Subaru XV common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Subaru XV, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 19,457 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.
Pick the year
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
What usually goes wrong with a Subaru XV?
We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Subaru XV in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.
Common Subaru XV MOT failures to check
Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.
Suspension arm bushes and joints
up to 3.8× usualStands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanicAt 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 joints
up to 14.5× usualStands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) CheckatradeAt 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 joint
up to 3.9× usualStands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Wheel bearings
up to 3.7× usualStands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.
Sidelights
up to 4.9× usualStands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Brake lights
up to 3.8× usualStands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Subaru XV MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2021 Subaru XV did best (94% passed first time, 7 points above all 2021 cars) and the 2014 did worst (71%, 1 point above all 2014 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a Subaru XV
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.8× as often on the Subaru XV as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 14.5× as often on the Subaru XV as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 3.9× as often on the Subaru XV as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Subaru XV?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score