2011 Subaru Forester MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 62.2% of Subaru Foresters first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. Across 2,620 Forester first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and brakes.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Subaru Foresters first used in 2011 (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
How the 2011 Subaru Forester MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Foresters first used in 2011 against all cars first used in 2011 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Forester figure was in line with the all-cars figure.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2011 Forester | All cars first used 2011 | Forester first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68.7% | 65.8% | 970 |
| 2022 | 66.5% | 64.5% | 935 |
| 2023 | 64.9% | 63.0% | 923 |
| 2024 | 62.8% | 61.8% | 890 |
| 2025 | 62.2% | 61.2% | 807 |
Common 2011 Subaru Forester MOT failures
Share of the 960 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%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | 22.4% | 215 |
| Stop lamp: not working | 17.2% | 165 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 9.6% | 92 |
| Ball joint: excessively worn | 9.4% | 90 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 9.2% | 88 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
Enter the car's registration to run the check.
Free · opens our free car check — no sign-in needed.
Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Forester in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
| Ball joint: excessively worn | Ball joint replacement | £90 | £60–£150 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2011 Subaru Forester before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
- Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
Common 2011 Subaru Forester MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2011 Foresters, as a share of all 2,620 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 23.6% | 618 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 13.5% | 354 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 11.6% | 304 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 10.7% | 281 |
| Anti-roll bar pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 8.8% | 230 |
Questions about the 2011 Subaru Forester MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2011 Subaru Forester?
In 2025, 62.2% of Foresters first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2011 Forester most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 57.0% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (38.6%) and brakes (27.4%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (22.4%).
How often does a 2011 Subaru Forester fail its MOT?
In 2025, 37.8% of first tests on Foresters first used in 2011 did not pass first time: 28.5% failed, and a further 9.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 960 of 2,620 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2011 Subaru Forester MOT advisories?
“Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (on 23.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (13.5%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (11.6%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (10.7%) and “Anti-roll bar pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (8.8%).
Is a 2011 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 68.7% in 2021 to 62.2% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2011
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2011 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2011 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2011 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2011 Forester?
The numbers above cover every Forester first used in 2011 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
Enter the car's registration to run the check.
Free · no sign-in needed.