2005 Subaru Forester MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 61.0% of Subaru Foresters first used in 2005 passed their MOT first time, against 57.6% for all cars first used in 2005. Across 2,955 Forester first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and noise, emissions and leaks.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Subaru Foresters first used in 2005 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
61.0%
of 844 first tests; all cars first used in 2005: 57.6%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
2,955
first tests, 2023–2025; 844 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
28.0%
of 844 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
122,500
middle half: 97,500–148,000 miles; all cars first used in 2005: 105,500

How the 2005 Subaru Forester MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Foresters first used in 2005 against all cars first used in 2005 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Forester figure was 3.4 points higher.

2005 ForesterAll cars first used in 2005
50%60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2005, test year 2021: 54.6%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2022: 55.7%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2023: 56.3%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2024: 56.5%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2025: 57.6%2005 Forester, test year 2021: 62.8%2005 Forester, test year 2022: 61.1%2005 Forester, test year 2023: 61.5%2005 Forester, test year 2024: 63%2005 Forester, test year 2025: 61%61%57.6%
View this chart as a table
Test year2005 ForesterAll cars first used 2005Forester first tests
202162.8%54.6%1,456
202261.1%55.7%1,292
202361.5%56.3%1,141
202463.0%56.5%970
202561.0%57.6%844

Common 2005 Subaru Forester MOT failures

Share of the 1,127 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment46.9%
Suspension44.4%
Noise, emissions and leaks29.7%
Body, chassis, structure22.1%
Visibility19.3%
Brakes19.2%
Tyres9.1%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems4.8%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction15.8%178
Position lamp: not working15.4%173
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength13.8%156
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases9.6%108
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect9.2%104

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2005 Subaru Forester before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Engine and emissions. Worth checking that the engine warning light goes out after starting, looking for oil leaks under the car, and noticing any smoke from the exhaust.

Common 2005 Subaru Forester MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2005 Foresters, as a share of all 2,955 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge13.5%400
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases10.8%318
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened9.5%280
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.1%268
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.6%255

Questions about the 2005 Subaru Forester MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2005 Subaru Forester?

In 2025, 61.0% of Foresters first used in 2005 passed their MOT first time, against 57.6% for all cars first used in 2005. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2005 Forester most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 46.9% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (44.4%) and noise, emissions and leaks (29.7%). The single most common item was “Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction” (15.8%).

How often does a 2005 Subaru Forester fail its MOT?

In 2025, 39.0% of first tests on Foresters first used in 2005 did not pass first time: 32.2% failed, and a further 6.8% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,127 of 2,955 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2005 Subaru Forester MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 13.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases” (10.8%), “Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened” (9.5%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (9.1%) and “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (8.6%).

Is a 2005 Subaru Forester reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 62.8% in 2021 to 61.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2005

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2005 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2005 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2005 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2005 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2005 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics

How the 2005 Subaru Forester MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2005 Forester” means a Subaru Forester whose date of first use falls in 2005 (54, 05 and 55 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2005, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.