Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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.

Is the 2012 Subaru Impreza reliable?

Based on MOT data from 101 vehicles, the 2012 Subaru Impreza has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Subaru Impreza?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 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 2012 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 (2012)

101 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.7% first-time pass rate

2012 Subaru Impreza

CarHunch analysed 101 real MOT records for the 2012 Subaru Impreza. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 Compare Models

The 2012 Subaru Impreza passes its first MOT at 88.7%, which is a solid 8.7 percentage points above the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars are holding up reasonably well into their second decade. The dangerous defect rate of 10.9% is below the typical concern threshold, so safety isn't a red flag here.

At nearly 70,000 miles median, these Imprezas show typical wear for their age. The average of 0.68 failures per vehicle is low, though advisories average 3.2 per test, which suggests routine maintenance items rather than serious mechanical issues—when you're viewing one, ask the seller for full service history to confirm that preventative work has been done.

We have limited data for the 2012 Subaru Impreza — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

88.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

10.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.68

Over 5.4 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

70k

Middle half: 39k–105k

For context

These stats describe 101 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 101 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 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 101 Subaru Impreza cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Subaru Impreza

Based on MOT data from 101 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.9% 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 (99%)	100	88.6%	0.69

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 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.

69,924

typical

38,758

low mileage

104,688

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Subaru Impreza vehicles fall between 38,758 and 104,688 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 38,758 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.

✓ 38,758–104,688 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Subaru Imprezas sit.

⚠ Over 141,328 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Subaru Impreza — Still on the Road

Almost all 2012 Subaru Imprezas are still on the road.

Strong survival — 68 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

5.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.68

Avg failures per vehicle

3.2

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 2012 Subaru Impreza stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?