Subaru Impreza (2001)
2001 Subaru Impreza
CarHunch analysed 5,619 real MOT records for the 2001 Subaru Impreza. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2001 Subaru Impreza's 76.1% first-time pass rate falls 3.9 percentage points below the UK average, signalling below-average reliability for its age—and that's before considering that nearly a quarter of these cars (23.9%) have suffered a dangerous defect at some point, which is a genuine safety concern for buyers. At 85,207 miles on average, these Imprezas have typical mileage for their age, so wear and tear alone doesn't explain the higher failure rate.
The real issue emerges in the failure detail: averaging 3.63 failures per test and 15.9 advisories tells you these cars tend to accumulate problems rather than suffer from one or two critical weaknesses. If you're serious about buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on brake condition, suspension geometry, and exhaust systems—the common repeat offenders on this generation—and factor in a modest repair budget before you drive it home.
What to check before buying a 2001 Subaru Impreza
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.
- ⚠️ 23.9% 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 Impreza
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 5,606 | 76.1% | 3.63 |
| Diesel (0%) | 5 | 77.7% | 2.6 |
| LPG (0%) | 4 | 75% | 4 |
| Other (0%) | 3 | 83.3% | 0.33 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 71.4% | 2 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2001 Subaru Impreza 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 2001 Subaru Impreza vehicles fall between 67,364 and 101,304 miles.
2001 Subaru Impreza — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 759 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% of peak).
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
Most Common MOT Issues — 2001 Subaru Impreza
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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57.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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54.9%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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50%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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48.6%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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48.5%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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25.5%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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19.6%
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
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19.5%
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Subaru Impreza?
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