2008 Subaru Outback 2.0L Diesel · LL08 EXS

The 2008 Subaru Outback passed its most recent MOT on 1 September 2021 at 115,121 miles, but that certificate is now over four and a half years old as of June 2026. The maintenance trend across the full record is broadly stable rather than sharply worsening, though it reveals a pattern of deferred consumable and suspension work. Front lower suspension arm bushes were flagged as deteriorated in every test from 2017 through 2021, and by the 2021 test both front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints had developed slight play alongside worn rear tyre edges. These are not catastrophic failures, but the same components reappearing year after year suggest previous owners tolerated wear rather than addressing root causes proactively. The mileage progression tells a clear story of the car sitting unused for an extended period. Between the March 2020 test at 89,263 miles and the September 2021 test at 115,121 miles, the car accumulated 25,858 miles in roughly eighteen months, a rate of over 17,000 miles per year. Yet the five tests before that, spanning from March 2017 at 82,385 miles to March 2020 at 89,263 miles, show just 6,878 miles covered in three full years. The vehicle appears to have been largely stationary or very lightly used for a prolonged period before being driven heavily in a short window. No MOT records exist after September 2021, meaning the car has now gone at least four years and nine months without a verified roadworthiness check. A buyer should treat the front suspension as the primary area of concern. The repeated advisories on lower suspension arm rear bushes and anti-roll bar linkage ball joints point to components that may now be significantly worse than when last tested. Worn rear bushes affect wheel alignment and tyre wear, while play in the anti-roll bar links can cause knocking over uneven surfaces and compromise handling stability. The tester also flagged both rear tyres as worn on edges in 2021, which is consistent with misalignment from degraded suspension bushes rather than simple underinflation. Inspect the inner CV joint boots as well, since both were noted as severely deteriorated in the March 2020 test and there is no record of replacement. Beyond the suspension, check the condition of the front brake pads and discs given the repeated advisories on pad wear from 2019 and 2020, and verify whether the engine and under shields noted as obscuring components in multiple tests have been removed for inspection or left in place. The long gap since the last MOT means corrosion, fluid leaks, and deteriorated rubber components could have progressed substantially. A fresh MOT or pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic is strongly advisable before committing to this vehicle.