2006 Subaru Forester 2.0L Petrol · CV55 YAO

The latest MOT (8 May 2026) was a pass, but it flagged a number of items that are worth noting. The vehicle still has thin front and rear brake pads, several anti‑roll‑bar linkage ball joints showing slight play, and a front‑track‑rod‑end dust cover that is damaged. The battery mounting is insecure, though not in a way that it would fall off. These are all advisory defects rather than outright failures, but they point to components that are approaching the end of their service life. A pattern emerges across the four‑year MOT record: the anti‑roll‑bar linkage and associated ball‑joint dust covers are repeatedly listed as deteriorated or worn, and the same joints repeatedly show “slight play”. Brake pads have been thin in every test, and brake discs were noted as pitted or scored in 2025. Tyre tread was at the legal limit on both front tyres in 2025, and the same tyres were still on the car in 2026, suggesting they have not been replaced since then. In 2026 the car also failed an MOT a few days earlier because of excess carbon‑monoxide and a likely exhaust leak, indicating that the emissions system may need attention. The trend is therefore one of gradual wear rather than sudden deterioration. The anti‑roll‑bar linkage issues have persisted and are now accompanied by slight play on both front and rear sides, which suggests the wear is progressing.