Subaru Forester (2016)
2016 Subaru Forester
CarHunch analysed 1,183 real MOT records for the 2016 Subaru Forester. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2016 Subaru Forester passes its MOT on the first attempt 87% of the time, well above the UK average of 80%, and petrol versions do even better at 89% compared to their diesel counterparts at 85%. Dangerous defects show up in 17.2% of vehicles tested, which is manageable but worth noting as a buyer concern—not severe enough to rule out the model, but worth a pre-purchase inspection.
At 42,238 miles median and averaging 50,753 miles, these cars are running fairly low mileage for their age, which explains the modest failure rate of 1.17 per vehicle. The 7.2 advisories per car typically reflect wear items and minor maintenance needs rather than serious structural problems, so budget for routine upkeep—but get a full service history check before you buy to confirm previous owners kept up with that routine work.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 4 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2016 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.
- 📄 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 (51%) | 606 | 89% | 0.93 |
| Diesel (49%) | 576 | 85% | 1.41 |
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (0%) | 1 | 60% | 4 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2016 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.
Half of all 2016 Subaru Forester vehicles fall between 31,379 and 53,996 miles.
2016 Subaru Forester — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 1,102 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2016 Subaru Forester
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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24%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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23.5%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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18.8%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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18.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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18.2%
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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17.3%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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12.5%
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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12.3%
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016. 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.