Used car guide

2003 Subaru Forester: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Subaru Foresters, from 503 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

503MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
5,900typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Subaru Foresters than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3.5× usual
    Subaru Forester
    11.3% All 2003 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Sub-frame2.5× usual
    Subaru Forester
    13.9% All 2003 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.1× usual
    Subaru Forester
    9.9% All 2003 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 1.8% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

By area

The share of 2003 Subaru Forester MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    53% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    39% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    26% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Subaru Forester?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021738Tyres 24%
20191,103Tyres 23%
2018921Suspension 23%
2017899Suspension 29%
20161,180Suspension 33%
2015982Suspension 36%
20141,125Suspension 41%
2013738Suspension 45%
2011773Suspension 52%
2010683Suspension 59%
2008515Suspension 54%
2007766Suspension 45%
2006805Suspension 45%
2005854Suspension 46%
2004702Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Subaru Foresters registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score