2015 Subaru WRX 2.5L Petrol · SD04 CAM

The defining mechanical story of this 2015 Subaru WRX centres on a serious brake and wheel safety episode in mid-2022, when the vehicle failed its MOT with multiple major and dangerous defects including an inadequately secured front caliper mounting bolt, a dangerously incorrectly mounted rear brake pad retaining component, a deep sidewall cut on an offside rear tyre penetrating to the ply, alongside an advisory flagging an offside front tyre worn down to its legal limit on the edge. This cluster of brake and tyre defects is not minor and points to a period where fundamental safety items were either neglected or inadequately rectified. Encouragingly, every test recorded after that June 2022 failure has returned a clean pass with no advisories, and the most recent examination on 1 April 2026 recorded no defects, indicating that the subsequent period of roadworthiness has been consistent. The intervening failure on 13 February 2023 was a single-day event caused by a missing rear wheel fixing and a minor brake disc lip advisory, and it was followed by a clean pass the following day, suggesting the immediate cause was rectified promptly rather than reflecting a deeper underlying problem. With 83,773 miles recorded across eleven years, this WRX has accumulated roughly 7,600 miles annually, a figure broadly typical for a performance saloon of its age. The MOT testing cadence is also fairly regular at annual intervals, with no multi-year lay-up gaps that would raise concerns about dormant component deterioration. The mileage progression between recorded tests appears steady rather than showing unusual jumps or stagnation, which is consistent with a vehicle that has been in active use throughout its life. For a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive performance car with this level of annual mileage, the drivetrain, suspension, and braking components will have seen normal working wear, but nothing in the mileage profile suggests extreme use or extended periods of disuse that complicate the mechanical picture. Given the 2022 brake caliper and retaining device failure, particular attention should be paid to the condition and operation of the braking system on any test drive. With the engine running and the vehicle stationary, listen for any scraping or grinding from the front caliper area, which could indicate the mounting bolts or guide pins are working loose again, and check that the offside rear caliper feels secure. On the road, apply the brakes firmly from speed and feel for any judder through the pedal, which would suggest warped discs, or any pulling to one side that could indicate a binding caliper. Inspect the inner and tread faces of all four wheels and tyres, paying particular attention to the offside front and rear positions previously flagged, looking for uneven shoulder wear, sidewall cuts, or bulges, as edge wear on tyres on a performance car often points to suspension geometry issues such as worn bushes, weakened springs, or top mount deflection. The tyre advisories across all four corners in 2020 also warrant a closer inspection of the suspension geometry, as a symmetrical four-tyre edge wear pattern can be indicative of alignment drift, camber issues, or sagging coil springs. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over speed bumps and uneven surfaces, which would suggest worn anti-roll bar linkages, droplinks, or top mounts, all known wear items on a vehicle of this age and mileage. Steer from lock to lock at low speed and feel for any notchiness, knocking through the steering rack, or excessive play, as the WRX is sensitive to worn front suspension components. Finally, because the 2023 advisory flagged a lip on the nearside front brake disc, confirm during any inspection that the discs have measurable material remaining and are free of significant lipping or scoring, as a lip of around 1.1 mm at that point can quickly progress to requiring replacement.