2015 Subaru Outback 2.0L Diesel · B15 EAB

The most recent MOT, dated 15 May 2026, was a pass but it flagged a number of advisories that together point to a vehicle that is starting to need significant attention. The rear brake pads are already thin on both sides, the front brake pipe clips are missing, and the dust‑covers on both front track‑rod ends are damaged. These items were already noted on the failed test three days earlier, when the car also failed for a faulty off‑side rear reversing lamp, missing rear wheel fixing, worn‑to‑limit rear tyres (one with a cut into the ply) and a slight play in the near‑side front suspension arm ball joint. Looking back through the MOT record, the same brake‑related concerns recur. In 2024 the car passed with only tyre wear and a minor gearbox oil leak noted. In 2025 the car failed for an oil leak and a non‑functioning windscreen wiper, and in 2026 the brake‑pad wear, missing pipe clips and track‑rod dust‑cover damage re‑appear, now accompanied by tyre‑wear warnings and a missing rear wheel fixing. The pattern shows a clear progression from isolated wear items to multiple safety‑critical components approaching the end of their service life. The trend is therefore worsening rather than stable. At 99,000 mi for a 2015 model the mileage works out to about 9,000 mi per year – roughly average for a vehicle of this age. It does not, on its own, indicate excessive hard use, but it does mean that wear items such as brake pads, tyres and suspension joints are reaching the point where they will need replacement.