Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Subaru Wrx?

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 2018 Subaru Wrx?

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 2018 Subaru Wrx?

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 2018 Subaru Wrx reliable?

Based on MOT data from 105 vehicles, the 2018 Subaru Wrx has a first-time MOT pass rate of 95.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Subaru Wrx?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Subaru Wrx are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (32.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (30.9% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21% 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 2018 Subaru Wrx?

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 Wrx (2018)

105 real MOT outcomes analysed • 95.7% first-time pass rate

2018 Subaru Wrx

CarHunch analysed 105 real MOT records for the 2018 Subaru Wrx. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2018 Subaru WRX is significantly more reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 95.7% compared to the typical 80%—this is a genuinely strong result. The dangerous defect rate sits at a low 3.8%, so safety issues are minimal on these cars.

At an average mileage of just 21,830 miles for a six-year-old car, these WRX models have been lightly used, which explains the excellent pass rate and the modest 0.25 failures per vehicle. The 1.6 advisories per car suggest minor wear items are starting to appear, but if you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension and exhaust components will catch anything before it becomes a real problem.

We have limited data for the 2018 Subaru Wrx — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

95.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

3.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.25

Over 4.9 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

19k

Middle half: 11k–31k

For context

These stats describe 105 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 105 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 32.3%

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

Brake wear 15.7%

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

Other issues 7.4%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Exhaust & emissions 7.1%

Exhaust noisy

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 105 Subaru Wrx cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Subaru Wrx

Based on MOT data from 105 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 3.8% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Subaru Wrx 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.

18,742

typical

10,718

low mileage

31,026

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Subaru Wrx vehicles fall between 10,718 and 31,026 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 10,718 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.

✓ 10,718–31,026 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Subaru Wrxs sit.

⚠ Over 41,885 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Subaru Wrx — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Subaru Wrxs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 87 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 90% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

4.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.25

Avg failures per vehicle

1.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2011 2014 2015 2016 2017

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Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Subaru Wrx stacks up against a rival.

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