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What to check: Subaru Outback

BBy age

BBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Subaru Outback, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 4.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.2%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 3.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 2.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 2.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Brake pipes underneathFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 1.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

LeaksLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 22.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 15.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 3.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Check the oil level on the dipstick and ask for any oil top-up history between services.Regular top-ups or a warning light history points at FB25 piston-ring wear.

From cold, select reverse then drive and pull away gently, listening for a clunk or pause.A noticeable delay or shudder is the classic Lineartronic CVT complaint.

On pre-2009 EJ25 cars, check under the bonnet around the cylinder head edges for oil or coolant staining.Weeping stains mean a head gasket job is coming.

Drive over a speed bump or rough road and turn the wheel to full lock in a car park.Knocks or clunks from the front end suggest worn strut mounts or bushes, the area behind the model's MOT suspension pattern.

Check the battery's date sticker and ask if it's been replaced recently.A battery under 2 years old on an older car suggests a drain problem, not just age.

Ask if the windscreen has ever been replaced on an EyeSight-equipped car, and check the lane-keep warning light comes on and clears at startup.A replaced screen with no recalibration invoice means the safety systems may be out of alignment.

Pull the full MOT and service history rather than trusting a clean current test.Repeated same advisories or gaps around 60-100k miles line up with when these faults typically start.

Full Subaru Outback reliability report