Used car guide

2011 Subaru Forester: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Subaru Foresters, from 773 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

773MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
7,800typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Subaru Foresters than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.5× usual
    Subaru Forester
    26.9% All 2011 cars
    10.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 2.3% of all 2011 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints13.1× usual
    Subaru Forester
    9.2% All 2011 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.1% of all 2011 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.

  • Ball joint2× usual
    Subaru Forester
    12.4% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.6%, against 3.2% of all 2011 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.

  • Exhaust system1.9× usual
    Subaru Forester
    12.4% All 2011 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.7% of all 2011 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.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.3× usual
    Subaru Forester
    7% All 2011 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.3% of all 2011 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.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 3.2% here, against 7.6% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Subaru Forester MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% 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
    32% 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
    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.

  • Tyres
    28% 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
    13% 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
    10% 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%
2010683Suspension 59%
2008515Suspension 54%
2007766Suspension 45%
2006805Suspension 45%
2005854Suspension 46%
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 2011 Subaru Foresters registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score