2015 Subaru Forestr 2.0L Diesel · KV15 OSR

The Subaru Foresters MOT record shows a vehicle that has consistently passed its annual tests, but the December 2025 pass at 103,673 miles came with a heavy advisory load that signals deferred maintenance. The most recent test flagged severely deteriorated ball joint dust covers on both front lower suspension arms, all four anti-roll bar D-bushes worn, a corroded rear subframe mount area, and multiple tyres worn to or near the legal limit. This is not a stable picture. The trend is worsening. In December 2024 only front anti-roll bar bushes and a single tyre were noted. Twelve months later the suspension joint covers have split, corrosion has appeared on the rear structure, and tyre wear has spread to both axles. The car is still legally roadworthy, but the accumulation of wear items suggests the previous owner allowed routine suspension and tyre upkeep to slip. The mileage progression is steady and typical for an eleven-year-old vehicle. It moved from 77,743 miles in December 2022 to 87,676 miles in December 2023, then 95,266 miles in December 2024, and finally 103,673 miles in December 2025. That is roughly 7,500 to 8,400 miles per year in the most recent cycles, consistent with the overall 9,425 miles-per-year average. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps that would suggest a rolled-back odometer or long periods of disuse. The annual test intervals are regular, with the only anomaly being a one-day failure-to-pass sequence in December 2022 when a fractured nearside rear coil spring was identified and replaced before the retest cleared the following day. A buyer should focus their in-person inspection on the front lower suspension arms and their ball joint boots, which were flagged in December 2025 as severely deteriorated. Once the dust covers split, grit ingress accelerates wear on the joint itself, meaning both arms may need replacement sooner than expected. The rear subframe mount corrosion advisory also warrants a close look underneath with a torch and a check for any signs of perforation or flaking that could compromise structural integrity over time. All four anti-roll bar D-bushes have been recurring advisories since 2023, and while none have yet caused excessive movement, they are due for replacement. Tyre wear has been a persistent theme across multiple tests, with inner-edge wear on the fronts suggesting possible tracking or suspension geometry issues that a simple tyre swap will not fix. The braking system shows a pattern of consumable wear rather than mechanical fault. Front and rear pads were noted as wearing thin in December 2023 at 87,676 miles, and the December 2022 failure involved a broken coil spring rather than a brake defect. A buyer should still check disc thickness and pad condition, as the car has covered over 15,000 miles since the last pad advisory. The slight rear brake binding flagged in December 2023 was not repeated in later tests, suggesting it resolved, but a test drive should confirm no dragging or uneven braking. Overall, the Foresters mechanical history points to a car that has been driven regularly but not cosseted. Budget for suspension bushes, ball joint boots, four tyres, and a thorough corrosion inspection before committing.