Used car guide

2017 Subaru Forester: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Subaru Forester first registered in 2017: we looked at the 2,699 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,699MOTs of 2017 cars, done in 2023–2025
83%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 80%)
7,600typical miles a year
4.6×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 Subaru Forester?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 Subaru Forester than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints4.6× usual
    Subaru Forester
    17.2% All 2017 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 0.7% of all 2017 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.

Common 2017 Subaru Forester MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 Subaru Forester MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    23% 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.

  • Tyres
    22% 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.

  • Brakes
    17% 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
    7% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Steering
    2% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 Subaru Forester

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.6× as often on the 2017 Subaru Forester as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Subaru Forester?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Subaru Forester compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022292Tyres 20%
20211,476Tyres 23%
2020700Tyres 22%
20193,301Tyres 23%
20182,755Tyres 21%
20163,550Suspension 30%
20152,960Suspension 33%
20143,403Suspension 37%
20132,494Suspension 41%
20121,291Suspension 50%
20112,609Suspension 49%
20102,342Suspension 56%
20091,367Suspension 53%
20081,682Suspension 48%
20072,531Suspension 43%
20062,724Suspension 44%
20052,982Suspension 45%
20042,426Suspension 46%
20031,867Suspension 51%
2002835Suspension 48%
2001669Suspension 47%
2000514Suspension 50%
1999382Suspension 53%
1998199Suspension 48%
1997–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Subaru Forester cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score