2010 Subaru Forester 2.0L Diesel · BT60 DWW

The 2010 Subaru Forester holds a valid MOT issued on 27 June 2025 at 131,387 miles, placing the most recent test just under 12 months ago. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but shows a pattern of recurring low-level suspension and corrosion advisories that have persisted across multiple tests without evidence of permanent repair. The vehicle passed its last test, yet the tester flagged slight play in both front anti-roll bar ball joints, a worn nearside front inner suspension arm rear bush, and deterioration of the nearside front CV boot. Rear suspension arms and the rear sub-frame were again noted as corroded but not seriously weakened, a description that has appeared consistently since at least January 2023. These items have not worsened to failure point, but they remain unresolved rather than rectified. The recorded mileage of 131,387 over approximately 16 years equates to roughly 8,212 miles per year, which is typical for a vehicle of this age and suggests regular rather than light use. The mileage progression is clean and consistent, moving from 102,995 miles in January 2023 to 114,553 in March 2024, then to 115,469 in June 2024, and finally to 131,387 in June 2025. The jump of around 15,900 miles in the 12 months preceding the most recent test is notably higher than the annual average, indicating a period of heavier use that would accelerate wear on consumable components including brake pads, tyres, and suspension bushes. There are no significant gaps in the MOT record to suggest long periods of non-use or statutory off-road notification. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the structural corrosion that has been flagged repeatedly. The rear sub-frame, rear suspension arms, and inner sill structures have carried corrosion advisories across multiple consecutive tests, and while testers have not deemed them seriously weakened, the cumulative nature of the remarks warrants close examination with a torch and probe to check for perforation or scaling beyond surface rust. The front anti-roll bar ball joints and inner suspension arm bushes showed play in both the June 2024 and June 2025 tests, suggesting these components are approaching the end of their service life and may need replacement soon. The severely deteriorated nearside front CV boot noted in the most recent test is a concern, as a split boot allows grease ingress and joint contamination that can lead to clicking under load and eventual driveshaft failure. The braking system also deserves attention. The March 2024 failure recorded a parking brake efficiency fault and excessive lever movement, and the January 2023 pass flagged an offside front service brake binding, which can indicate a sticking caliper or collapsed brake hose. Although the vehicle passed its most recent test on braking, the earlier faults suggest the system has not been consistently trouble-free. Tyre condition should be checked carefully, given the perishing advisories noted in March 2024 and the higher recent mileage accumulation that accelerates wear. Overall, the Forester presents as a regularly used vehicle with manageable but persistent wear, where the corrosion history and aging suspension components represent the most significant areas for a buyer's due diligence.