Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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 2011 Subaru Impreza vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% 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 2011 Subaru Impreza reliable?

Based on MOT data from 238 vehicles, the 2011 Subaru Impreza has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Subaru Impreza?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Subaru Impreza are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (31.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (27.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (27.5% 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 2011 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 (2011)

238 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85% first-time pass rate

2011 Subaru Impreza

CarHunch analysed 238 real MOT records for the 2011 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 2011 Subaru Impreza passes its MOT on the first attempt 85% of the time, which is a solid 5 percentage points ahead of the UK average—but nearly a quarter of these cars (24.8%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is a genuine concern for a prospective buyer. This suggests reliability above average, though with a meaningful caveat around safety-critical failures.

At an average mileage of 66,673 miles for a 13-year-old car, these Imprezas are running fairly high but not excessively so; what's more telling is that owners face an average of 1.71 failures and 10 advisories per test, pointing to progressive wear in brakes, suspension, and emissions kit rather than catastrophic issues. Before committing to one, insist on a full service history and have a trusted mechanic inspect the steering and brake systems closely, since advisories cluster around those areas.

We have limited data for the 2011 Subaru Impreza — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

85%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

24.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.71

Over 9.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

58k

Middle half: 43k–81k

For context

These stats describe 238 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 238 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 31.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 27.8%

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 · Nearside 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.

Tyre wear 25.7%

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

Other issues 19.3%

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 238 Subaru Impreza cars.

Before you buy a 2011 Subaru Impreza

Based on MOT data from 238 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.8% 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
Petrol (95%)	225	85.2%	1.69

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 2011 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.

58,231

typical

43,288

low mileage

80,577

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Subaru Impreza vehicles fall between 43,288 and 80,577 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 43,288 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.

✓ 43,288–80,577 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Subaru Imprezas sit.

⚠ Over 108,778 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Subaru Impreza — Still on the Road

Almost all 2011 Subaru Imprezas are still on the road.

Strong survival — 156 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% of the peak.

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

9.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.71

Avg failures per vehicle

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 2011 Subaru Impreza stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?