Subaru Impreza
From 30,810 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Imprezas fare better: 2020 models pass at 89% vs 80.1% for 1997.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 1,355 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 1,355 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 709 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 697 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 693 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 608 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 539 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 512 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 355 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 353 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 352 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 33.4% of Impreza failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 11.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £155.
Subaru Impreza on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,108 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 128 newly registered, a net loss of 980. At this rate, roughly 28.8 years until none remain. Now at 50.5% of its peak (55,899 in 2007 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 12,589 | 15,654 | +44 | -142 | -98 |
| 2025 Q2 | 12,901 | 15,440 | +27 | -60 | -33 |
| 2025 Q1 | 12,418 | 15,956 | +33 | -294 | -261 |
| 2024 Q4 | 12,515 | 16,120 | +24 | -612 | -588 |
| 2024 Q3 | 13,575 | 15,648 | +41 | -256 | -215 |
| 2024 Q2 | 13,852 | 15,586 | +26 | -0 | +67 |
| 2024 Q1 | 13,512 | 15,859 | +33 | -521 | -488 |
| 2023 Q4 | 13,777 | 16,082 | +13 | -166 | -153 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impreza Wrx | Petrol | 2,737 | 25% |
| Impreza Wrx Turbo | Petrol | 2,149 | 20% |
| Impreza Wrx-Sti Type Uk | Petrol | 1,029 | 9% |
| Impreza Turbo 2000 Awd | Petrol | 903 | 8% |
| Impreza Wrx Sti | Petrol | 627 | 6% |
| Impreza Wrx Sti Type-Uk | Gas | 504 | 5% |
| Impreza R | Petrol | 435 | 4% |
| Impreza I Se Sym Awd Cvt | Petrol | 356 | 3% |
| Impreza Rx | Petrol | 343 | 3% |
| Impreza I Rc Symmetrical Awd | Petrol | 239 | 2% |
| Impreza R Sport | Petrol | 227 | 2% |
| Impreza P1 | Petrol | 175 | 2% |
| Impreza Gb270 | Petrol | 173 | 2% |
| Impreza Wrx S | Petrol | 170 | 2% |
| Impreza Wrx Sti Wr1 | Petrol | 170 | 2% |
| Impreza I Rc Sy-Cal Awd Cvt | Petrol | 169 | 2% |
| Impreza Sport Awd | Petrol | 155 | 1% |
| Impreza Gx Sport Awd | Petrol | 122 | 1% |
| Impreza Rx Auto | Petrol | 122 | 1% |
| Impreza Gx Awd | Petrol | 115 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 89% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2019 | 91.2% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 89.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2017 | 89.2% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
23 earlier years
| 2016 | 87.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2015 | 83.6% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 73.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2013 | 74.8% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 83.6% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a wheel bearing excessively rough |
| 2011 | 81.8% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2010 | 79.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 79.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2008 | 77.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2007 | 77.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2006 | 79.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2005 | 80.5% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 80.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 80.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 81% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 80.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2000 | 81.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1999 | 80.7% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1998 | 83.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1997 | 80.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1996 | 78.5% | emissions levels exceed default limits, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 1995 | 87.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1994 | 75.5% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Imprezas tested had between 93,890 and 147,454 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 128,263 median miles, the Impreza has 0.015 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Subaru models
| Subaru Forester | 75.4% |
| Subaru Outback | 80.5% |
| Subaru Xv | 83.9% |
| Subaru Legacy | 71.2% |
| Subaru Wrx | 91.1% |
Common questions
What is the Subaru Impreza MOT pass rate?
The Subaru Impreza has a 80.4% MOT pass rate based on 30,810 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Subaru Impreza?
The most common MOT failure on the Subaru Impreza is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 1,355 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed default limits.
How many Subaru Imprezas are on UK roads?
There are 12,589 Subaru Imprezas currently licensed on UK roads, with 15,654 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Subaru Impreza at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Subaru Impreza is 128,263 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 93,890 and 147,454 miles.
Buying a used Impreza?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 80.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £155 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 33.4% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.