Subaru Wrx
From 3,320 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Wrxs fare better: 2018 models pass at 95.6% vs 87.5% for 2014.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are emissions levels exceed default limits, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits. The top issue, emissions levels exceed default limits, caused 39 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 39 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 23 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 22 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 18 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 17 |
| 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 | 16 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 13 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 13 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 12 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 12 |
Subaru Wrx on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 14 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 14.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,545 | 260 | +0 | -12 | -12 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,583 | 234 | +0 | -0 | +9 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,541 | 267 | +0 | -2 | -2 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,556 | 254 | +0 | -0 | +11 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,605 | 194 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,625 | 178 | +1 | -0 | +10 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,589 | 204 | +0 | -11 | -11 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,586 | 218 | +0 | -0 | +14 |
3 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrx Sti Type Uk Symetrical Awd | Petrol | 1,081 | 70% |
| Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cal Awd | Petrol | 352 | 23% |
| Wrx Sti Type Uk Final Edition | Petrol | 112 | 7% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 95.6% | emissions levels exceed default limits, emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer missing, obviously modified or obviously defective |
| 2017 | 91.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2016 | 94.2% | a headlamp cleaning device inoperative in the case of led or gas discharge systems (hid), emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2015 | 92.2% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
3 earlier years
| 2014 | 87.5% | emissions levels exceed default limits, 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 |
| 2011 | 88.2% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2010 | 86.2% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
Typical mileage
Half of all Wrxs tested had between 36,172 and 59,417 miles on the clock.
At 45,227 median miles, the Wrx has 0.02 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Subaru models
| Subaru Impreza | 80.4% |
| Subaru Forester | 75.4% |
| Subaru Outback | 80.5% |
| Subaru Xv | 83.9% |
| Subaru Legacy | 71.2% |
Common questions
What is the Subaru Wrx MOT pass rate?
The Subaru Wrx has a 91.1% MOT pass rate based on 3,320 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Subaru Wrx?
The most common MOT failure on the Subaru Wrx is emissions levels exceed default limits, which caused 39 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
How many Subaru Wrxs are on UK roads?
There are 1,545 Subaru Wrxs currently licensed on UK roads, with 260 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Subaru Wrx at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Subaru Wrx is 45,227 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 36,172 and 59,417 miles.
Buying a used Wrx?
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.
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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.