2015 Subaru Outback 2.5L Petrol · GU15 HVL

The most recent MOT on 30 April 2026 shows the Outback failed because the rear registration‑plate lamp was inoperative. The same inspection also recorded three other defects: a severely deteriorated off‑side front drive‑shaft CV boot, slight play in the near‑side front anti‑roll‑bar ball joint, and a damaged windscreen that does not yet impair the driver’s view. Because the vehicle also has a “PASSED” entry for the same date, the failure is limited to the lighting fault; however, the mechanical items were flagged as advisory defects rather than outright failures. Looking back through the last three years, the same front‑drive‑shaft CV boot problem appears in the 2025 and 2024 MOTs, and the near‑side front anti‑roll‑bar ball joint was first noted in 2024. In 2024 the MOT also highlighted thin rear brake pads and uneven front tyre wear, both of which have since been addressed (no longer listed in later tests). The pattern therefore is a recurring deterioration of the front drive‑shaft CV boot and a developing play in the front anti‑roll‑bar linkage. These issues have not escalated to a failure yet, but their persistence suggests a slowly worsening condition that will need attention before they cause a CV joint failure or compromised handling. The mileage—135,299 mi at 11 years old—averages about 12,300 mi per year, which is above the typical UK average for a vehicle of this age. This higher annual mileage points to relatively hard use, meaning consumables such as CV boots, suspension bushings, brakes and tyres are likely to have experienced more wear than a lower‑mileage example. It does not, however, prove continuous high‑speed driving; it simply indicates the vehicle has been driven more often, so wear‑related components should be inspected closely.