2001 Subaru Outback 3.0L Petrol · Y835 DRA

The most recent MOT on 5 October 2024 was a pass, but the examiner noted that the integral body structure is corroded on both the off‑side and nearside sill/floor edges. Although the corrosion was judged not to have reduced structural rigidity, it is still recorded as a defect. A month earlier, on 30 August 2024, the vehicle failed its MOT. The failures that month were extensive: a fractured off‑side front coil spring, a worn ball‑joint dust cover allowing dirt ingress, severely corroded front brake pipes on both sides, and a non‑working off‑side front position lamp. Those items are all safety‑critical components and would need replacement before the car could be driven safely. In the previous year the only recorded defects were excessive wear on the rear anti‑roll‑bar linkage ball joints (both sides) at the January 2023 test, which had also failed. The 2022 and early‑2023 tests were clean. This pattern shows a shift from rear suspension wear to front suspension and brake‑system corrosion within a twelve‑month period, suggesting that the condition of the suspension and braking hardware is deteriorating rather than stabilising. Overall the trend is worsening. The corrosion noted on the body structure and brake pipes, together with the fractured front coil spring, points to progressive rust damage that is now affecting both structural and mechanical parts.