Used car guide

2010 Subaru Outback: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Subaru Outbacks, from 388 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 388 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

388MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
8,300typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Subaru Outbacks than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.3× usual
    Subaru Outback
    25.3% All 2010 cars
    11%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 2.2% of all 2010 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 joints12.6× usual
    Subaru Outback
    8.8% All 2010 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.1% of all 2010 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.

  • Sub-frame2.2× usual
    Subaru Outback
    15.5% All 2010 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.4% of all 2010 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.

  • Steering rack inner joints3.9× usual
    Subaru Outback
    10.6% All 2010 cars
    2.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sidelights2× usual
    Subaru Outback
    13.7% All 2010 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.3%, against 6% of all 2010 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.

By area

The share of 2010 Subaru Outback 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
    33% 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
    29% 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
    14% 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.

  • Steering
    12% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022601Tyres 22%
2021612Tyres 20%
2020259Tyres 22%
2019592Tyres 25%
2018651Tyres 21%
2017473Tyres 23%
2016756Brakes 24%
2015751Suspension 27%
2014210Suspension 36%
2013252Suspension 43%
2012292Suspension 52%
2011438Suspension 47%
2009268Suspension 55%
2008171Suspension 53%
2007317Suspension 56%
2006326Suspension 59%
2005216Suspension 55%
2004162Suspension 60%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Subaru Outbacks registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score