2014 Subaru Wrx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,850 MOT tests analysed for the 2014 Subaru Wrx, the most common recorded failure areas were emissions & environmental, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.9% was above the average for cars of a similar age (82.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 45 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.2% | 41 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 40 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.8% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 66 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 24 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 4 | Wipers | 14 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 14 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 13.5% | 249 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 214 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 114 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.9% | 54 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 43 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 38 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 295 | 4.4% |
| 30-60k | 979 | 6.6% |
| 60-90k | 487 | 9.0% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 9.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 371 | 5.4% |
| 2022 | 370 | 6.2% |
| 2023 | 375 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 362 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 372 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Wrx
Before buying a 2014 Subaru Wrx, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Emissions & environmental accounted for 2.4% of tests for this year.
- Emissions & environmental (2.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (2.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2014 Subaru Wrxs pass their MOT?
92.9% of the 1,850 2014 Subaru Wrx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Subaru Wrx?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 2.4% of tests, followed by tyres (2.2%).
Does the 2014 Wrx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.4% in the 0-30k band to 9.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,850 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.