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Subaru Forester body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 4,522 MOT tests · Updated

At 8 years, 1.0 in 100 MOT tests of the Subaru Forester failed on body and structure, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 4,522 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 46 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 20 ages from 3 to 22 years, 64,837 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Driveshaft CV boot split, 0.4 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.0 fails per 100 MOT tests at 8 years, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 8 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A body and structure fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

Subaru Forester body and structure fails by age

Subaru Forester body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Subaru Forester. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.05103 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 2,364 MOT tests34 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 3,048 MOT tests5 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 3,215 MOT tests56 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 4,236 MOT tests7 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 4,265 MOT tests78 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 4,522 MOT tests9 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 2.3), 4,410 MOT tests910 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 3,623 MOT tests11 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 3,362 MOT tests1112 years: 3.1 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 3,126 MOT tests13 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 5.0), 2,783 MOT tests1314 years: 5.1 per 100 (all cars 5.9), 2,801 MOT tests15 years: 6.7 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 2,780 MOT tests1516 years: 7.5 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 3,004 MOT tests17 years: 7.7 per 100 (all cars 8.3), 3,716 MOT tests1718 years: 8.5 per 100 (all cars 8.7), 3,894 MOT tests19 years: 7.7 per 100 (all cars 9.0), 3,617 MOT tests1920 years: 8.7 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 2,824 MOT tests21 years: 8.3 per 100 (all cars 9.3), 1,976 MOT tests2122 years: 9.6 per 100 (all cars 9.4), 1,271 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Subaru Forester All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
32,3640.20.3
43,0480.30.3
53,2150.40.5
64,2360.70.8
74,2650.81.3
84,5221.01.8
94,4100.82.3
103,6231.02.9
113,3621.83.5
123,1263.14.3
132,7834.55.0
142,8015.15.9
152,7806.76.7
163,0047.57.6
173,7167.78.3
183,8948.58.7
19*3,6177.79.0
20*2,8248.79.2
21*1,9768.39.3
22*1,2719.69.4

All first-use years of the Subaru Forester pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the body and structure at 8 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Replace leaking exhaust section cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

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How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases.

Check one Subaru Forester, not the average

The figures here describe Subaru Forester cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Subaru Forester problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Subaru Forester have more body and structure problems than other cars?

1.0 in 100 MOT tests at 8 years, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 4,522 MOT tests).

How common are Subaru Forester body and structure problems?

1.0 in 100 MOT tests at 8 years failed on body and structure, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 4,522 MOT tests).

What is the most common Subaru Forester body and structure fail?

0.4 in 100 MOT tests at 8 years: Driveshaft CV boot split (20 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 64,837 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare