Used car guide

2005 Subaru Forester: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Subaru Foresters, from 854 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

854MOT tests in 2025
61%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
6,100typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Subaru Foresters than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Sub-frame1.9× usual
    Subaru Forester
    12.9% All 2005 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.3% of all 2005 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2× usual
    Subaru Forester
    8.4% All 2005 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 1.5% of all 2005 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.

  • Engine warning light2.1× usual
    Subaru Forester
    6% All 2005 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 2.8% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.3× usual
    Subaru Forester
    5.4% All 2005 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 2.2% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints2.2× usual
    Subaru Forester
    3.5% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 4.1% here, against 14.5% of all 2005 cars. Coil springs: 2.9% here, against 10.8% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Subaru Forester MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% 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
    32% 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
    29% 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
    24% 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
    18% 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%
2004702Suspension 46%
2003503Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Subaru Foresters registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score