Subaru Forester (2001)

2,142 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.7% first-time pass rate

2001 Subaru Forester

CarHunch analysed 2,142 real MOT records for the 2001 Subaru Forester. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 6.3% below UK average
73.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
97,849
typical mileage
79,258–117,620 middle half
22.4%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.06
avg MOT failures per car
over 14.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2001 Subaru Forester

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 22.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Subaru Forester

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (99%) 2,127 73.7% 4.06
LPG (0%) 8 70.2% 4.88
Other (0%) 4 54.2% 2.25
Diesel (0%) 3 84.6% 2.33

Mileage Distribution

Most 2001 Subaru Forester vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

79,258
low mileage
97,849
typical
117,620
high mileage

Half of all 2001 Subaru Forester vehicles fall between 79,258 and 117,620 miles.

2001 Subaru Forester — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 192 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (14% of peak).

1,421 192 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

14.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.06
Avg failures per vehicle
20.7
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2001 Subaru Forester

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 52.3%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 52.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 52%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 47.9%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 45.4%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 36.8%
    Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated
  • 32%
    Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'
  • 27%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Subaru Forester?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Subaru Forester:

1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019