Large family car · 1998–2021 cars
Subaru Outback reliability
The Subaru Outback fails 25.8% of first MOT tests, 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 24,536 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Subaru Outback before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 25.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 16% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 24,536
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,800
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Subaru Outback ages
Each point is the share of Subaru Outbacks of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Subaru Outback | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 10.1% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 12.9% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 14.6% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 15.1% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 19.7% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 24.1% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 30.1% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 34% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 34.3% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 36.1% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 37.6% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 42.7% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 42.9% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 41.7% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 42.4% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 40.9% | 43.4% |
By year
The best and worst Subaru Outback years
2016 cars come out best and 2005 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 238 | 9.7% | 16% fewer fails | 24,496 |
| 2020 | 418 | 11.2% | 12% fewer fails | 30,670 |
| 2019 Outback | 1,671 | 10.1% | 27% fewer fails | 33,995 |
| 2018 Outback | 2,281 | 10.9% | 30% fewer fails | 41,994 |
| 2017 Outback | 1,600 | 12.2% | 34% fewer fails | 51,237 |
| 2016 Outback | 2,595 | 14.6% | 34% fewer fails | 64,151 |
| 2015 Outback | 2,734 | 18.2% | 30% fewer fails | 76,899 |
| 2014 | 778 | 22.8% | 24% fewer fails | 90,370 |
| 2013 | 895 | 28.6% | 12% fewer fails | 92,038 |
| 2012 Outback | 1,000 | 32.5% | 10% fewer fails | 102,679 |
| 2011 Outback | 1,803 | 32.3% | 16% fewer fails | 108,914 |
| 2010 Outback | 1,666 | 35% | 14% fewer fails | 118,559 |
| 2009 Outback | 1,151 | 39.2% | 6% fewer fails | 110,475 |
| 2008 | 794 | 41.4% | 4% fewer fails | 116,383 |
| 2007 Outback | 1,366 | 41% | 7% fewer fails | 121,710 |
| 2006 Outback | 1,585 | 42.1% | 6% fewer fails | 126,072 |
| 2005 Outback | 1,054 | 45% | 1% fewer fails | 128,308 |
| 2004 | 826 | 42.3% | 8% fewer fails | 132,152 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Subaru Outback
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics11.6%9% below avg
- Suspension8.9%13% below avg
- Brakes6.7%14% below avg
- Tyres4.2%39% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure4%2% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.9%7% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.6%27% below avg
- Steering0.5%77% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.4%72% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 3.53% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.35% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 3
Stop lamp not working 2.18% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.62% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 1.5% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 6
CV joint boot split or insecure 1.5% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 7
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 1.32% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 8
Registration plate lamp not working 1.3% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Subaru Outback's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit12.45%
- Brake pads wearing thin9.78%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear9.74%
- Brake disc pitted or scored6.61%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.83%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy4.27%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Subaru Outback
- 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
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 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
The mileage record
A typical Subaru Outback covers about 9,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 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
- Petrol62.4%
- Diesel37.4%
- LPG0.2%
Most common colours
Grey, Blue, Silver, Gold, White
Average engine size: 2.4 litres.
Compare
How the Subaru Outback compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Arteon | 11.9% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Saab 9-5 | 35.9% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Subaru Outback | 25.8% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Exeo | 33.4% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Subaru Legacy | 36.7% | 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover 75 | 42.5% | about average for its age |
| Renault Laguna | 45.8% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Subaru models.
Questions
Subaru Outback questions, answered
Is the Subaru Outback reliable?
On MOT results, the Subaru Outback is better than average: it fails 25.8% of first MOT tests, 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 6 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a Subaru Outback MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Subaru Outback are position lamp not working (3.53% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.35% of tests), stop lamp not working (2.18% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 11.6% of its tests.
Which Subaru Outback year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2016 cars do best (34% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2005 cars do worst (about average for its age).
How many miles does a Subaru Outback do a year?
A typical Subaru Outback covers about 9,800 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 Outback 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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