Used car guide

2009 Subaru Forester: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Subaru Foresters, from 390 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 390 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

390MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
6,800typical miles a year
14.8×the usual rate for anti-roll bar bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Subaru Foresters than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints14.8× usual
    Subaru Forester
    11.8% All 2009 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 0.2% of all 2009 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Subaru Forester
    22.8% All 2009 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 2.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Exhaust system2× usual
    Subaru Forester
    16.4% All 2009 cars
    8.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 2.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.6× usual
    Subaru Forester
    10.8% All 2009 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1.6% of all 2009 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 2009 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    27% 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
    15% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022264Tyres 22%
2021738Tyres 24%
2020226Tyres 22%
20191,103Tyres 23%
2018921Suspension 23%
2017899Suspension 29%
20161,180Suspension 33%
2015982Suspension 36%
20141,125Suspension 41%
2013809Suspension 45%
2012410Suspension 53%
2011808Suspension 51%
2010690Suspension 58%
2008515Suspension 54%
2007766Suspension 45%
2006805Suspension 45%
2005855Suspension 46%
2004702Suspension 46%
2003503Suspension 53%
2002223Suspension 52%
2001191Suspension 47%
2000156Suspension 56%
1999103Suspension 57%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Subaru Foresters registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score