What year Subaru Outback is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2021 Subaru Outback has the highest pass rate at 93.4%, out of 429 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Subaru Outback MOT failures?

The most common Subaru Outback MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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Subaru Outback — Reliability by Year

10,907 vehicles · MOT data 2003–2021 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Subaru Outback was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

2021

93.4% pass rate · 429 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

2005

74.2% pass rate · 884 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2021	93.4%	30,294 mi	429
2020	92.5%	31,707 mi	258
2019	92.1%	33,906 mi	591
2018	91.4%	41,713 mi	655
2017	91.0%	47,921 mi	493
2016	89.2%	56,107 mi	785
2015	87.7%	64,090 mi	825
2014	84.4%	73,102 mi	268
2013	83.3%	70,266 mi	299
2012	81.5%	78,167 mi	312
2011	80.5%	83,001 mi	650
2010	80.2%	86,990 mi	737
2009	77.4%	84,225 mi	695
2008	75.2%	84,923 mi	661
2007	75.9%	88,514 mi	678
2006	75.8%	89,714 mi	864
2005	74.2%	91,780 mi	884
2004	75.4%	93,023 mi	706
2003	75.2%	91,472 mi	117

Which year Subaru Outback is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 30,294 miles (newest year) to 93,023 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a Subaru Outback.

See the buying guide →

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Check any UK registration — free MOT history and risk insights.