Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Subaru Impreza?

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 2008 Subaru Impreza?

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 2008 Subaru Impreza?

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 2008 Subaru Impreza 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 2008 Subaru Impreza reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,722 vehicles, the 2008 Subaru Impreza has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Subaru Impreza?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Subaru Impreza are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (48.1% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (36.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (34.9% 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 2008 Subaru Impreza?

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 Impreza (2008)

1,722 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.2% first-time pass rate

2008 Subaru Impreza

CarHunch analysed 1,722 real MOT records for the 2008 Subaru Impreza. 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 2008 Subaru Impreza edges out the UK average with an 82.2% first-time pass rate, but nearly 29% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern that puts it above the safety threshold most buyers should be comfortable with. This reliability risk is the real headline here and warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

These Imprezas are turning up with a median mileage of 64,559 miles, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're averaging 2.76 failures per MOT and 17.4 advisories—suggesting wear-related issues are creeping in across the fleet. If you're considering one, budget for suspension and brake work, and treat the dangerous defect rate as your primary red flag when evaluating individual examples.

The 2008 Subaru Impreza has a decent first-time pass rate (82.2%), 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

82.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.76

Over 14.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

65k

Middle half: 50k–79k

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 17.4 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 1,722 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 1,722 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 48.1%

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.

Tyre wear 34.9%

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.

Other issues 19.7%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction

Exhaust & emissions 14.8%

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Suspension & steering 10%

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play

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 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,722 Subaru Impreza cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Subaru Impreza

Based on MOT data from 1,722 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.6% 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 (100%)	1,721	82.2%	2.76

Colour Breakdown

Based on 71,722 Subaru Impreza vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 37.8%

27,090

Silver 22.2%

15,890

Black 9.9%

7,116

Red 8.2%

5,886

Green 7.7%

5,509

White 7.6%

5,481

Grey 5.5%

3,936

Yellow 0.5%

351

Purple 0.3%

224

Orange 0.2%

122

Gold 0.1%

Pink 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Subaru Impreza 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.

64,559

typical

49,580

low mileage

78,969

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Subaru Impreza vehicles fall between 49,580 and 78,969 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 49,580 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.

✓ 49,580–78,969 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Subaru Imprezas sit.

⚠ Over 106,608 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Subaru Impreza — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 54% of 2008 Subaru Imprezas are still active.

806 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 54% of the peak remain.

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

14.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.76

Avg failures per vehicle

17.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Subaru Impreza stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing