limits for the car, which can be the catalytic converter, a sensor, or simply a poor state of tune.
A long run before the test helps a catalyst get hot; a persistent failure usually needs a diagnosis.
-
Engine management light on
8.1% of failures 5.8% expected somewhat more often
The engine management light is on, or has been disconnected. Either fails the test.
A cheap code reader on the diagnostic socket will say what the car has stored before you pay for a test.
-
Split joint boot
6.1% of failures 6.4% expected about as expected
A split rubber boot on a joint or driveshaft. The joint may still be sound, but dirt and water get in once the boot is open.
Turn the wheels to full lock and look behind them for greasy splits in the rubber concertina.
Which parts of the car fail
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails a Subaru Impreza, on 43.8% of failed tests. The widest gap against cars of the same registration years is noise, emissions and leaks, on 34.2% against 16.9% expected.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 43.8% |
| Suspension | 36.5% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 34.2% |
| Brakes | 20.1% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 18.6% |
| Visibility | 15.0% |
| Tyres | 9.6% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
45.5% of Subaru Impreza tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Subaru Imprezas, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 9.7% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 7.3% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 6.3% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 5.4% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 5.0% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 4.9% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.9% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 4.6% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 4.6% |
| Component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Suspension | 3.1% |
| Anti-roll bars: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 2.9% |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 2.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Subaru Impreza problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Subaru Impreza?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Position lamp: not working” is the most common: it appears on 12.9% of failed Subaru Impreza tests. Across categories, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails one, on 43.8% of failed tests.
How often does a Subaru Impreza fail its MOT?
24.8% of Subaru Impreza tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 16,982 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 68 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Subaru Impreza than on other cars?
Yes. “Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits” appears on 8.8% of its failures against 2.3% for cars of the same age, and “Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength” appears on 12.8% of its failures against 5.9% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Subaru Impreza aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 16,982 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.