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Common problems by part

Subaru Outback lights and electrics problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 2,688 MOT tests · Updated

At 7 years, 2.9 in 100 MOT tests of the Subaru Outback failed on lights and electrics, against 5.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 2,688 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), 78 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 16 ages from 3 to 18 years, 28,958 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 7 years: 2,688 for the Subaru Outback

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

2.9 fails per 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 5.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 7 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A lights and electrics fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

Walk round with the lights, indicators, brake lights and hazards on (ask someone to press the pedal) and check every dashboard warning light goes out after starting.

Subaru Outback lights and electrics fails by age

Subaru Outback lights and electrics fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Subaru Outback. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.010203 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 2,060 MOT tests34 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 3.1), 2,123 MOT tests5 years: 2.8 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 1,976 MOT tests56 years: 2.7 per 100 (all cars 4.7), 2,475 MOT tests7 years: 2.9 per 100 (all cars 5.8), 2,688 MOT tests78 years: 5.0 per 100 (all cars 7.3), 2,258 MOT tests9 years: 6.6 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 2,061 MOT tests910 years: 9.9 per 100 (all cars 11.2), 1,589 MOT tests11 years: 18.4 per 100 (all cars 13.3), 1,355 MOT tests1112 years: 19.5 per 100 (all cars 15.4), 1,637 MOT tests13 years: 19.9 per 100 (all cars 17.0), 1,670 MOT tests1314 years: 21.4 per 100 (all cars 18.3), 1,538 MOT tests15 years: 21.2 per 100 (all cars 19.5), 1,403 MOT tests1516 years: 21.6 per 100 (all cars 20.4), 1,439 MOT tests17 years: 20.4 per 100 (all cars 21.0), 1,383 MOT tests1718 years: 21.2 per 100 (all cars 21.4), 1,303 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Subaru Outback All class 4 vehicles the same age
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
32,0601.62.9
42,1232.33.1
51,9762.83.7
62,4752.74.7
72,6882.95.8
82,2585.07.3
92,0616.69.2
101,5899.911.2
111,35518.513.3
121,63719.515.4
131,67019.917.0
141,53821.418.3
151,40321.219.5
161,43921.620.4
171,38320.421.0
181,30321.221.4

All first-use years of the Subaru Outback pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.

What fails in the lights and electrics at 7 years

Advisories (not fails)

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

See a sample report

How to check on a test drive

Walk round with the lights, indicators, brake lights and hazards on (ask someone to press the pedal) and check every dashboard warning light goes out after starting.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources.

Check one Subaru Outback, not the average

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

Other Subaru Outback problems

Lights and electrics on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Subaru Outback have more lights and electrics problems than other cars?

2.9 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 5.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 2,688 MOT tests).

How common are Subaru Outback lights and electrics problems?

2.9 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years failed on lights and electrics, against 5.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 2,688 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 28,958 MOT tests. 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