2016 Subaru Forester 2.0L Petrol · HS16 RBF

Across two consecutive MOT cycles, this Forester has produced a textbook pattern of age-related tyre deterioration advisories, with all four corners flagged in both 2025 and 2026 for perishing and cracking consistent with tyres nearing the end of their service life despite apparently acceptable tread depth. The 2026 test, completed on 20 February, recorded a pass with advisories again confined to the tyres, now noted as eleven years old. Beyond the tyre condition, the vehicle's record is remarkably clean, with a completely defect-free pass in September 2023 and another clean test in February 2024, indicating a broadly stable and improving roadworthiness trend apart from the persistent ageing-rubber issue and a single 2025 advisory concerning a slight gearbox or transfer box oil seep. The recorded mileage of 44,358 against a ten-year registration places this Forester firmly in low-use territory, averaging roughly 4,400 miles annually. The MOT cadence is consistent with that low accumulation, with tests spaced between nine and fourteen months apart and mileage increments remaining modest between visits. Such restrained usage reduces wear on major drivetrain and suspension components but introduces its own considerations, particularly for items that degrade through age rather than use. The four sets of consecutive tyre-age advisories, spanning tyres that were ten years old in 2025 and eleven by 2026, are the clearest mechanical fingerprint of this low-mileage, long-standing profile, and the gearbox or transfer box oil seep flagged in 2025 would also be consistent with prolonged static periods allowing seals to dry and harden. A prospective buyer should treat the tyres as an immediate rectification cost rather than a marginal advisory, as perished rubber of this vintage presents a tangible grip and safety compromise even where the tread remains within legal limits. All four tyres should be replaced with a matching set before the vehicle is returned to regular service, and the new rubber should be date-stamped within the last twelve months. The 2025 advisory regarding a slight gearbox or transfer box oil leak warrants careful inspection underneath the vehicle; the buyer should look for fresh oil misting or wet residue around the transfer box housing, gearbox output seals, and any breather pipes, and check the underbody and crossmember for accumulated grime that would indicate the leak has progressed since the advisory was raised. Although classed as not excessive, any seep from these units can escalate on a Symmetrical AWD system if left unattended, so the source and current rate should be established during a pre-purchase inspection. On the test drive, particular attention should be paid to the behaviour consistent with the Forester's age and known component wear profile. Listen for clonks or slack from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, especially from the lower wishbone bushes and the front anti-roll bar drop links, which are common wear items on this generation. Check for any vibration through the steering or hesitation under load that could point toward propshaft imbalance or age-related CV joint wear on a vehicle that has spent long periods stationary. The brake pedal should feel firm and progressive without excessive travel, and the steering should remain precise without pulling to either side, indicating no binding calipers or warped front discs. Finally, inspect the underbody, paying close attention to the rear subframe mounting points, the front suspension turrets, and the exhaust hangers, looking for any surface corrosion that could become structurally significant on a vehicle now entering its second decade of service.