2009 Subaru Forester · 1,714 MOT tests
2009 Subaru Forester reliability
2009 Subaru Foresters fail 41.1% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, ranking 17 of 18 Forester years (1,714 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Subaru Foresters: 29.5%)
- 41.1%
- first-time fail rate (all Subaru Foresters: 29.5%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 0% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 14
- 106,895
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 14
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 1,714
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2009 against the years either side
- 2008 cars: 12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2009 car does worse)
- 2010 cars: 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2009 car does worse)
- Weak spot: suspension, 20.2% of tests fail here (22% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: steering, 70% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2009 car carries a 58 plate (January–February 2009), or a 09 plate (March–August 2009), or a 59 plate (September–December 2009).
Common problems
What fails on a 2009 Subaru Forester
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics21.5%
- Suspension20.2%
- Brakes9.7%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.7%
- Body, chassis and structure5.9%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.5%
- Tyres4.6%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Position lamp not working 6.07%
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
Stop lamp not working 5.13%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 3.91%
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.44%
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn 3.27%
A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.
Exhaust has major gas leak 2.98%
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
Common advisories
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear (17.5%) · Tyre worn close to legal limit (13.48%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (9.98%) · Brake pads wearing thin (8.98%) · Sub-frame showing corrosion (8.46%) · Anti-roll bar pin/bush showing wear (8.17%)
Other years
Every Subaru Forester year
The full picture: Subaru Forester reliability. Before you pay for any Subaru Forester, a Full Check (£9.99) shows finance, stolen and write-off records the MOT can't.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 normal tests.
Is a 2009 Subaru Forester reliable?
2009 Subaru Foresters fail 41.1% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, ranking 17 of 18 Forester years (1,714 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2009 Subaru Forester MOT?
Most often position lamp not working (6.07% of tests), stop lamp not working (5.13% of tests), suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (3.91% of tests).
How many miles should a 2009 Subaru Forester have done?
At its MOT aged about 14, a typical 2009 Subaru Forester shows 106,895 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2009 car?
A car first registered in 2009 carries a 58 plate (January–February 2009), or a 09 plate (March–August 2009), or a 59 plate (September–December 2009).
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