Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 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 2013 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 2013 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 2013 Subaru Forester vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 2013 Subaru Forester reliable?

Based on MOT data from 771 vehicles, the 2013 Subaru Forester has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Subaru Forester?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Subaru Forester are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34.9% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (33.3% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (29% 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 2013 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.

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Subaru Forester (2013)

771 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.8% first-time pass rate

2013 Subaru Forester

CarHunch analysed 771 real MOT records for the 2013 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? →

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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 2013 Subaru Forester passes its MOT slightly better than average at 83.7% versus the UK's 80%, which is a solid result—but nearly 29% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a genuine concern for buyers and worth investigating in any used example. Petrol models edge out diesels (85.1% vs 82.4% pass rate), suggesting the petrol engine is marginally more robust.

At nearly 76,000 miles median mileage for an 11-year-old car, these Foresters are running well within normal wear expectations. The 2.01 average failures per vehicle and 13.5 advisories point to typical aging issues rather than systemic problems, so have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brake system and suspension components—areas where this cohort shows recurring advisory flags.

The 2013 Subaru Forester has a decent first-time pass rate (83.8%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

83.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.01

Over 11.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

76k

Middle half: 59k–95k

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 13.5 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 771 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 771 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 34.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Brake wear 33.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear 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.

Suspension & steering 17.8%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …

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

Other issues 15.2%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 771 Subaru Forester cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Subaru Forester

Based on MOT data from 771 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.8% 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
Diesel (50%)	388	82.6%	2.21
Petrol (50%)	382	85.1%	1.8

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 2013 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.

75,964

typical

59,126

low mileage

95,069

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Subaru Forester vehicles fall between 59,126 and 95,069 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 59,126 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.

✓ 59,126–95,069 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Subaru Foresters sit.

⚠ Over 128,343 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Subaru Forester — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Subaru Foresters are still being driven.

Strong survival — 658 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

11.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.01

Avg failures per vehicle

13.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Subaru Forester stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing