2017 Subaru Forester 2.0L Petrol · R2 EAU

The vehicle remains roadworthy, but the maintenance history shows a concerning trend of reactive rather than proactive care. The most recent test in July 2025 at 97,990 miles resulted in a failure due to an inoperative offside stop lamp and a nearside rear tyre reaching the legal limit. While these were rectified to secure a pass, the recurring nature of tyre-related defects suggests the owner only addresses wear items when forced by the MOT tester. The mileage accumulation is remarkably consistent for a nine-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 11,000 miles per year. There is a notable drop in usage between August 2020 and August 2021, where the car covered only 1,197 miles in a year. However, usage returned to a standard level thereafter, with 22,927 miles logged between the August 2021 and 2024 tests. This steady rate of travel indicates standard wear on drivetrain-related components, particularly the Subaru's all-wheel-drive system. A buyer must inspect the suspension geometry and alignment due to a persistent history of uneven tyre wear. Records from 2018, 2023, and 2025 all flag inner or outer edge wear on various tyres, which typically points to faulty camber, worn suspension bushes, or incorrect alignment. The 2020 failure regarding a severely deteriorated anti-roll bar linkage further suggests that rubber components in the suspension assembly may be nearing the end of their life. Attention should also be paid to the braking system, as the tester flagged thin brake pads back in 2018. The headlamp lenses have been noted as cloudy consistently since 2019, and while not yet causing a failure, the oxidation of the polycarbonate will affect night visibility. Given the high mileage and recurring tyre issues, a physical check of the brake discs for thinning and the shock absorbers for leaks is essential to ensure no deeper mechanical neglect have been overlooked.