Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Subaru Forester?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2002 Subaru Forester?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2002 Subaru Forester?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2002 Subaru Forester vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

23% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2002 Subaru Forester reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,138 vehicles, the 2002 Subaru Forester has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Subaru Forester?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Subaru Forester are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (52.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2002 Subaru Forester?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Subaru Forester (2002)

2,138 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.2% first-time pass rate

2002 Subaru Forester

CarHunch analysed 2,138 real MOT records for the 2002 Subaru Forester. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2002 Subaru Forester has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75%, which is 5 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a modest but noticeable shortfall. More concerning is that nearly 23% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, suggesting buyers should budget for potential safety-critical repairs and have any purchase thoroughly inspected.

At around 89,000 miles median, these cars are relatively high-mileage for their age, yet they're still averaging 4.2 failures and 21.4 advisories per test, indicating wear-related issues are piling up. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers the suspension, exhaust system, and brakes—the typical failure patterns for this generation—and factor in that you're more likely to face multiple issues simultaneously rather than isolated faults.

The 2002 Subaru Forester passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (75.2%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

75.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

22.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.2

Over 16.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

89k

Middle half: 72k–109k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 21.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,138 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,138 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 52.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 52.1%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Lighting 36.8%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 32%

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A'

Exhaust & emissions 24.1%

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Suspension & steering 21.7%

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,138 Subaru Forester cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Subaru Forester

Based on MOT data from 2,138 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	2,118	75.2%	4.21

Colour Breakdown

Based on 32,902 Subaru Forester vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 28.7%

9,451

Green 16.1%

5,290

Blue 14%

4,611

Grey 10.4%

3,427

Black 9.5%

3,133

Red 9%

2,965

White 5.9%

1,939

Maroon 3.1%

1,031

Gold 2.2%

735

Purple 0.5%

176

Yellow 0.4%

124

Bronze 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Subaru Forester vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

89,356

typical

71,913

low mileage

109,005

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Subaru Forester vehicles fall between 71,913 and 109,005 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 71,913 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 71,913–109,005 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Subaru Foresters sit.

⚠ Over 147,156 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Subaru Forester — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 13% of 2002 Subaru Foresters are still active.

Numbers are declining — 220 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (13% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.2

Avg failures per vehicle

21.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Subaru Forester: All Forester years → Which year to buy? →

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Subaru →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Subaru Forester stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?