Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 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 2017 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 2017 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.

Is the 2017 Subaru Forester reliable?

Based on MOT data from 888 vehicles, the 2017 Subaru Forester has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Subaru Forester?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 Subaru Forester are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (24% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (18.8% 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 2017 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 (2017)

888 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.7% first-time pass rate

2017 Subaru Forester

CarHunch analysed 888 real MOT records for the 2017 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 2017 Subaru Forester is notably reliable, with an 89.7% first-time pass rate that beats the UK average of 80%, and petrol versions edge ahead of diesels at 90.6% versus 88.2%. Dangerous defects appear in 14% of these cars—not alarming, but worth a pre-purchase inspection to rule out.

At just under 38,000 miles median, these Foresters are running relatively lightly for their age, suggesting they're typically well-maintained family cars. The average of 0.82 failures per vehicle and 5.9 advisories indicates minor wear rather than systemic issues, so budget for routine maintenance but don't expect major surprises—have a full MOT history checked before you buy.

The 2017 Subaru Forester passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (89.7% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

89.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

14%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.82

Over 6.9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

38k

Middle half: 28k–51k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.7% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.9 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 888 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.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 888 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 24%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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 23.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · 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.

Suspension & steering 12.1%

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside 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 9.9%

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 888 Subaru Forester cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Subaru Forester

Based on MOT data from 888 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14% 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 (64%)	570	90.6%	0.74
Diesel (36%)	318	88.2%	0.96

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 2017 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.

37,908

typical

28,160

low mileage

51,103

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Subaru Forester vehicles fall between 28,160 and 51,103 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 28,160 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.

✓ 28,160–51,103 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Subaru Foresters sit.

⚠ Over 68,989 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Subaru Forester — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Subaru Foresters are still on the road.

Strong survival — 839 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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

6.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.82

Avg failures per vehicle

5.9

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 2017 Subaru Forester stacks up against a rival.

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