Is the Subaru Impreza reliable?

On MOT evidence the Subaru Impreza is well above average. It passes 78.5% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%. That figure covers 61% of the national age and mileage range, which is enough to quote but not to rank. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.

What do testers most often warn about on a Subaru Impreza?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 13.2% of all Subaru Impreza tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Subaru Impreza usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 99,368 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Does a Subaru Impreza get harder to pass as it ages?

Yes. At 6 to 8 years old, 84.1% of Subaru Impreza tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 74.6%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.

Are most Subaru Impreza models petrol or diesel?

Of the Subaru Impreza cars tested, 99% are petrol, 1% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Subaru Impreza MOT pass rate & common failures

From 16,713 recorded MOT tests of the Subaru Impreza, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

The Subaru Impreza passes 78.5% of MOT tests once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, against a national average of 72.3%. That is well above average. Based on 16,713 tests. Its most commonly recorded failure is 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 appears in 25.7% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 99,368 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

78.5%national average72.3%unadjusted75.1%range covered61%

The Impreza is 6.2 percentage points above the national pass rate once age and mileage are accounted for, which is well above average. The unadjusted figure is 75.1%; the difference is what the age and mileage of this model’s fleet was hiding.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Subaru Impreza tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

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 repaired25.7%
874 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
2.Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer14.6%
498 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning13.6%
463 occurrencesLamp not working explained
4.Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits10.7%
365 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
5.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc8.2%
280 occurrencesDriveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained
6.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction8.1%
275 occurrencesEngine management light on, or not working explained
7.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements7.4%
252 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
8.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen6.6%
224 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
9.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened6.0%
206 occurrencesRoad spring broken or fractured explained
10.Emissions levels exceed default limits6.0%
205 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Subaru Impreza tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements13.2%
2,209 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured10.3%
1,725 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
3.A tyre seriously damaged8.9%
1,492 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded8.7%
1,462 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
5.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.7%
1,287 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
6.A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded6.0%
1,008 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
7.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm5.7%
947 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
8.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users5.0%
828 tests

How wear changes the picture

Pass rate by vehicle age

6–8 yrs84%

9–11 yrs78%

12–14 yrs79%

15+ yrs75%

Bands holding too few tests to be meaningful are omitted rather than shown as a rate.

What gets tested

The Impreza fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 99,368
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol99.3%
Diesel0.6%

Trim names grouped into this model (15)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

IMPREZA ESTATE
IMPREZA GB270
IMPREZA R
IMPREZA R C
IMPREZA R SPORT
IMPREZA RB320
IMPREZA S203
IMPREZA SPORT AWD
IMPREZA TURBO
IMPREZA TURBO 2000 AW
IMPREZA TURBO 2000 AWD
IMPREZA TURBO 4WD
IMPREZA TURBO CATALUNY
IMPREZA TURBO TERZO
IMPREZA TYPE R

Check a specific Subaru Impreza

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Subaru models

Subaru Forester — 75.1% adjusted
Subaru Outback — 77.2% adjusted
Subaru XV — 78.6% adjusted
Subaru Legacy — 64.3% unadjusted
Subaru Wrx — 89.0% unadjusted
Subaru Brz — 83.8% unadjusted
All Subaru models

Similar test volumes

Compare against other makes

Renault Master — 71.7% adjusted, ranked 154
Audi A7 — 86.0% adjusted, ranked 13
BMW M3 — 88.3% adjusted, ranked 7
Alfa Romeo Mito — 61.6% adjusted, ranked 249

Common questions

Is the Subaru Impreza reliable?: On MOT evidence the Subaru Impreza is well above average. It passes 78.5% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%. That figure covers 61% of the national age and mileage range, which is enough to quote but not to rank. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Subaru Impreza?: The item recorded most often 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 appears in 25.7% of failed Subaru Impreza tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Subaru Impreza?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 13.2% of all Subaru Impreza tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Subaru Impreza usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 99,368 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Does a Subaru Impreza get harder to pass as it ages?: Yes. At 6 to 8 years old, 84.1% of Subaru Impreza tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 74.6%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.
Are most Subaru Impreza models petrol or diesel?: Of the Subaru Impreza cars tested, 99% are petrol, 1% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. The adjusted rate is directly standardised across twenty-five age and mileage bands and reweighted onto the national distribution, so this model is compared against cars that have lived a similar life rather than against a younger or lighter-used fleet.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.