Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Subaru Outback?

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 2004 Subaru Outback?

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 2004 Subaru Outback?

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 2004 Subaru Outback vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% 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 2004 Subaru Outback reliable?

Based on MOT data from 706 vehicles, the 2004 Subaru Outback has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Subaru Outback?

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 Outback (2004)

Q: What are common problems with the 2004 Subaru Outback?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Subaru Outback are: Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (57.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (56.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (54.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

706 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.4% first-time pass rate

2004 Subaru Outback

CarHunch analysed 706 real MOT records for the 2004 Subaru Outback. 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 2004 Subaru Outback passes its first MOT attempt only 75.2% of the time, which is noticeably below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 31.2% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant red flag for any prospective buyer. This suggests the model demands careful pre-purchase inspection and ongoing maintenance vigilance.

At nearly 94,000 miles on average, these Outbacks are showing their age, yet they're still racking up 4.43 failures per test and a hefty 29.5 advisories, pointing to accumulating wear across multiple systems. Before committing to one, have a trusted mechanic run a full diagnostic, pay particular attention to the dangerous defect history, and budget for imminent repairs beyond the obvious MOT failures.

The 2004 Subaru Outback has a decent first-time pass rate (75.4%), 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

75.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

31.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.43

Over 17.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

93k

Middle half: 74k–110k

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 29.5 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 706 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 706 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 57.1%

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Tyre wear 54.1%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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.

Brake wear 44.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Other issues 33.7%

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 706 Subaru Outback cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Subaru Outback

Based on MOT data from 706 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31.2% 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%)	699	75.5%	4.42

Colour Breakdown

Based on 10,985 Subaru Outback vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 29.8%

3,278

Blue 19.4%

2,136

Silver 14.3%

1,568

Gold 10.2%

1,122

Black 8.5%

931

Green 8.1%

890

White 6.2%

680

Red 2.4%

262

Brown 0.9%

Maroon 0.1%

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Subaru Outback 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.

92,881

typical

73,621

low mileage

110,216

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Subaru Outback vehicles fall between 73,621 and 110,216 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 73,621 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.

✓ 73,621–110,216 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Subaru Outbacks sit.

⚠ Over 148,791 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Subaru Outback — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 26% of 2004 Subaru Outbacks are still active.

Numbers are declining — 152 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (26% of 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

17.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.43

Avg failures per vehicle

29.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Subaru →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Subaru Outback stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing