2015 Subaru Forester 2.0L Diesel · GU15 HVC

The 2015 Subaru Forester currently holds a valid MOT issued on 19 March 2026 at 101,317 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The most recent test required a full retest after the vehicle failed on the same day with a cluster of suspension defects that were absent from the preceding clean passes. The tester flagged an excessively worn front bush on the offside lower suspension arm and excessively worn rear anti-roll bar D-bushes on both sides, indicating a sudden deterioration in suspension component integrity. A worn brake pedal anti-slip surface and a missing central rear seat belt were also recorded across both the fail and pass entries. These are not minor consumable items. Combined with the advisories that have persisted since 2024, the record points to a vehicle that has slipped from basic upkeep into deferred mechanical repair. The mileage progression tells a consistent story. Between the February 2024 test at 86,132 miles and the March 2025 test at 94,565 miles, the car covered 8,433 miles in thirteen months. By March 2026 it had added a further 6,752 miles, bringing the total to 101,317. Annual use sits close to the 9,000-mile average typical for an eleven-year-old vehicle, with no suspicious gaps or sudden accumulation that would suggest long-term standing or clocking. The record is clean and continuous, which supports the view that this is a regularly driven car rather than one that has sat idle and suffered from seized components or perished rubber. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front and rear suspension, specifically the lower suspension arm bushes and anti-roll bar links. The 2026 failure shows these bushes have degraded from "worn" to "excessively worn" within a single year, suggesting the components may have been operating at the limit for some time before finally exceeding tolerance. Check for play, cracking rubber, and uneven tyre wear, particularly on the inner edges, which was flagged in March 2025. The front brake pads were noted as wearing thin at 94,565 miles, so expect them to be near or past replacement by now. The brake pedal rubber worn smooth is a small but telling sign of heavy use and possible long commutes. The recurring windscreen damage noted since 2024 has not yet failed the driver's view test, but any new chip or crack in the swept area could trigger a failure at the next test. The missing central rear seat belt is a straightforward fix but confirms that minor safety items have been left unresolved. Overall, the Forester's mechanical condition has deteriorated sharply in the last twelve months. A pre-purchase inspection should prioritise suspension bushings, brake components, and tyre condition before any commitment is made.