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Family hatchback · 1996–2021 cars

Subaru Impreza reliability

The Subaru Impreza fails 25% of first MOT tests, 38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 65,776 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 84/100#3 of 65 family hatchbacks

Checking a Subaru Impreza before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
25%
first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
38% fewer
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
65,776
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings
7,800
typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Subaru Impreza ages

Each point is the share of Subaru Imprezas of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

0%12.5%25%37.5%50%3691215182124Age at MOT (years)
Subaru ImprezaAll cars
Subaru Impreza first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)Subaru ImprezaAll cars
314.4%12.3%
412.7%14.1%
510.2%16.4%
611.5%19.1%
714.8%22.1%
817.2%25.5%
924.1%28.8%
1018.4%31.8%
1126.7%34.6%
1224.8%37.3%
1327%39.5%
1426.3%41.1%
1528.2%42.3%
1627.3%42.9%
1726.2%43.4%
1825.6%43.5%
1925.5%43.4%
2025.3%42.8%
2125.3%41.4%
2224.3%40.6%
2324.4%38.9%
2422.3%37.1%
2520.6%35.8%

By year

The best and worst Subaru Impreza years

1998 cars come out best and 2010 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Subaru Impreza MOT results by year of first registration
First registeredTestsFail rateAgainst same-age carsTypical mileage
201958713.6%12% fewer fails35,105
201871810.9%25% fewer fails30,646
20174509.1%49% fewer fails47,103
201669812.2%41% fewer fails54,880
201575716.2%30% fewer fails56,940
201446524.3%2% fewer fails55,483
201225414.6%51% fewer fails56,255
201170420.2%41% fewer fails73,301
2010 Impreza2,91126.1%31% fewer fails84,663
2009 Impreza2,89025.5%35% fewer fails84,697
2008 Impreza3,86526.9%35% fewer fails90,798
2007 Impreza6,88827.7%33% fewer fails89,685
2006 Impreza6,52026.8%37% fewer fails95,835
2005 Impreza8,09025.4%42% fewer fails101,122
2004 Impreza6,68124.1%44% fewer fails101,174
2003 Impreza6,51025.9%40% fewer fails105,752
2002 Impreza4,12826.5%38% fewer fails107,222
2001 Impreza3,45627.3%35% fewer fails110,707
2000 Impreza3,32723.9%40% fewer fails106,860
1999 Impreza3,41723.3%40% fewer fails108,826
1998 Impreza1,64420.1%47% fewer fails105,659
199739029.7%20% fewer fails111,851

Common problems

What fails most on a Subaru Impreza

Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 29% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

  • Lights and electrics11.1%42% below avg
  • Suspension9.1%40% below avg
  • Exhaust, emissions and leaks8.4%29% above avg
  • Brakes5.2%56% below avg
  • Body, chassis and structure4.9%38% below avg
  • Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.5%49% below avg
  • Tyres2.9%56% below avg
  • Seat belts and airbags1.4%45% below avg
  • Steering1.1%70% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

  1. 1

    Position lamp not working 2.94% of tests

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  2. 2

    Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 2.69% of tests

    Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.

  3. 3

    Lambda reading outside specified limits 2.51% of tests

    An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.

  4. 4

    Carbon monoxide high after fast idle 1.89% of tests

    High carbon monoxide can point to engine or catalytic converter faults, so ask for diagnosis before buying.

  5. 5

    Engine warning light inoperative or lit 1.81% of tests

    An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.

  6. 6

    CV joint boot split or insecure 1.41% of tests

    A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.

  7. 7

    Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.31% of tests

    A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.

  8. 8

    Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.21% of tests

    Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Subaru Impreza's MOT certificate most often.

  • Tyre worn close to legal limit8.05%
  • Brake disc pitted or scored6.16%
  • Brake pipes corroded and greasy5.8%
  • Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.3%
  • Brake pads wearing thin4.13%
  • Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear3.86%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Subaru Impreza

  1. 1

    Position lamp not working

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  2. 2

    Suspension mounting area seriously corroded

    Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.

  3. 3

    Lambda reading outside specified limits

    An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.

  4. 4

    Carbon monoxide high after fast idle

    High carbon monoxide can point to engine or catalytic converter faults, so ask for diagnosis before buying.

  5. 5

    Every MOT since new

    Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.

  6. 6

    The mileage record

    A typical Subaru Impreza covers about 7,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.

  7. 7

    Finance, stolen and write-off

    The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

  • Petrol99.1%
  • Diesel0.8%
  • LPG0.1%

Most common colours

Blue, Silver, Black, Grey, White

Average engine size: 2.1 litres.

Compare

How the Subaru Impreza compares with its rivals

Subaru Impreza against similar models
ModelFail rateAgainst same-age cars
Subaru Impreza25%38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Skoda Rapid23.9%about average for its age
Volvo C3040%3% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Alfa Romeo Giulietta30.4%3% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Volvo S4042.7%4% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Soul28.5%5% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan Pulsar23.9%18% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every family hatchback ranked in the family hatchback reliability index, or all Subaru models.

Questions

Subaru Impreza questions, answered

Is the Subaru Impreza reliable?

On MOT results, the Subaru Impreza is better than average: it fails 25% of first MOT tests, 38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 3 of 65 family hatchback models in our index.

What fails most on a Subaru Impreza MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Subaru Impreza are position lamp not working (2.94% of tests), suspension mounting area seriously corroded (2.69% of tests), lambda reading outside specified limits (2.51% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 11.1% of its tests.

Which Subaru Impreza year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 1998 cars do best (47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2010 cars do worst (31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Subaru Impreza do a year?

A typical Subaru Impreza covers about 7,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Subaru Impreza before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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