Used car guide · 2012–2024

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 19,432 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2023 Subaru XV

Cars registered in 2023 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Subaru XV as a whole.

545on the UK register at the end of 2025
2026first MOT due
Petrolmost common fuel (also petrol hybrid)
What to check on a 2023 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

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).

2024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012

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, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 3.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    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.

  • Ball joint

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2017.

    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.

  • Brake lights

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Sidelights

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.

    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.

Diesel

  • Ball joint

    up to 4.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    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 joints

    up to 21× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    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.

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.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202296%89% +7393 (small sample)
202194%87% +71,112
202093%87% +6977
201990%85% +52,809
201889%83% +63,228
201782%80% +21,789
201680%77% +32,177
201577%74% +31,892
201471%70% +11,857
201369%67% +21,683
201265%64% +11,515

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.

  1. 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.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 14× as often on the Subaru XV as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 3.8× as often on the Subaru XV as on other cars the same age.)
  4. 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